Last night had to be one of the more impressive games I’ve seen from the Orioles in quite a while.
They defeated the Detroit Tigers last night to take two out of three contests during the game series, 9-5.
I went to the game last night in person and it was cold, chilly and there didn’t seem to be much of a crowd out there; however, it was a fun time by all and saw a great win by Baltimore.
The Orioles had to come back from three deficits in order to up their record to 5-1 and take sole possession of first place in the AL East.
The Orioles used a five-run seventh inning in which they batted around the lineup to come back and down the Tigers. They would jump all over the Tigers bullpen and decide the game from there.
Vladmir Guerrero – who had a homer in the second inning – drove the tying run in the seventh inning with a single (after Roberts and Markakis reached base). Moments later, Mark Reynolds had a two-run double that helped put away the game for good.
I just find Vladmir Guerrero amazing, but it irks me that he swings on the first pitch … so often. I know his ability to hit pitches that he has no business swinging at made him a legend, but still…
Cesar Izturis – who was in the game due to J.J. Hardy being scratched out of the lineup – drove in a run during the 5-run seventh.
Adam Jones finally got out of his slow start as he hit a monstrous two-run homer to left in the sixth, drove in three runs and had a critical bunt in the game.
Good thing he was in the lineup. Considering he was not going to play until Buck Showalter penciled him in, the Orioles should be happy with the decision.
The offense bailed out starting pitcher Chris Tillman, who only lasted 4 2/3 innings after his impressive showing in Tampa. He looked good at times during the game – especially in the second and third innings – however, he was not efficient at all with his pitches.
It was painful to watch him in the first inning, and I think he needed some thirty-or so pitches to get out of the frame. Tillman gave up two runs in the first inning and in the fifth.
He left the game with the Tigers up 4-2 in the fifth inning.
Jim Johnson earned the win, throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. Brad Thomas took the loss for the Tigers, giving up the winning run; meanwhile, Brad Penny, who started for Detroit on the mound, went 5 1/3 innings and left the game after Jones’ homer in the sixth.
They have won their second series of the year and that was not accomplished until May of last season.
What a difference a year makes. Yes, there are only 156 games to go.
As we are learning, there are no easy outs on the Orioles. The Tigers learned that last night.
Finally, there was a crazy play in last night’s game.
In the fourth inning, with a runner on base, Tiger DH Victor Martinez hit a long drive to the gap in the right field; however, Adam Jones ran down the ball – I would say he raced a good forty feet – and seemingly caught it in his glove.
At least from what could from where I sat last night — which was a good 375 feet away from the action.
However, based on various TV replays, the ball hit the top of his glove and was airborne as he hit the wall.
Then, the ball bounced off the wall and Nick Markakis retrieved it without hitting the ground.
Of course, the fans at the park didn’t have the benefit of replay, so it was a total guess at the time as to what happened. We all saw Jim Leyland come out to argue his case and from there you know something was sketchy.
The umpire called Victor Martinez out when he should have gotten at least a double.
Good for the Orioles.
They have a tough series this weekend as the Texas Rangers — the American League Champions — started three games series this weekend.
On Friday, Colby Lewis of the Rangers takes on Oriole rookie Zach Britton in his first start at Camden Yards.
