O's Take Rubber Match From Astros

    Good evening O's fans. The O's were able to salvage the series against the Astros taking the final game of the series 5-4.

    The O's got a scrappy effort from Ubaldo Jimenez today as he battled through seven innings giving up four runs on ten hits. He got out of several tough spots in the game limiting damage.  The Astros were terrible with runners in scoring position. Credit Ubaldo for that.

    The O's got an offensive outburst in the fourth inning. Jimmy Parades and Adam Jones led off with hits. Then pulled off a double steal. Jones stole second and on the throw Paredes stole home.  Chris Davis and Steve Pearce then hit back to back homeruns to give O's 4-1 lead. Chris Davis later hit another homerun in the eighth inning after the Astros had tied the game in the seventh on a Gattis home run.  Chris Davis actually homered more than he struck out for a change. I am as we all are hopeful that this gets him going. I am not getting excited yet as he showed signs earlier this year and went right back to funk.  We will see what happens.

Brad Brach and Zach Britton closed it out for the O's. Let's see if they can build some momentum tomorrow against the White Sox. A sweep would be awesome going into the Tampa series. The O's are lucky the AL East is very mediocre this year and at Two games under .500 they are only 2.5 games out of first. The O's have not been able to string together wins this year so far. Sure would be nice to see 5 or 6 in a row streak and get back over that .500 mark.

    A few team notes, Alejandro DeAza was designated for assignment today to clear room for Ryan Flaherty. I think this is the first of a few moves to come. Obviously Wieters is coming back but I think Parmalee and Reimold could be coming soon as well.  Travis Snider and David Lough could be DFA'd next. We will see.  I will be at the yard tomorrow with Doug Nelson, Will Polyniak and Mike Winters. A double dose of baseball with good friends. Can't wait and hope we can get the brooms out. Let's go O's, From the Booth.

   

O's Drop Game Two to Seattle

    Good but not good evening O's fans. The O's continue their lack of run support for Wei Yen Chen as they only score two runs tonight in 4-2 loss to the Mariners tonight at the Yard.

     The inconsistency, strike outs in big spots, and base running blunders continue to haunt this team. They can not put streaks of wins togethers with all of the mistakes.  The O's had a rally going in the eighth down 4-0. Jimmy Paredes singled with two on driving in the O's first run but in a awful decision was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double. This is completely unacceptable down by three runs when you do not even represent the tying run. You just have to know the situation.  Then in the 9th the O's get two hits to lead off the inning and Chris K Davis strikes out looking again and Steve Pearce folliwed up with another looking strike out.  Just awful taking close pitches in these situations. You just have to protect and put the ball in play.

    These are the reasons why this team sits three games below .500. They just are not playing sound fundamental consistent baseball. They are very lucky that the rest of the division is mediocre. If they can right the ship they can still win this division. They have to start playing smarter bsseball though if there is any hopes of that.  Let's see what team shows up tomorrow in the rubber match against the Mariners. Let's go O's.

O's Comeback to Spoil Nelly's Return to Baltimore

    Good evening O's fans. What a night it was at the Yard as the O's trailed early but battled back to take game one in the series against the Mariners and spoil Nelson Cruz's return to Baltimore with a 9-4 victory.

    Early on it looked like it was going to be a long night as the Mariners Seth Smith led off the game with a homerun against O's starter Miguel Gonzales.  The O's did tie in their half of the first on a Steve Pearce RBI single driving in Manny Machado who led off the innning with a walk.  Then in the third with two runners on, oh Nelly stepped up and hit a Gonzales hanging curve a mile for a three run bomb.  Looked gloomy and hurt worse with Cruz hitting the bomb giving the Mariners a 4-1 lead.  The O's had other things in mind tonight.

