Friday’s game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees was scheduled for a 7:05 pm start. The excessive summer heat and humidity brought thunderstorms that delayed the start until 9:37 pm (2 hour 32 minute delay). When the game ended a day later (12:12 am) the Orioles were 1-0 winners.
What happened after the rain ended was a mano e mano pitcher’s duel between Baltimore’s Grayson Rodriguez and New York’s Gerrit Cole. Rodriguez must have found something that worked while in Norfolk (5/27-7/17) because he matched the 11-year veteran just about pitch for pitch. Rodriguez allowed 3 hits, walked 2 and struck out 4 with 97 pitches (70 strikes) over 6.1 innings while Cole allowed 3 hits and struck out 5 with 110 pitches (74 strikes) over 7.0 innings.
The dark and ominous skies above Oriole Park at Camden Yards were certainly a harbinger of the thunder and lightning that would mark the ending of Friday’s game.
Meanwhile in Baltimore pic.twitter.com/xqbA2siXtK
— Melanie Newman (@MelanieLynneN) July 28, 2023
As a prelude of what was to come, Anthony Santander (1 for 4, 1 R, 1 RBI) made a spectacular diving catch of an Anthony Volpe line drive to open the eighth inning, preventing a possible double. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Santander hit a Tommy Kahnle 2-0, 89.7 mph changeup 107.9 mph 425 feet to right center; good morning, good afternoon and good night.
It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Santander pic.twitter.com/xQA500onPq
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 29, 2023
SANTANDER SENDS US HOME!!!!! pic.twitter.com/fr2aJPxR89
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 29, 2023
Felix Bautista (6-1) struck out 2 in the ninth and got credit for the win with the Santander walk-off.
Santander would not have had the opportunity to hit the walk-off were it not for the fine glove work of Ramon Urias (1 for 3) and Adam Frazier (0 for 3). Urias made a diving stop to end the fifth inning while Frazier did the same in the third and eighth innings. Frazier’s eighth inning play prevented at least one run from scoring.
Ramón with a rocket
pic.twitter.com/sAGr4PJfsk
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 29, 2023
Flashy Fraz
pic.twitter.com/u1mYRCxneZ
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 29, 2023
The pie made a return to the ballpark as well. Adam Jones, in attendance for Mo Gaba Night at the Yard, brought the pie to the Bird Bath, smeared it in the face of a Bird Bath member and then assumed the role of Capt. Splash, manning the hose.
SprAJ pic.twitter.com/ybhTx7TPD9
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 29, 2023
2023 Record: 63-40
Next Game: Sat. 7/29 @ 7:15 pm vs. Yankees @ OPACY