Baltimore Orioles must rebound after rough Sunday
By Joe Wedra
Apr 27, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Miguel Gonzalez (50) throws in the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Heading into Sunday, it was clear that the AL East was struggling. With the Tampa Bay Rays injuries and the Baltimore Orioles losing Chris Davis, things have shifted a bit in what, heading into the year, some called the toughest division in baseball.
The Orioles didn’t have a chance on Sunday, as the Kansas City Royals scored nine runs in their victory. Adam Jones had a rough day in centerfield, dropping a routine fly-ball early and misjudging another late in the game. He couldn’t get anything going at the plate, as he went 0-4 with a strikeout and two runners left on. His average is now just .265, notably lower than what many expected heading into the season.
The bottom of the lineup consisting of Steve Lombardozzi, Jonathan Schoop, and David Lough couldn’t get anything going, either. They combined to go 1-10, striking out six times and leaving a few runners on. Because Matt Wieters had the day game off, fill-in catcher Steve Clevenger was forced into the lineup. He also was hitless, going 0-3.
Nelson Cruz, who received an offer from the O’s late in the offseason, hit a two-run homerun in the game.
Miguel Gonzalez was on the hill for the Birds, but he wasn’t able to produce his best start. He allowed six hits over six innings and surrendered four runs, striking out just four. His season ERA jumped to 5.19.
Baltimore will look to have Manny Machado back this week. He has been extremely hot in his rehab assignment, and Buck Showalter‘s club hopes to have him back ASAP to provide a spark in the Orioles lineup while Chris Davis is injured.
For the Orioles to continue to keep up winning ways, the team has to put this game behind them. They can’t keep looking back at this game wondering “what if”. They have an off day tomorrow. They’ll need to use that to put this performance behind them and focus on their upcoming games.
Moving ahead, Baltimore will host the Pittsburgh Pirates for a two-game set before traveling to Minnesota to battle the Minnesota Twins, the beginning of a six-game road stretch.