    The O's put up a three spot in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game at four. The first four hitters reached for the O's.  Travis Snyder walked then three straight singles by DeAza, Hardy and Joseph to make it 4-2.  Manny Machado then hit into the dreaded 1-2-3 double play. It looked like the O's may waste a big opportunity but Jimmy "Hit" Parades comes up with the big two out two RBI single to tie the game at 4. Parades just keeps on hitting.  The O's never looked back.  In the sixth they got back to back doubles from DeAza and Joseph to take a 5-4 lead. DeAza had a three hit night and reached base all 4 at bats.  Mr. Hitman Parades stepped up again and drilled a opposite field two run homerun giving the O's a 7-4 lead.

   What can you say about Miguel Gonzales?  He made two mistakes paying for them both and then buckles down and pitched 7 solid innings for the O's. That is gritty. The O's rewarded him with an offensive explosion getting him the win. You can't say enough about an effort like that.   The O's added another run in the eighth inning on a pass ball to take the 9-4 lead.  Darren O'Day closed it out to put the O's back in the win column.  The Nats just walked it off against the Yankees to make it even better.

    Now, let's see if the O's can get a little streak going. They have not been able to run together a string of wins yet. It sure would be nice to see them real off five or six in a row. They send Wei Yen Chen to the mound tomorrow to see if they can make it three. The Mariners counter with Roenis Elias who is 0-1 with a 3.24 era.  Let's hope they can take the series tomorrow and put another one in the win column. Let's go O's!!!

O's Drop Game One to Halos

    Good morning O's fans. It was not a good night at the yard last night besides the beautiful weather as the O's dropped game one to the Angels 3-1.

     Jared Weaver kept the O's hitters off balance all night with 64 mph curve balls and 82 mph fastballs. They just could not solve him.  The O's got a great pitching performance fron Wei Yen Chen as he only gave up two early runs through seven innings. The O's have given him no support so far this year as Chen has pitched to a just over 2.50 era but has one win to show for it.

    The O's just continue this display of inconsistent baseball this year. They just can't seem to put wins together. They hit one night and don't pitch. They pitch one night and don't hit. They just can't seem to put everything together for a period of time. Some of that could be the injury factor and the inconsistent lineups. The only good thing is the whole American league East is kind of mediocre as 4.5 games separates first place from last place. The O's need to start playing better baseball though as they can not afford to dig a deep hole to climb out of.

    The O's were scheduled to send Bud Norris to the mound tonight but he is battling a illness. Ubaldo Jimenez could start in his place.  I think Bud could see the bullpen in his future. Kevin Gausman is going to be in this rotation soon.  We will see what happens tonight as the O's need this one to have a chance at winning the series with the Angels. Let's go O's.

O's Take Game 3 and Series From Jays

    Good evening O's fans. The O's given the opportunity to erase a terrible memory from last night did just that tonight beating the Jays 6-1 and winning the three game series.

    Miguel Gonzales was the key tonight. He was awesome. He was given an early lead and was able to pitch 7 2/3 innings only giving up one run.  He has been so consistent for the O's. He comes out every outing and just pounds the strike zone. He did have a very rare bad outing in his last start against the Yankees but quickly fixed that tonight.

    The O's spotted Miguel a five run lead as they crossed the plate five times in the second inning.  Aaron Sanchez walked Davis and Hardy to start the inning. David Lough then sacrificed them over.  Caleb Joseph then doubled driving both runners in. Ray Navarro then grounded out to advance Caleb to third. The O's then got three consecutive two out hits. Machado and DeAza doubled and Jimmy Paredes singled to make it 5-0.   The Jays put runners on second and third with no out in the third but Gonzales worked his way out of it. That was huge as the O's had just put up the five spot.   Ray Navarro hit a lead off homer in the eighth to give the O's a 6-1 lead. The Jays got their only run in the top of the eighth on a pass ball that Caleb just could not come up with. 

    This was a big win tonight taking the series and going into the off day tomorrow. The O's need to start stringing together wins. Winning series is important but they could use a nice winning streak.  They just seem to never be able to put a long streak together.  Winning series though is the key. Let's see if the O's can build on this win with the Angels coming into town this weekend. Should be a beautiful weekend at the Yard. Let's go O's!!! 

