The Baltimore Orioles dropped two games on the road in Pittsburgh against the Pirates this weekend. The O’s lone win came in game one with Grayson Rodriguez toeing the slab, 5-2. The Orioles went on to lose the next two games with game two being an extra-inning loss 5-4 in the 11th inning on Saturday night. Game three might have been the most devastating for the Birdland faithful with Dean Kremer shoving but the slow bats and costly errors ultimately led to the 3-2 loss Sunday afternoon.
Time To Wake the Bats Up
With it being early in the season, the O’s are lacking production from two key players in the bottom half of the order. Cedric Mullins and Austin Hays over the three-game set went 1-18 only crossing the plate once on Mullin’s solo home run in game one of the series. Austin Hays has been the real head-scratcher with Hays only tallying two hits in his 26 at-bats this season. With the MLB-ready talent sitting in Norfolk, the O’s need the two former All-Stars to return to form in the upcoming series against the Red Sox.
Kremer Dominates
The Orioles know they have a guaranteed quality starts with Burnes and G-Rod every time their number is called but Dean Kremer might have put his name in the conversation. Dean Kremer was fantastic in his last start going seven innings, allowing five hits with six strikeouts. Unfortunately, he did pick up the no-decision when Yennier Cano blew a save in the ninth. After a rough first outing, Kremer gives the O’s faithful a glimmer of hope heading into the rest of the season.
What a Play, Oh No
Gunnar Henderson flashed the leather defensively throughout the series but in game three his defense might have cost the O’s a victory. In the bottom of the ninth, Edward Olivares grounded up the middle when Henderson made an incredible diving play sliding across second base and getting the force out. He then tries to complete the double play firing a rocket across the field that misses first baseman RyanMountcastle’s glove and sails into the Orioles dugout. A play that would have made Sportscenter’s top ten ends up costing the O’s a series win.
A True Test Awaits in Boston
Up next for the Orioles they will travel to Boston and face the Red Sox in a three-game series for Boston’s home opener. This will be the first test for the O’s as the Red Sox seem to be clicking on all cylinders with a 7-3 record on the season. The Red Sox’s team ERA of 1.49 is first in all of the MLB. With the Orioles having Monday off hopefully, the rest day can prove beneficial as the team looks to gain an edge against a division rival to shift the AL East standings.
The post O’s Drop Two in Pittsburgh appeared first on Marylandsportsblog.com.