Baltimore Orioles Squander Incredible Pitching Performance in Game 1 Loss

The Baltimore Orioles are now in a 1-0 whole after losing a tough game where their pitching staff was incredible.

Oct 1, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Corbin Burnes (39) is relieved in the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals in game one of the Wild Card round for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Oriole Park at Camden Yards / Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Once the Baltimore Orioles officially locked up their place in the 2024 postseason, they were hoping to flush all the issues that had plagued them in the latter part of the year by focusing on resetting and getting ready for the playoffs.

They have all the talent in the world to make a deep run, but there were still some questions if this group is truly ready to take that next step after getting swept out of the ALDS round in 2023.

The Orioles brought in Corbin Burnes to become the ace of their staff and give this group a real chance at winning playoff games, something that he delivered on in Game 1 against the Kansas City Royals.

Unfortunately, Baltimore's lineup did not show up and squandered the star's performance during their 1-0 loss on Tuesday.

With the Royals throwing their own ace Cole Ragans, this was setting up to be a classic pitcher's duel, and that's exactly what it was throughout the contest.

The first and only run wasn't scored until the top of the sixth inning when superstar Bobby Witt Jr. broke the stalemate with an RBI single.

Burnes was credited with the loss, but he was sensational, pitching 8.0 innings where he gave up just that one run on five hits while striking out three batters compared to one walk.

The Orioles were only able to muster five hits, with two them coming from Cedric Mullins.

Their star-studded group of Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Anthony Santander, Adley Rutschman and Colton Cowser combined to go 2-for-19.

The staleness of Baltimore's offense was a major concern coming in with this lineup not quite putting up the same type of numbers and at-bats they had showcased during the early portion of the year when they were dominating their opponents.

Ragans was lights out for Kansas City, throwing six scoreless innings where he only gave up four hits and struck out eight batters with no walks, but they after they decided to pull him following only 80 pitches thrown, that was the Orioles' chance to strike.

But, that never came to fruition.

Baltimore has to figure out a way to get production from their lineup in Game 2, or else they're going to get swept out of the playoffs for the second year in a row that will end this campaign in major disappointment.