On Friday night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards a sellout crowd of 43,359 fans witnessed Adam Jones retire as an Oriole. They saw Jones throw out the first pitch to Nick Markakis. There was a Chris Davis sighting as well. Once the game started the fans saw a hit that was later changed to an error which morphed the game into a no-hitter. The “no-hitter” became a moot point in the sixth inning when the Orioles 2020 first round draft pick Heston Kjerstad deposited an 89 mph cutter 418 ft. to right-center field for his first MLB hit and homerun.
First Major League hit
First Major League home run pic.twitter.com/zORXGf4GAr
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 16, 2023
In the end, the Baltimore Orioles lost 7-1 to the Tampa Bay Rays as well as their one game lead in the AL East. The teams are now tied for first with two head-to-head games remaining.
Cedric Mullins (1 for 3) singled in the eighth inning for the only other Baltimore hit on the night.
Jack Flaherty (8-9) started and pitched a disappointing 4.0 innings. Flaherty, the losing pitcher, allowed 3 runs on 6 hits (1 HR) while walking 1 and striking out 6 over 4.0 innings. Since being acquired at the trade deadline, Flaherty is 1-3 with a 7.11 ERA over 7 starts (31.2 IP), allowing 7 homeruns while walking 12 and striking out 38. Averaging just over 4.0 innings per start, one has to wonder what the front office saw in him.
DL Hall also struggled, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits without recording an out in the sixth inning.
2023 Record: 91-56 Magic Number: 14
Next Game: Sat. 9/16 @ 7:05 pm vs. Tampa Bay Rays @ OPACY