After a disappointing loss on Wednesday night where Jim Johnson blew his 5th of the game season, the Orioles got into the win column again as they defeated the Cleveland Indians, 7-3.
Baltimore used a five-run, fifth inning to down the Tribe and starting pitcher Miguel Gonzalez, once again was solid, going 6 2/3 innings and giving only three runs. Ryan Flaherty plated in two runs and Nick Markakis, Chris Davis, Matt Wieters and J.J. Hardy each drove in a run.
Manny Machado got thrown out of his first game in the majors, after arguing over balls and strikes in the bottom of the fifth inning by home plate umpire Will Little. The Orioles cruised to a win anyway, and upon further review, Machado was probably right; however, the youngster learned the hard way you don’t show up the umpires.
Even if Little perhaps reacted with a quick trigger.
The Orioles are now 44-36 and trail the Boston Red Sox by 3 ½ games in the American League East.
The big news I took from yesterday is that Brian Roberts – yes, him – will suit up this weekend for the Birds as they take on the Yankees this weekend at the Yard. He will start at second according to Buck Showalter and I would assume man the position most of the time.
The question is: can he stay healthy?
I think the Orioles will tread carefully with Roberts from here on out. Second base has been a black hole offensively all season and maybe Roberts could give an offense that is pretty potent already another shot in the arm.
Nothing against Ryan Flaherty – who has come on as of late at the plate – or Alexi Casilla; however, Roberts – yes – is still the best option at second.
Finally, in other news, Freddy Garcia did accept an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. I believe he will be back with the team at some point with the way things have been going rotation-wise.
