The Orioles and Rangers didn’t engage in a slugfest; however, it was another close game as they defeated them, 7-5. Alfredo Simon didn’t make it two innings, and valiant effort by the bullpen along with a late homer by Adam Jones led Baltimore to victory along with a third consecutive series win.
Is Jones on his way to superstardom or what? This man does not even remotely look like the same player he was in 2008 — I’ve said it over and over, but has he ever come into this own in the first two weeks of the year or what?
As well, Brian Roberts had three hits, and Luke Scott drove in three with a home run. The Orioles took advantage of a Ranger bullpen that imploded in the tenth inning and got the win; however, Texas rallied and scored twice in the bottom of the tenth thanks to a shaky George Sherill who made things way too exciting, but he pulled it out. The final two outs looked like deep fly balls that could have gone out, but they stayed in the park.
Despite the performance of the offense, one has to be concerned yet again about the starting rotation. Simon was off, seemed like he was laboring. He only lasted 1 1/3 innings and gave up three solo home runs — one to Michael Young in the first inning, two more to Nelson Cruz and David Murphy in the second inning.
Simon found himself pulled from the game due to an elbow issue; therefore Dennis Sarfate came into the game and thew 3 1/3 scoreless innings to keep Baltimore in the game. A scary moment took place in the third inning as both Sarfate and Aubrey Huff barrelled into one another near the Rangers’ dugout attempting to field a foul ball; bowever, both men were not injured. The bullpen continued to help out Baltimore as Chris Ray came in pitch 1 1/3 scoreless innings, Jamie Walker saw a brief appearance for an inning, and Jim Johnson threw for two.
The Orioles got back into the game as Huff homered the in second inning, and scored again in the third as Adam Jones plated Brian Roberts with a double. They tied the game as Luke Scott hit his second home run — a solo shot — to dead center field.
The Texas bullpen held off Baltimore until the tenth inning as Adam Jones hit a towering two-run homer off reliever Eddie Guardado to give them a 5-3 lead. The Orioles scored two more off Guardado a few moments later as Luke Scott plated Nick Markakis and Ty Wigginton.
For Baltimore, Jim Johnson earned the win; meanwhile, for Texas, Eddie Guardado took the loss.
According to Roch Kubatko, Melvin Mora — who has been nursing a sore hamstring — as has been put on the disabled list. Matt Albers, who was sent down to Norfolk to make room for Adam Eaton has been recalled and considering the state of affairs with the pitching staff, seeing him back can only help Baltimore.
