BALTIMORE–What happened? After beating the Houston Astros, 10-3, behind two grand slams and strong pitching from Chris Bassitt in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader, the Orioles collapsed in the second game.
Brandon Young, who had two strong starts, was allowed to stay in long enough to give up 10 runs, seven earned, in four innings in an 11-5 loss to Houston before 26,586 at Camden Yards.
The Orioles, who had reached .500 for the ninth time in the first game, fell a game below before heading to New York to play the Yankees.
In the first game, Bassitt allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings. Adley Rutschman and Jeremiah Jackson hit the grand slams.
Young (2-1) allowed five runs in the first on a two-run single by Dustin Harris and a three-run home run by Cam Smith. Yordan Alvarez hit his 12h home run, which tied hm for the major league lead in the second, to give Houston (12-20) a 6-0 lead.
In the fourth, with manager Craig Albernaz trying to preserve his bullpen, Young stayed around to watch four more runs score.
The worst play came on a grounder to third baseman Weston Wilson hit by Brice Matthews. He threw to Jackson at second, who couldn’t handle it. The next three batters reached, and the Orioles (15-16) ended the inning down 10-0.
In the first, Jackson deflected a ball hit by Yainer Diaz that was ruled a single.
“It’s just consistency,” Albernaz said. “I think anyone that watched the first game, I would say our defense was pretty good, if not really good. Yeah, the second game was just ugly.
“Like, that’s unacceptable. I know it’s a doubleheader, it’s tough to win one game in the big leagues, never mind two on the same day. But we didn’t give ourselves a chance to win this game.”
Albernaz said the coaches are working hard to improve the defense.
“It’s constant conversations, yeah,” he said. “The guys acknowledge it. Guys are working every day. That’s something that [we’re] looking to continue to get better at.”
Lance McCullers (1-3) allowed three runs in the fourth on an RBI double by Pete Alonso and a two-run triple by Leody Taveras.
Gunner Henderson’s RBI double in the seventh drove in Taveras, and Coby Mayo’s sacrifice fly scored Colton Cowser in the ninth.
The Orioles had five hits in the second game. Samuel Basallo, who had been on a hot streak, struck out four times. Taylor Ward walked five times in the doubleheader.
What was wrong with Young? In Young’s first start, he pitched five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits against the Chicago White Sox on April 6th. On April 24th, he gave up three runs on seven hits in a win over Boston.
“It was just one of those days,” Young said. “Got my butt kicked. Not much I can say. It sucks. I thought I turned a page from last year, not having these kind of blow-up outings, but yeah, it’s just disappointing to the team, trying to go for the sweep and we’re in a 5-0 hole in the first. It’s just really frustrating.”
Albernaz said Young wasn’t sharp.
“He just left a lot of stuff out over the plate, and they didn’t miss it,” Albernaz said. “Execution was something that was eluding him tonight, and they didn’t miss anything out over the plate.”
What does it mean? The Orioles had an opportunity for their third three-game winning streak, but they delivered a poor performance in Game 2.
What’s the word?”- “It’s more so just getting back to the basics and fundamentals. A lot of the errors, at least speaking for myself anyway, are a lack of concentration. A lack of fundamentals. Really, just kind of getting back to the basics and making the routine plays routinely.”-Jackson on Orioles’ poor defense in Game 2.
What’s the stat of the day? 27-12. The Orioles were outhit in the doubleheader. In the first game, Houston had 12 hits to the Orioles’ six. In the second game, it was 15-6,
What’s next? The Orioles open a four-game series at Yankee Stadium on Friday night at 7:05. The Orioles haven’t named their starter, but could recall Cade Povich to face Will Warren (3-0, 2.59)
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