Garrett Crochet tossed a career-high eight scoreless innings, and the Orioles never really threatened in a 3-0 defeat at Camden Yards
Gunnar Henderson could return to Baltimore as early as tomorrow. The Orioles certainly could have used him tonight.
Garrett Crochet dominated Baltimore’s right-handed hitting lineup, and the Orioles failed to score in a 3-0 defeat against the Red Sox.
The game originally presented itself as a pitchers’ duel between Crochet and Baltimore’s Opening Day starter Zach Eflin. Eflin technically held up his end of the bargain with a quality start (6 IP, 3 ER), but Crochet outclassed everyone on the field at Camden Yards.
A day after finalizing a $170-million extension, Crochet provided the AL East a preview of what it could expect over the next six seasons. The Red Sox made a significant bet on a pitcher with less than 250 career innings, and Crochet’s health will remain a question moving forward, but the guy can flat out pitch.
The 25-year-old limited Baltimore to four hits, one walk, and eight strikeouts over eight frames. The eight complete innings marked a new career high for Crochet.
Trevor Story gave Boston the lead for good with a solo homer in the top of the second. The long fly to left would not have cleared the wall in the previous configuration, but it counted tonight.
Kristian Campbell followed with a double to right field, but Eflin limited the damage by striking out Connor Wong. Eflin rebounded with three quick ground outs in the third inning, and he picked off Alex Bregman to erase a leadoff single in the fourth.
The one-run advantage felt significant with the way Crochet was dealing, but Boston essentially locked up the game in the fifth inning. Campbell started the frame with his second double of the game, and Ceddanne Rafaela drove in the second run with a base hit up the middle.
Eflin retired Jarren Duran for the second out, but a struggling Rafael Devers finally broke through with a sharply hit ball to right field. Tyler O’Neill corraled the ball but declined to hit the cutoff man. Devers beat the throw to second base, and Rafaela snuck home for the third run of the game.
On the other side, the Orioles never really threatened. Ramón Laureano singled, and Ramón Urías worked a two out walk to put two on in the second, but Jorge Mateo tapped a harmless grounder that ended the inning.
Jordan Westburg hit the ball sharply on multiple occasions, but he only reached base with a single in the third. The Birds attempted to get something going with a hit and run, but Adley Rutschman lined out sharply to right field. Westburg was quickly doubled off to end the inning.
The Orioles finally got the leadoff man on base when Urías singled to start the eighth, but Mateo lined out and Mullins grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Baltimore’s bullpen did its part in a relatively low leverage situation. Bryan Baker replaced Eflin and delivered a clean seventh. Gregory Soto allowed a pair of hits but struck out the side in the eighth, and Cíonel Pérez walked the bases loaded but escaped the ninth without surrendering a run.
Aroldis Chapman worked around a one-out walk to earn the save.
Gary Sánchez finished 0-for-3 with a strikeout after starting behind the plate. O’Neill went hitless with three strikeouts, and both Mateo and Mullins went hitless against the lefty starter.
The Orioles can still take the series with a victory tomorrow afternoon. Charlie Morton will face Tanner Houck at 1:05 p.m.