Corbin Burnes was pitching excellently, slicing through the Kansas City Royals’ lineup like the star he has been all season for the Baltimore Orioles. However, one major mistake in the sixth inning led to a tough loss in the postseason.
Burnes walked the No. 9 hitter, Maikel Garcia, who then stole second base and moved to third on a groundout. Bobby Witt Jr. hit a softly struck single into left field that scored the only run of the game, pushing the Orioles to the edge of elimination with a 1-0 defeat in Game 1 of their AL Wild Card Series on Tuesday.
“The walk hurt,” Burnes said. “The walk cost us the game.”
This was the only walk allowed by the 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner during his eight-plus innings of work. Burnes, who might be a free agent soon, showed some of his best pitching in what could be his last game for Baltimore.
He gave up just five hits and struck out three, regretting not getting Garcia out at a moment that turned out to be crucial.
“If I attack him a little better and don’t walk him, we get through there, 0-0 ballgame and we’ve got a chance,” said Burnes, who got popouts from Witt in the AL batting champion’s first two at-bats. “He didn’t hit it very hard. It just found a hole, and that was the difference in the game.”
Burnes did nearly everything needed to bring the Orioles one win away from the Division Series against the New York Yankees, earning praise from teammates and opponents.
“Incredible,” said Zach Eflin, who is set to pitch Game 2 for Baltimore on Wednesday. “From pitch one, he set the tone. That’s exactly what a No. 1 does. He’s done it all year and his whole career.”
Royals leadoff hitter Michael Massey singled to start the game, but Burnes then retired the next 12 batters and appeared focused. Nothing seemed to shake him.
“He’s got really good stuff,” Massey said. “He’s a good competitor. He changes speeds. He works in and out. His stuff moves late. You think it’s going to be in one spot and you swing there — and it’s not there.”
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