Following a busy trade deadline for these two team, the Orioles and Texas Rangers met for a three game series which is the final time the two teams will face off against each other in the regular season.
Game One: Orioles: 5, Rangers: 1
Dylan Bundy got the start for the Orioles and pitched marvelously. Bundy went seven innings allowing no runs on one hit while striking out seven and walking only one batter. If it was not for his limited pitch count, he could possibly have gone longer in the game.
Bundy was helped out by four separate solo home runs on the night from Pedro Alvarez twice, Adam Jones, and Matt Wieters. The Orioles fifth run came in the eighth inning on a Chris Davis single, scoring Manny Machado.
Game Two: Orioles: 3, Rangers: 2
Kevin Gausman tried to follow in Bundy’s footsteps from the previous game with a good outing of his own and he ended up doing just that. Gausman on the night went seven innings allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out seven and walking only one. I have waited a long time for back-to-back dominant outings from these two.
Down 1-0 in the first inning, Mark Trumbo got the scoring going for the O’s with a fielder’s choice groundout, scoring Jonathan Schoop. Later in the inning, Matt Wieters got a single and drove in Mark Trumbo and Chris Davis to make it 3-1 in favor of the Orioles.
Steve Pearce made his return to Baltimore but unfortunately went 0-2 on the night with a walk and two strikeouts.
Game Three: Rangers: 5, Orioles: 3
Wade Miley made his Orioles debut and did not follow along with the trend that Bundy and Gausman were trying to set. Miley was only able to go five innings allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out five and walking nobody. That is not the worst possible outcome you can have from your debut with a team and hopefully it leaves room to improve.
The hope now is that his calf is okay after taking a line drive to it during the game. He said afterwards that he is fine and not concerned.
All three of the Orioles runs came via solo home runs. The blasts were provided by Mark Trumbo, Pedro Alvarez and Hyun Soo Kim. Unfortunately, that was not enough to match the Rangers five runs on the night.
Walking away with a series win against a very good Rangers team will always be successful, in my opinion. The funniest part is that the two wins the Orioles did get in the series came against the team’s two aces: Yu Darvish and Cole Hamels.
The Orioles will now head to the south side of Chicago to face off against the White Sox. The series will open up with Yovani Gallardo going up against former Orioles’ pitcher Miguel Gonzalez. Game two will feature Carlos Rodon for the White Sox followed by James Shields in game three. No word yet on who the Orioles will have pitch in the final two games of the series. For now, the Orioles avoid facing Chris Sale.
As of right now, as well, it does not look like Chance the Rapper will make an appearance for the White Sox either in the series.
