One of the best wins of the young season
Tuesday’s 5-3 win was impressive for a couple of reasons.
Zach Britton didn’t have his good stuff but still turned in a quality start. And the Orioles couldn’t solve rookie lefty Danny Duffy, but didn’t give up after five futile innings.
The main reason this was a win to remember for the Orioles was whom it came against.
True, Kansas City Royals closer Joakim Soria isn’t as automatic as he has been in past years. He was seven of nine in converting saves this season and came into the night with a 3.86 ERA and an un-Soria-like 27 base runners in 18 2/3 innings.
Still, there is history here. Soria had been perfect against the Orioles in his career. He was 7-for-7 in save opportunities. He hadn’t allowed a run in 11 1/3 innings over 12 games versus the Orioles. In that time, he had yielded just six hits and three walks while striking out 12.
On Tuesday, he allowed three hits and three runs while facing just five batters. Consecutive doubles by J.J. Hardy and pinch-hitter Felix Pie tied the game, and Adam Jones’ two-run homer with two outs and two strikes gave the Orioles the victory. He hit an 0-2 cutter to deep center field – a 418-foot missile.
“Off the bat, I knew it was over [the center fielder’s] head. But then once I saw him turn, I was about halfway to first, I'm like, ‘Yeah,’” Jones said. “I'm not strong enough to always know when it goes out to center field.”
The Orioles have gotten to New York’s Mariano Rivera twice this year and now once against Soria -- perhaps the two best closers in the American League.
“We hate closers in here,” Jones said. “We want to give all the closers L's. We were able to do it. We’ve gotten to a few closers here this year. That’s what it comes down to. They’re trying to close us out, and we ain’t letting them go.”
Jones was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts previously against Soria. The Orioles, as a team, were 6-for-40.
Until Tuesday.
“The thing about baseball is, if you go in that clubhouse and you ask them how many runs we’ve scored against Soria, I don’t know how many of them would really know that, and I’m not going to remind them. What are they going to change?” manager Buck Showalter said. “That’s why everything looks one way on paper and you play it. I can’t tell you how many times I thought we had something wired in our favor and you go back to the hotel or house or locker room and you say, ‘Jeez, that wasn’t the way it was supposed to be.’ So you keep pounding, and you realize that’s not always the case. Tonight’s one of those nights.”
Here’s what Soria had to say: “That pitch was up and away, and he hit it well. I tried to throw a fastball away, and he hit it well. In this park, if you hit the ball well, it’s going to go out.”
All that said, we’re not going to act like this was a perfect game for the Orioles. They were 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position heading into the ninth. And their biggest chance was wiped out when Robert Andino inexplicably bunted on the first pitch after Duffy had walked two consecutive batters and couldn’t find the plate with a compass and a GPS to start the inning. A bunt made sense, but not until Duffy threw the ball over the plate.
Andino popped up the high pitch, and the Royals turned it into a double play and cruised into the sixth.
But, all in all, it was one of the Orioles’ better wins of the young season.
Comments
I was at the game (tomorrow as well) and the bunt was bad. I think Andino had the right idea, but bad execution.
Jones has turned into the player we all thought he would be. He's a leader, he hustles out of the box and his defense has been the best since he came to Baltimore. Matt also has become a leader, so it's nice to see the two young guys with the most potential, live up to the expectations.
I have no clue how Accardo got out of the 7th? He was great in the 8th, but he is the Chris Tillman of relievers. I don't think I've seen him go an outing without throwing 20+ pitches this season.
With the slumps of some of the key players and blowing games against the Sox and Yanks, the O's are just two under .500! I still believe we haven't seen the best of this club. I still truly feel that Matusz will help out the SP and BP by being able to go deep into games.
Dan,
Don't you think it's time Felix got some regular AB's? He is a spark plug and I think he can have a big impact on this team. Snyder had a hell of a play at 1B, but while Lee is not playing, I would go with Luke at 1B and Felix in LF.
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Dan's Reply: I agree. Good time to see what Felix can do. Although you are sacrificing some D at first (but gaining it in LF).
