Very close.
Orioles rookie Brandon Young saw his perfect game bid end in an unfortunate way during Friday night’s match, with a dribbler hit by a batter with two outs in the eighth inning. This hit marked the only one for the Astros in the Orioles’ 7-0 victory at Dalkin Park.
The official scorer faced a decision to potentially assign the error to a missed play, which would have negated the hit, but instead, former Orioles player Ramon Urias received credit for the hit.
“I thought I could make the play,” Young reflected. “I reached it in time. I think I might’ve had a moment to take a better step and make a more accurate throw. I rushed it, and it went wide.”
At 26, Young had grown up attending games in Houston, and he was there with family and friends trying to create a memorable moment.
He had secured the first 23 outs before Urias, who had been sent to the Astros at the trade deadline, hit a soft dribbler with a 2-2 count. Young tried to grab it with one hand, but as he moved, he attempted to make a quick throw to first base without stopping to set himself.
Unfortunately, his throw went wide, sailing past first baseman Coby Mayo, allowing Urias to reach safely. While a well-placed throw could have nabbed Urias, Young’s hurried attempt eliminated that chance.
Despite the disappointing moment, Young bounced back but couldn’t shake the sting of that throw, which lingered with him even as teammates congratulated him in the dugout.
“I was honestly just focused on how to field the ball cleanly,” Young admitted. “It really frustrates me.”
Teammate Jordan Westberg shared his thoughts, expressing belief in Young’s potential that night. “I thought he had a genuine chance,” Westberg noted. “It’s unfortunate, but it was still a significant night for him. I hope he doesn’t dwell on it too much.”
Young faced six batters in what was the best performance of his career, coming into the game with a 6.70 ERA. He highlighted the importance of his fastball command against a tough opponent and celebrated grabbing that first career win.
“That really means a lot,” Young remarked, reflecting on the confidence boost from this outing. “Getting the first one is a big deal; it’s like you can finally take a deep breath.”
