It was a wonderful day for a ball game in Baltimore; however, when it was all said and done — Koji Uehara pitched a great game, but his bullpen lost the game — the Yankees took the three game series by defeating the Orioles, 5-3.
Baltimore might have lost, but Aubrey Huff made quite an impression on the New Yorkers and specifically, Joba Chamberlain.
The demonstrative Joba Chamberlain was on the mound for New York, and the Orioles jumped on him for a 3-0 lead. Baltimore started off the frame by Brian Roberts and Adam Jones got on base, and then Aubrey Huff hit a memorable home run by taking a Chamberlain offering to center field. Then in perhaps of one the most animated and funny celebrations I have ever seen, Aubrey Huff did a ridiculous fist pump — first at rounding first and then at home plate — to seemingly show up Chamberlain, who celebrates a huge moment with by doing it.
Did Chamberlain see Huff’s display of affection — maybe; however, his antics perhaps have irked many around baseball and it might be served as comic relief for Huff and the Orioles as well as giving the hurler the finger. Then again, it also might have urged the Yankees to get back into the game and overtake the Orioles.
Sadly, though that was all the offense Baltimore would muster against New York. Mark Teixeira hit a solo home run — his seventh — to put New York up 1-0 before Huff’s blast; however, Chamberlain would get revenge as Robinson Cano would homer and Johnny Damon hit a three-run blast of his own in the seventh inning off Jim Johnson — who was in relief of Uehara.
Chamberlain would get the win, and Mariano Rivera would get the save. Uehara would get the no decision, and Johnson would take the loss.
After the game, Huff admitted to baiting the young fireballer:
“I always told the guys that if I get him, I’m going to give him a nice fist pump,” said Huff, who faced Chamberlain in his next two at-bats with men on base. “For me, it wasn’t really showing anybody up. I was just trying to have some fun with it. If he’s going to do that all the time, he’s got to understand that guys are going to be gunning for him. If you want to do that stuff, you got to expect the hitters to get you, too.”
Well, Chamberlain also gave his two cents and perhaps wants a rematch:
Chamberlain said he didn’t see Huff’s actions, but did add: “He did what he was supposed to do with the pitch. He hit a home run. If he wants to do a back flip, he can do a back flip.” He also said, “This won’t be the last time I face him.” The Orioles and Yankees start another series in nine days.
Honestly, I do find Chamberlain’s antics annoying; however, it’s up to his opponents to stop him and he’s expressing himself as a competitor. Then again, as well, if Chamberlain played on let’s say — the Nationals, this story wouldn’t be a big deal.
Also, it’s cool to see Huff get a great response from the crowd. Considering the way he started off 2008 as the object of scorn by fans for his comments about the city of Baltimore, it’s cool to see the slugger being embraced by the fans for performing under such stress.
Finally, some gaffes on the base paths — one by Mora (a hilarious run down) and Jones (who was caught off of second after attempting a steal on ball four) may have also doomed the Orioles. There have been a handful of times where mistakes have been made running, and it’s costing the Orioles.
- It looks like Luke Scott may be hurt and may end up on the disabled list. He hurt his shoulder on Sunday as he tried to dive back into first while attempting to avoid a pickoff move by Chamberlain.
- Rich Hill looked mighty fine in Norfolk this weekend, and hopefully he’ll be up in the majors sooner rather than later.
- To end this post, the un-dearly departed Ryan Freel joined the Cubs this weekend, and he’s already shooting his mouth off about his time in Baltimore.
