Only one team would win and in the end, the defense of the Nationals would undo a thrilling game and the Baltimore Orioles would come back from six runs down and earn a 7-6 victory in the bottom of the ninth inning as Jake Fox scored the winning run.
Errors – four in total – doomed the Nationals and the final one was fatal on the night.
With the game tied at six with one out in the ninth inning, Baltimore had runners at first and second base. Julio Lugo – who played second base for the Orioles on the evening – grounded out to shortstop Ian Desmond, who then flipped the ball to Cristian Guzman to start the double play hopefully end the frame.
Guzman’s throw to short would end up short to first base and the ball would sneak under first baseman Adam Dunn’s glove for a devastating error. That would allow Fox to score and send Baltimore (by far the worst team in baseball) to only their 21st win in 73 games.
Perhaps Washington manager Jim Riggleman did Baltimore a favor by leaving reliever Tyler Clippard in the game way too long.
He came into the game to start off the eighth inning and immediately walked Matt Wieters – the leadoff hitter. Moments later, pinch-hitter Scott Moore would absolutely crush a Clippard offering and send it over the wall in right field to bring Baltimore within one of the lead, 6-5.
Instead of yanking Clippard and bringing in another pitcher, Riggleman decided to stay with him and things would only get worse. Hewould give up a one-out double to light-hitting shortstop Cesar Izturis and then would allow the Orioles to tie the game off a Corey Patterson RBI-single.
Amazing. In the end, the Orioles had absolutely no business even winning that game on Friday.
Jake Arrieta was not good on the night, as he only lasted and gave up six runs – five earned. He’s definitely hit a rough after taking care of the Yankees and Giants in his first two major league starts. The Nationals got the Orioles in the first five innings, but after that, the bullpen would keep them at bay.
In other news, perhaps the most disliked player in Baltimore (the boo birds were out for him), Garrett Atkins will probably be in town for a little longer. The team sent Lou Montanez to the DL, and with Felix Pie still rehabbing, Atkins still has a spot and may play some with Ty Wigginton also ailing (back issues).
Finally, the Orioles this afternoon will celebrate the 1970 World Championship team by holding a pre-game ceremony before today’s game against Washington. It will be cool to see the two teams don the old uniforms from that year (the Nationals will wear Senators jerseys despite they being the Expos back then).
