Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson delivered the game-changing hit within the second inning in a 6-1 win over the Boston Purple Sox on Wednesday evening.
However Henderson’s grand slam wasn’t the at-bat Purple Sox supervisor Alex Cora and beginning pitcher Kutter Crawford lamented probably the most.
It was really the at-bat proper earlier than Henderson when Crawford issued a two-out free go to light-hitting catcher James McCann to increase the inning, which gave Henderson the chance to money in with the bases loaded.
“I believe the stroll to McCann was the one,” Cora informed reporters. “He’s not attempting to stroll him after all. However put us in a foul spot.”
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Crawford had a sense within the second that the essential stroll might come again to harm him. It did in an enormous means as moments later, Henderson launched a dangling sweeper 422 ft to right-center subject.
“Mentioned it time and time once more, two-out walks at all times discover a technique to chunk you within the ass and clearly it did in the present day,” Crawford informed reporters. “Didn’t make a superb pitch to Gunnar and he put a superb swing on it. Simply bought to be higher with my execution.”
What made issues worse for Crawford is McCann is likely one of the few hitters in Baltimore’s gifted lineup that doesn’t pose as an actual risk. McCann is batting simply .198 on the season and was slotted in on the No. 9 spot within the order. However after throwing a first-pitch strike, Crawford threw 4 straight balls simply off the perimeters of the plate to stroll McCann.
“Making an attempt to pound the zone,” Crawford mentioned. “Clearly, misplaced it a couple of instances up and in after which tucked a few them away. However he’s the nine-hole hitter, I’ve bought to go proper at him.”
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All 5 of the runs Crawford surrendered in his outing got here within the second inning. He ended up tossing six innings, permitting these 5 runs on 4 hits with two walks and 5 strikeouts.
However the injury inflicted within the second inning was an excessive amount of for the Purple Sox to beat with Orioles ace Corbin Burnes handing over a dominant efficiency on the mound.
“It took every thing away from us,” Cora mentioned. “Hit batsman, base hit, the stroll to McCann — that’s the one. After which we’re dealing with the most effective hitters within the massive leagues and he bought a sweeper up within the zone and put a superb swing on it. … That inning simply bought away from us they usually did what they do.”
And that inning actually stained what in any other case was a stable displaying from Crawford, who now has let up 5 or extra runs in back-to-back begins.
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“Irritating outing as a result of I assumed mechanically and pitch high quality was just a little bit higher,” Crawford mentioned. “I assumed the fastball was just a little higher. However simply didn’t execute pitches after I wanted to.”
Listed here are extra notes from Wednesday’s Purple Sox-Orioles recreation:
— The Purple Sox haven’t discovered a lot success in opposition to the very best groups in MLB this season. In keeping with The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier, the Purple Sox maintain a 5-16 document and are 0-7 in sequence in opposition to groups no less than 5 video games above the .500 mark.
— Connor Wong continues to be a supply of offensive for the Purple Sox. He collected two hits, together with a bunt single, to push his batting common to .329.
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— It’s exhausting for any supervisor, even Cora, to not admire the expertise of the Orioles. Baltimore sat in second place within the American League East after the win with a 35-19 document whereas the Purple Sox stand eight video games behind the Orioles with a mark of 28-28.
“They’re an entire group,” Cora mentioned. “They do a whole lot of good things they usually hold getting higher.”
— The Purple Sox head again to Fenway Park the place they welcome within the Detroit Tigers for a four-game sequence beginning Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET and you may watch the sport, plus an hour of pregame protection, on NESN.
