Fresh off a sweep in Chicago, it’s time to face the Red Sox
Happy Monday, Camden Chatters! It was a good weekend for Birdland, where the Orioles completed the four-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox. Beating up on the worst team in the American League is almost a requirement for a team looking to contend, but after getting swept by the Cardinals to start the road trip it felt even more important.
The big news from yesterday is the dominance of Kyle Bradish. He pitched seven no-hit innings in the series finale. He’s been good since he returned from the injured list, but he hadn’t yet shown he could pitch deep into a game. He did that and then some yesterday, not only completing seven innings but also striking out 11 and outdueling a strong opposing pitcher in Garrett Crochet. You can read all about Bradish’s dominance and the rest of the game in Tyler Young’s game recap.
Starting today the Orioles are back home for a two-series, all AL East homestand. The Orioles play the Red Sox in three games starting today, have a day off, and then welcome the Tampa Bay Rays for a three-game weekend series.
So far, the AL East hasn’t been quite a hotly contested as some thought it would be. The Yankees have been frustratingly good and hold a two-game lead over the Orioles in, but after that it drops off quite a bit. The Red Sox are just a game over .500 and seven games behind the Orioles. And the Rays are two games under .500. Bringing up the rear are the Blue Jays, who are really struggling.
The Red Sox are playing above the pre-season expectations and a big reason for that is their pitching. Check back today for the series preview from John Beers to get an in-depth look at the series and the Red Sox season.
If the weather today decides to cooperate, the Orioles will send Cole Irvin to the mound to face off against Cooper Criswell. Game time is 1:05 pm and if anyone is going to the game, please grab me one of those relish t-shirts.
Links
Talking about the 2019 O’s draft with outfielder Kyle Stowers – MASN Sports
Stowers was drafted in the same draft as Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson so people are always going to ask him about it. They’re also all besties.
Kyle Bradish dominates White Sox with 7 no-hit innings, 11 strikeouts – The Baltimore Banner
Andy Kostka’s game story on the one-hitter. Danny Coulombe felt real bad.
Kyle Bradish throws seven no-hit innings vs. White Sox – MLB.com
As it says in the story, Kyle Bradish is an ace. Now we all just keep our fingers crossed that his elbow doesn’t fall off.
Birthdays and History
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have just one Orioles birthday buddy: Miguel Gonzalez. Gonzalez, who turns 40 years old today, was a surprise bright spot of the 2012-15 Orioles.
Gonzalez spent six years in the minors before being released by his parent team, the Red Sox, in December 2011. He was playing in the Mexican League when the Orioles signed him. He went on to have four successful seasons with the Orioles and make two postseason starts, including a seven-inning, one-run effort against the Yankees in 2012. I’ll always have fond memories of his time in Baltimore.
On this day in 1960, catcher Clint Courtney used an oversized catcher’s mitt, designed by Orioles manager Paul Richards, to catch knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm. It worked well, but the mitt was later banned by MLB.
In 2022, the Orioles went into the seventh inning losing to the Red Sox 8-2. They scored 10 unanswered runs to come back and win 12-8. The starting pitcher in the game was yesterday’s hero, Kyle Bradish. He wasn’t as good then, getting knocked out in the second inning after allowing six runs. But the comeback was sweet and featured Anthony Santander, Jorge Mateo, and Austin Hays.