I'm Going To Be Honest, Things Could Be Going Better For The Orioles As They Head To Texas Without a Win

I got nothing. The Orioles have looked awful in their first 2 playoff games this season. Now they head to Texas after losing both home games with a chance to be swept (regular season or postseason) for the first time since May 2022. Things could be going better! 

The atmosphere this weekend was incredible. Camden Yards was packed to the brim both games, not a single seat available and the Orioles just couldn't do a thing. Game 1 they had their chances late vs Aroldis Chapman who looked AWFUL and then found the zone, only 5 hits collectively, Gunnar thrown out stealing in the 9th on a missed hit-and-run with Aaron Hicks. Just awful, awful stuff on Saturday. Chance to turn the page Sunday with Grayson Rodriguez on the hill and tie it up and that wish faded quickly. Grayson couldn't locate the fastball and the Rangers made him pay. 1.2 IP with 4 walks, 6 hits, 5 runs, only 2 Ks and a 27.00 ERA. Quick hook for him but the rest of the pen imploded from there. Bryan Baker gave up 3 runs on 0 hits, 3 walks in 0.1 innings for an ERA of 81.00. Those runs weren't scored off Baker but it was Jacob Webb who gave up the grand slam to make it 9-2 Rangers in the 3rd. O's fought back but it was too little too late and they lost 11-8 and now are on the verge of calling to make tee times. 

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Good thing is the Rangers have lost three games or more in a row three separate times since August 31st. They've done this in the playoffs before also. In 2015 they did this to Toronto and lost the series. Meanwhile the Orioles have won three straight games 16 times this season. It ain't over yet, but it doesn't look good. Heading to Texas down 2-0 is quite literally the worst thing that could have happened this series. O's couldn't touch Andrew Heaney game 1, couldn't touch their pen either. Then game 2 they come out and walk 11 guys combined. You'll never win a playoff game walking 11, that's just insane. The other thing is the glaring weakness that is Cedric Mullins. 0 hits in 2 games this postseason after frankly, being dreadful 3/4ths of the season. He needs to show up, flat out. Adley Rutschman as well. We got the games from Gunnar Henderson, but Adley hitting .125 with a .472 OPS won't cut it. He has to be better and they have to get a complete game from all phases of the game. They need a starter to go deep Tuesday, they have to get the offense going early, and they just have to flat out play better. They don't have a choice. Get swept or keep this thing going. Hopefully they win 2 and bring it back to Baltimore Friday, crazier stuff has happened. I'm down but not out, they have bounced back all year, now we see what they are really made of. 

PS. We all know this is the real reason the O's lost. Crumb Bum.