- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Gallardo’s first-inning woes proving costly
- Updated: September 16, 2016
BALTIMORE — Yovani Gallardo didn’t want to make excuses on a night when he couldn’t find the strike zone early and surrendered a homer in the first inning for the fourth straight start. His poor outing loomed large in a 7-6 loss to the Rays on Thursday in the midst of the playoff race.
The Orioles signed the veteran righty in the offseason to a two-year, $22 million deal in hopes he would stabilize a rotation that’s struggled over the past few years. Thursday — with the O’s sitting a game back of the Red Sox in the American League East to start the night — presented Gallardo with a chance to deliver in a big spot for Baltimore.
But Gallardo’s first-inning woes continued to be a problem. And even when the O’s used a four-run first to give him back the lead, he couldn’t hold on to it, and Baltimore fell two games behind the Red Sox with the loss.
“It wasn’t there tonight,” …
