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| Hazel's revenge |
Although I want only the best for Yimi Garcia, Vladdy's walkoff single in the tenth (his fourth hit of the night) was probably worth the three runs Yimi uncharacteristically allowed in the eighth. I sure didn't feel good about them at the time! But it also allowed, I suppose, for Adam Cimber's really pretty remarkable top-of-the-tenth, where he overcame a "runner-on-third, one out" situation (the O's had bunted) despite not really being a strikeout pitcher at all. He was fired up! Me too! José Berríos went seven, and allowed just three hits (though they were pretty big hits), and seems to be totally unplagued by whatever it was, exactly, that had plagued him previously. Lots to like in this one, perhaps most of all the Orioles' decision to pitch to Vladdy with Bo (the tenth-inning Manfred Man) on second and thus a base open behind him. Much derision has been visited upon Orioles' manager Brandon Hyde, a man for whom I have no fondness because he carries on like a hothead and jerk, but I actually get this decision: if you don't pitch to Vladdy, you've got Kirk and Téo next, both of whom have been just as hot of late; and, perhaps more importantly, the Orioles are a rebuilding, last-place team, trying to figure out which of there many young guys are the young guys to keep around. Pitching in the AL East means sometimes you've got to try to get Vladdy out, so why not make this one of those times? And if it doesn't happen, that's okay too. Worst-case scenario (indeed, worst-case Ontario), you lose a baseball game.
KS
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