Orioles Avoid Sweep
Trying to finish the homestand with a 5-1 record, the Phillies were looking to sweep out the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. Well, thanks to a four-run fourth, the Orioles avoided the sweep by defeating the Phillies, 5-1 on Wednesday afternoon.
Both teams, had a chance to get on the board, but both starters, Trevor Rogers of the Orioles, and Ranger Suarez of the Phillies, got out of jams in the second and third innings.
The Orioles broke through in the fourth, as shortstop Gunnar Henderson led off with a single to left. Then, catcher Adley Rutschman got on an infield single, as the ball deflected off of Suarez.
Jeremiah Jackson stepped up next, and jumped on a first pitch cutter, and ripped it down the left field line. Jackson’s double made it a 1-0 game.
Finally, Coby Mayo jumped all over a first pitch changeup, and hit a no doubter for his 4th home run of the season, and making it 4-0 Baltimore.
In the bottom of the fourth, it was Kepler hitting a leadoff double, then Bryson Stott just missed a home run by about six inches, and instead hit a stand-up triple, that made it a 4-0 game.
Philadelphia did cut the deficit to 4-1, in the bottom of the 5th inning, thanks to an RBI single by Trea Turner.
The Orioles added to their lead, as Alex Jackson doubled to left, and then Jackson Holliday hit a ground single that scored Jackson, and made it, 5-1, and ended Suarez’s day.
Dietrich Enns and Keegan Akin, pitched the final three innings for the Orioles, and only allowed one hit while striking out five batters.
The one key stat that hurt Philadelphia, they were 1-10 with RISP and they left 9 runners on base.
Rogers, had a strong appearance, as he went six innings, and allowed eight hits, but only one run scored, and he struck out six.
As for Suarez, the bad inning in the fourth was the killer in his start, he went 6 1/3 innings, and allowed five runs on nine hits in the loss.
Up next for Phillies
The Phillies will now go on a very long road trip. The trip, will stop three times, and Philadelphia will play ten games on this trip. The first stop, will be in Arlington, Texas, as they will face the Texas Rangers with first pitch set for 8:05 p.m. Cristopher Sanchez will seek his 11th win for Philadelphia, and he will face the newest Ranger, Merrill Kelly, who the team acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
-David Weightman/ Olde City Sports Network