Once again, the Yankees found a way to pull out another win as they defeated the Orioles, 6-3 on a, Easter Sunday that saw a lot of ups and downs at Camden Yards.
We know the Yankees are a tough team to face and when they see an opportunity to win, they do so.
Sunday’s contest was in the end was a game of “if’s”
We all know what took place. What happens of Robinson Cano — in a 3-2 count — strikes out against reliever Jason Berken in the 11th inning?
What happens if Robert Andino after making an incredible dive in the hole at shortstop, completes an amazing double play and it turns out to be a ‘web gem’?
What happens if Mark Reynolds doesn’t follow up Andino’s misplay with one of his own on a dribbler down the third base line?
Also, what if Andino is called safe on his slide in the bottom of the 9th inning? Or if Matt Wieters doesn’t block the plate against Jeter’s slide in the 10th?
Plus, what happens if Luke Scott’s opposite field drive in the 8th inning sails over the head of Yankee left fielder Brett Gardner?
It was a game of inches yesterday for the Orioles, but in the end, things didn’t go their way.
Jason Berken – who has probably been one of the most solid relivers by far on the team — took the loss. It was not his fault and things didn’t go his way. The Yankees ripped the guts out of the Orioles and their fans yesterday in the 11th inning; therefore, we all saw why they have ended up in the playoffs 16 out of the last 17 seasons.
They hustled, played hard and believed that they would not lose.
The Orioles did the same in the bottom of the ninth to engineer one of the most amazing comebacks at Camden Yards this season. They tied the game at game at three off legendary closer Mariano Rivera in the botton of the ninth as Brian Roberts ripped an RBI-double down the line to plate Adam Jones.
Over the past several years, the Yankees have owned the Orioles; however, on Easter Sunday, Baltimore didn’t fold to New York until the every end.
However, everyone has been wondering while the faces may have changed in 2011 … the end result was the same on Sunday.
A loss to the Yankees.
It was a good game by both teams; however, despite the loss, all is not bad with the Orioles. They are 8-12. Ok, so they are 4 games under .500 and much of magic from last year has faltered, but there’s a lot of good to take from yesterday.
Baltimore’s Jake Arrieta rebounded from a tough first inning and struck out nine batters. The bullpen — until the rain delay — kept New York off the scoreboard for most of the game. The offense is still struggling, but Luke Scott was 2-for-5, Mark Reynold hit his second homer of the year to start the comeback for the Orioles off Joba Chamberlain, and pinch-hitter Jake Fox’s clutch single off Rivera in the 9th set the wheels in motion to tie the game.
Of course, amazingly, the Orioles could not even muster much offense against the Yankees’ Freddy Garcia — who started the game on the mound. I found that astounding.
The Orioles played with heart, but it was not enough to defeat the Evil Empire after suffering a beatdown on Saturday.
