Let’s consider a scenario where a baseball team has struggled through six innings, unable to generate any meaningful offense despite numerous opportunities. Then, as if by divine intervention, rain interrupts play, granting an unexpected one-day respite.
This break could ideally offer a chance for reflection, adjustments, and a fresh offensive strategy when play resumes. Alternatively, as witnessed with the Orioles, the team might opt to maintain the status quo, enduring three more innings of offensive futility and ultimately succumbing to their second consecutive loss against a subpar opponent, teetering on the brink of a sweep. One could say it’s an interesting strategy, to say the least.
The result? A lackluster 3-1 defeat to the Cardinals, a game that commenced on Tuesday night and concluded on Wednesday afternoon. Here’s a dual perspective on the proceedings, with Andrea SK recapping Tuesday’s events and Paul covering the Wednesday resumption.
Andrea, over to you
It often seems that no matter how promising the Orioles’ offense appears, whenever they face a seasoned, slow-throwing veteran—whether left-handed or right-handed—their performance falls flat.
Enter Lance Lynn, a veteran in his 13th season, who effectively shut down the Orioles. Lynn may not boast the strikeouts he once did, with his fastball hovering around 92 mph, but that’s precisely the point. Over six innings, Lynn conceded just two hits and one unearned run, with no walks and five strikeouts. His performance exemplified the art of pitching, not merely throwing.
But Kyle Bradish, the Orioles’ pitcher, also demonstrated prowess on the mound. Despite some struggles with fastball command, Bradish held his own, allowing just one earned run over five innings, with six strikeouts. Notably, his 300th career strikeout was among them.
While Bradish wasn’t flawless, his performance showcased his ability to limit damage and maintain a high strikeout rate, a trend seen throughout the 2024 season.
As for the Orioles’ hitters, they found themselves stymied by Lynn’s crafty pitching. Despite a valiant effort from Kyle Stowers, who managed a leadoff double, and a subsequent run-scoring play from Jorge Mateo, the Orioles struggled to make significant offensive headway against Lynn, ultimately tallying just two hits in the game.
As play resumed the following day, the Orioles faced a crucial moment in the tie game. While some speculated that Cole Irvin might be called upon to stabilize the situation, it was the higher-leverage relievers who took the mound, with mixed results.
Jacob Webb initiated proceedings but was replaced by Keegan Akin after issuing a walk, which quickly led to a two-run homer from Nolan Gorman, putting the Cardinals ahead.
Unfortunately, the Orioles’ offense failed to capitalize on the opportunity to rally, continuing to struggle against the Cardinals’ bullpen. Despite a brief glimmer of hope with a walk from Jordan Westburg, the game concluded with a whimper as Ryan Helsley induced a game-ending double play, sealing the Orioles’ fate.
In the end, two days of baseball yielded little reward for the Orioles, leaving fans to question if it was all worth it.