Posted by: Birdland Todd | May 24, 2011 11:55 PM
This team is what, 3.5 games outta first and 3 outta the wild card? Still not even June yet, but my dream of meaningful games for the O's during the summer months is still do-able!
Having Andino get regular starts at 2nd while B-Rob the china doll is out is kind of a blessing in disguise in my book.
Posted by: rjh9er | May 24, 2011 11:57 PM
Dan, Jeff, Dan, Pete...
This was a good win. Any time you can tie and then win in the 9th against any team's closer, it's impressive.
If we are ever going to contend, we HAVE to stun the Yankees and Red Sox in a similar manner. Nothing against the Royals, or Soria, but we seem so intimidated and frustrated by our AL East rivals.
Posted by: PeteyPablo | May 25, 2011 12:10 AM
Well, Petey, the Orioles are 7-6 against the Red Sox and Rays and are 22-18 against anyone not named the Yankees. The Bombers have to feel extremely lucky to be where they are because at least two, maybe three, or even four game they could have lost to the Orioles. Instead, they are 6-0 against Baltimore. Just think if the Orioles won those games they should have won. They'd be 25-21 and right in the middle. As it is, 3.5 out at this point isn't bad. And you'd have to think that the law of averages will eventually catch up to the Yankees when the play the Orioles.
Posted by: ken | May 25, 2011 7:22 AM
I thought Snyder made an important grab at 1st base last night early in the game, where he did that split to grab the toss to complete the double play.
Posted by: Rex Thunderclap | May 25, 2011 7:23 AM
While it was a good win, it was also a necessary win.
To keep relevant this is a must win series for the O's. The Royals are not walkovers by any means, but with Britton pitching, who expected ninth inning heroics to pull out a victory?
Posted by: sarasotosfan | May 25, 2011 9:07 AM
Just had a feeling A Jones was going to end it with a walkoff last night. I agree with Birdland Todd. Weiters and Jones are becoming leaders on this team. Perhaps even more importantly, they are also clutch hitters. How about that double Jones hit earlier in the game which was just a liner to the gap that was cut off before it got by the LF. Jones was busting his tail right out of the box and never stopped running. Love the husstle.
It is nice to see this team battle every night. Can't wait for Matusz to return and give us a great chance 4 out of 5 nights.
Posted by: frox | May 25, 2011 9:22 AM
well i think reimold and snyder played with a lefty starting last night. I would assume Pie and Scott start tonight against the righty. note, pie and scott both got in the game against righties when we got into the royals bullpen.
I think its reasonable to give Reimold and Snyder some opportunities, also with Scotts shoulder ailing him.
Posted by: joe | May 25, 2011 9:44 AM
Very exciting game last night.
I agree that Adam Jones and Weiters are establishing themselves as the leaders of the team, but also the faces of the franchise as we had hoped. Adam Jones plays hard every second and his passion for the game is quite apparent.
The biggest disappointment of the night was Andino. He had several horrible at bats. I think last night was an example of how uneven he is. Lucky for him that injuries will keep him on the field for the forseeable future. Maybe by the time Roberts and Izturis are back, we'll know one way or the other about Andino.
Posted by: Mike from VT | May 25, 2011 10:30 AM
A very nice win and a fun to watch, but someone should probably remind Adam that they never gave Rivera an 'L'. The Yanks still won both games he blew, and in the end this team won't succeed with any real goals until they can start to win at least a fair share of games against the Yanks.
Posted by: Ben S. | May 25, 2011 10:32 AM
Dan,
And after a rough start to the season, LHP Mark Hendrickson has a 1.91 ERA over his last 28.1 innings. (15 Ks, 4 BBs, 2 HR)
I just saw this and it leaves me wondering for a guy who wants to be in Baltimore how long does he wait for a call up, and at what point does he take his services to another big league club?
...............................................................................................
Jeff Z's reply: I don't think the Orioles would stand in his way if Mark had a big league opportunity elsewhere.
Posted by: Anonymous | May 25, 2011 10:33 AM
It was an impressive win vs the Royals. I like where the O's are at this point of the season. I'm definitely going to catch a game at the stadium this season. I want to see Jake pitch.
Posted by: nobull | May 25, 2011 2:51 PM