Seeing “Baltimore” or the road uniforms last night on MASN was a wonderful thing, and what was even better is that they beat the Rangers, 10-9. Many people — fans and those in the media (WNST especially) — have been waiting for this night for years now, and it finally came on Monday.
In a game that resembled a roller-coaster or better yet a summer beer league softball game, Baltimore gave Koji Uehara ample run support to win his second major league game; however, he was not good at all as he gave up seven runs against a Texas team that can slug with the best of them.
The Orioles had 16 hits — a high on the brief season so far — and Aubrey Huff led the way for Baltimore with a 4-for-5 night with three runs driven in. Nick Markakis and Ty Wiggington each had two runs driven in, while Brian Roberts went 2-for-5. Felix Pie finally broke out as he hit his home run as a member of the Baltimore franchise. He too had three hits, but still looked very, very shaky in left field defensively.
Baltimore scored in first inning twice, but in the following frame Texas got a run back and added three in the two following innings off Uehara. However, the Orioles scored five times in the top of the fourth with hit after hit along with an error and walk, therefore sending starter Vicente Padilla to the showers, then Pie’s homer in the fifth put them up for good, 9-4.
Texas chipped away at Baltimore’s lead as they scored three times in the sixth to send Uehara to the dugout, and twice in seventh after as Andruw Jones — who is on the comeback trail and I hope makes it back — homered off the formerly effective Danys Baez to make the score, 10-9.
Our Japanese buzzsaw, Uehera, who was so good against the Yankees has his hands full with the Rangers. He looked very much off, the pitches were not hitting their spots, and against an aggressive Texas team whose offense is built for the park they play in — teed off of Uehara. He will need to have pin-point control or location, or his outings on the mound — much like on Monday night — have the potential to be very ugly.
The Rangers made it exciting in the bottom of the ninth as Ian Kinsler started off the frame with a double, but Nick Markakis robbed a sure game-tying hit off the bat off Michael Young by crashing into the wall, but after a walk and double steal, George Sherrill — who closed out the game — ended the threat by throwing high heat by Marlon Byrd to finalize things.
Well, it looks like the Orioles should have an amazing offense; however, it will be naught if the starting pitching is mediocre, and if the bullpen keeps giving up runs en masse. Despite everything, this season should be definitely one to watch.
