CSN: Orioles need to find their bats in Game 2

October 8, 2012, 12:29 pm

Don't let the score fool you.?

The Orioles may have lost Game 1 of their ALDS to the Yankees, ?7-2. But they could have taken control of the game during the long stretch when it was deadlocked at two. They had their chances, good chances.?

But the bats couldn't come through. And that's been a problem for the past week. Ever since the Orioles swept the Red Sox last weekend, their bats have quieted down. They scored just five runs against a very good Tampa Bay pitching staff and added five in the playoff win over Texas.

Sunday night, though, they finished with eight hits but couldn't get them at the right time. They wasted several chances and could have gone ahead and changed the tone of the game.?

The Orioles will need to break out of this mini-offensive skid if they want to have any chance in this series. Their pitching, again, was right on the money with plenty of support from a defense that's transformed itself in the last two months.?

Still, you need runs. The Orioles posted an amazing 29-9 record in one-run games this season. To do that, you need hits and runs at the right time.?

That didn't happen on Sunday night. It hasn't happened in the last week. One thing the Orioles are hopefully going to work on is being more patient at the plate. CC Sabathia made it through 8 2/3 innings last night for New ?York helped at times by the Orioles' swinging early in the counts.

In the inning where the Orioles scored two runs, Sabathia needed just nine pitches to get through it. Sabathia would get ahead with a strike one pitch, and the Orioles would often swing away after that. They need the patience, no matter who's pitching.?

The Yankees are masterful at working the count, fouling off pitches, driving up the starter's pitch count. Jason Hammel lasted 5 2/3 innings -- but threw 112 pitches.?

Can the Orioles be more patient at the plate? Can they score more runs. Those are two of the key questions heading into Game 2 Monday night.

Tags: Yankees, New York, orioles, Baltimore Orioles, o's, mlb postseason

Source: http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/post/Orioles-must-find-their-bats-to-keep-pac?blockID=785817&feedID=6876

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