Orioles turn to Bud Norris to start ALCS Game 2
Non-committal on a Game 2 starter before the ALCS opened on Friday night, Orioles manager Buck Showalter wasted no time announcing that right-hander Bud Norris would take the ball following their 8-6, 10-inning loss to Kansas City in Game 1.
Norris gets the nod over Wei-Yin Chen, who started but struggled in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Detroit Tigers. Chen lasted only 3 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits. Baltimore would go on to rally late against Detroit’s disheveled bullpen to take control of the series, 2-0.
Norris would serve as a closer of sorts in that series, making his postseason debut by starting and matching zeroes with David Price in Game 3 in Detroit. He pitched 6 1/3 scoreless before giving way to the bullpen, which held strong and helped complete the sweep.
It’s an entirely different task for Norris on Saturday. Savior might be too drastic a term for Game 2 in a seven-game series, but it’s obviously in Baltimore’s best interests to avoid traveling to Kansas City down two games. Manager Buck Showalter understands as much, and based on his pregame comments it would seem he had the scenarios all figured out well ahead of time and knew this spot belonged to Norris.
“We’re going to do everything we can to try to win tonight’s game,” Showalter said hours before Game 1. “Then we’ll let the smoke clear and see where we are.”
With a good start from Chris Tillman and a win in Game 1, Showalter may have saved Norris for Game 3 and gone with Chen again figuring he could piece together nine-plus innings with his bullpen if need be. He got neither, so he may have leaned toward Norris, who was fantastic in Detroit and has been lights out all season at Camden Yards.
In 13 home starts, Norris is 8-2 with a 2.44 ERA. He also allowed only five home runs in 80 home innings.
“Just pitching in the regular season in front of this fan base has been outstanding,” said Norris. “I’ve pitched well this year at home. I think that’s a testament to the fans and the team. I’m excited to get another opportunity to go out there and do what I do, because these guys have been here all year cheering us on. They’ve been outstanding. To get this far is great. I know they’re going to be pretty excited and loud tomorrow, too.”
There’s no doubt Norris is comfortable at home, so Showalter’s hope will be to get even on Saturday and worry about Game 3 when the time comes. How it works will be determined in front of another raucous Baltimore crowd.
“Just because he pitched well in Detroit, in a 3:45 game, I don’t think Kansas City cares,” said Showalter. “And it’s a constant proving ground for all of us. There’s a very short distance between villain and hero, so to speak. I know how this works in this ‘What have you done for me lately?’ world.”
In two regular season starts against Baltimore, Ventura allowed two runs over 14 1/3 innings. That included eight scoreless in a win at Camden Yards on April 25.
The 23-year-old right-hander hasn’t looked intimidated by any situation all season long. That’s not likely to change on Saturday afternoon in Baltimore.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
