For the first time since coming off the disabled list, Atlanta starter Brandon Beachy is pitching from behind. Beachy has allowed three runs over the first five innings and the Atlanta offense has been unable to get on track against Orioles starter Zach Britton.
Atlanta is probably lucky to only be trailing by three runs as Beachy has pitched out of trouble on two different occasions. He surrendered back to back singles to start the game to Baltimore's J.J. Hardy and Nick Markakis before coming back to strike out the next three batters.
Beachy surrendered the first run of the game in the third on a solo home run by the opposing pitcher Britton. Mark Reynolds also added a sacrifice fly in the inning to stake the Orioles to a 2-0 lead. He ran into trouble yet again in the fifth but rallied to get out of the inning with just one run scoring. Britton and Hardy led off the inning with singles and Nick Markakis followed with a run scoring double to right. Beachy then rallied to retire to retire Adam Jones on a foul out, Mark Reynolds on a strikeout, and got Derek Lee to pop out to short to end the inning.
Atlanta missed out on an excellent opportunity to score in the fifth. After a Nate McLouth ground out, Julio Lugo walked and advanced to second on a pinch hit single by Wilkin Ramirez. Jordan Schafer then loaded the bases with a bunt single bringing up Jason Heyward with the bases loaded and one out. After a long battle with Britton, Heyward tapped back to Britton at the mound who started a 1-2-3 double play ending the threat.