What was a promising 6-1 start last week has now turned into a five game skid.
Zach Britton could not save the Orioles and got hit hard by a surging Indians team. It was a bit much to expect him to act as a savior as well as a stopper after what we have seen.
In his third major league start, Britton ran into a tough Indians team and didn’t seem to have the same magic he had last week against the Texas Rangers.
He had only given up one run in his two starts — a 15 2/3 innings combined — but a pesky Cleveland lineup amazingly got hit after hit, and tested the Baltimore defense.
Britton went six innings and gave up runs — all earned.
I’ll have more later on tonight, but all things considered, the recent five game skid has been tough to stomach.
However, we all should not jump off the ship yet and assume that the Orioles have reverted back to what we have seen in the last decade.
The offense is scuffling, and while they were held in check by Justin Masterson — who started the game on the mound for the Indians and got the win — not much has happened offensively in the past week. They did get a good effort yesterday, but overall, they have not gotten the hits they needed and somehow can’t get anyone across the plate.
The bullpen has been a tad shaky the past two nights, and Rupe’s effort tonight didn’t alleviate things.
Oh boy.
This may be the first true rough patch in the Buck-Ball era. Let’s hope it doesn’t get any worse.
It’s amazing now that the Indians are 9-4. And yes, as of now the Red Sox are struggling — still — trailing the Blue Jays, 7-4, right now.
The Orioles are 6-6 at the moment. While it’s a whole lot better than what we saw at this time last year, I somehow expected them to continue their hot start.
The road doesn’t get easier with the Twins, Yankees and Red Sox coming into the Yard next week.
Maybe the Orioles have just run into reality right now.
