BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 08: Pat Valaika #11 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches to a Boston Red Sox batter in the ninth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 08, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Friday night’s game at Camden Yards was ugly. To use a familiar news-cast phrase, this recap “may be disturbing” to some readers.

The Orioles bats produced 7 hits against Chicago pitching. Just one of those hits was needed to produce the Birds lone run; Ramon Urias (2 for 4) hit a second-inning homerun that landed in the the left-field seats.

Kelvin Gutierrez went 2 for 3 in his first start as an Oriole and Anthony Santander (1 for 4) hit a fourth inning double-homerun-double. The ball hit the top of the wall at the right-field Pepsi sign and bounced into play. It was ruled in play by the second base umpire and then changed to a homerun by the home plate umpire. Upon video review it was finally ruled a double.

The two Orioles heading to Colorado for All-Star festivities rounded out the Orioles offense. Trey Mancini went 1 for 4 with a double and Cedric Mullins went 1 for 4 as well.

Jorge Lopez started the game and allowed 2 runs on 8 hits over 4.0 innings. Walking 1 and striking out 4, he recorded his 12th loss of the season. A quartet of relief “pitchers” combined to allow 10 runs on 7 hits while walking 7, striking out 5 and surrendering 2 homeruns. Three of the seven batters walked, two by Cole Sulser (1.0 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 2 BB) and one by Dillon Tate (1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 1 K), eventually scored sixth inning runs.

It was an unconventional reliever, Pat Valaika, who managed to not allow a run. Valaika induced a one-strike groundout off the bat of Andrew Vaughn. On the season Valaika has a 0.00 ERA over 1.1 innings pitched in 2 appearances.

There was a heart-warming moment in the game during the 7th inning. Gilman alum, Gavin Sheets, son of former Oriole Larry Sheets, hit his 3rd homerun of the season with his dad present at the Yard.

Box Score

2021 Record: 28-59

Next Game: Sat. July 10 @ 4:05pm

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