O's Return to the Yard Victorious over Jays

    Good evening O's fans. I am making my return as the O's did tonight at the Yard. The O's needed this win as well as the city. It seems like forever the last time the O's played in front of their loyal fans.  This was claimed re-opening day at the Yard. Personally I was hoping to see a larger turnout but it was a great atmosphere anyway.

    The O's did not wait long as Manny Machado launched one into the right field bleachers to make it 1-0 right off the bat.  After a Delmon Young walk, Chris Davis launched a bomb over the bleachers, a no doubter to give the O's a 3-0 lead. This is the start they needed after a rough week in New York.

    The story of the night was the continuing efforts of Ubaldo Jimenez. He went seven solid innings allowing only two runs while striking out nine. He was solid all night with great movement. He seems to have corrected whatever he was doing last year. He is pitching with a new found confidence. The O's truly need him to continue to pitch this way.

    Adam Jones extended the Orioles lead in the seventh with a high moon shot into the left field stands to make it a 5-2 Orioles lead.  Darren O'Day pitched a scoreless eighth striking out two. Zach Britton closed it out striking out two as well. He did allow two singles after striking out the first two to make it interesting. The Jays pinch hit Jose Batista as he represented the tying run. Zach got him to ground out to third. Machado made it a little nerve racking as his throw went in the dirt but Chris Davis scooped it out to end the ballgame and put the O's back in the win column.

    The O's really needed this win and do not think they would accept anything less tonight. The fans, the city, and the team needed this game. The O's wore a home white Jersey with Baltimore across the front for the first time ever. It was a beautiful tribute to the city on a gorgeous night at the Yard and a great O's win. The O's have a nine game home stand and 17 of the next 20 at home. Let's hope this can turn things around for this team and we start seeing the consistent baseball we have been used to seeing the last three years.  The O's send Chris Tillman to the mound tomorrow for game two. Let's see another one in the win column!! Let's go O's!!

O's Quietly Hammer the White Sox in Empty Yard

    Good evening O's fans. Today was a day like no other in baseball history and a day hopeful that we will never have to see again in our beautiful city of Baltimore. The O's played in front of zero fans today due to the recent riots in Baltimore due to the Freddie Gray incident after peaceful protests became violent and completely out of control. There was a city wide curfew set by the mayor of 10:00pm causing the Orioles and MLB to have to change their whole schedule. It is amazing that hoodlums can create this kind of turmoil.  It was great to see about a hundred fans that gathered outside the left center field area behind the gates that tried to catch the action from there.

   The O's did not waste any time as they came out of the gates hot.  They jumped on White Sox starter Jeff Samardzija for 6 runs in the first inning.  Alejandro DeAza led off the game with a walk. Jimmy Paredes then reached on an error followed by a Delmon Young single.  Adam Jones hit a sac fly to make it 1-0. Chris Davis then hit a 3 run bomb to make it 4-0 quickly!!  He has been swinging a hot bat and the O's hope it continues.  The inning continued with back to back doubles by Machado and Everth Cabrera to make it 5-0 and then Caleb Joseph singled in Cabrera to make it 6-0.  Should the fans stay away?? No way, but man what an inning.

    Manny Machado had a big day with 3 hits including a homerun in the bottom of the fifth to cap off the Orioles scoring for the day.  Ubaldo Jimenez got the start today and man did he impress again. He went seven innings only giving up only two runs, striking out six and only walking one. His confidence is building with every outing.  What a difference he can be for this team if he continues to pitch like this. He has a 1.59 era right now, wow what a difference from a year ago.

    Now the O's who were scheduled to play at home this weekend, now have to go to Tampa to play at AWFUL Tropicana Field where they will be the home team to face the surprising Rays.   It is going to be interesting to see if the O's get these home games back at some point in the schedule. It sucks that a team now has to play 84 road games to only 78 home games. It is just unreal what the idiot hoodlums did to our great city. It is an absolute travesty. The O's will do what they have to do and the people of Baltimore will as well to get our wonderful city back in order in hopes that something of this nature never happens again. God bless our law enforcement officers, fire fighters and all that are involved keeping our city safe.  Let's come together Baltimore and make our city proud again. Let's go O's. You heard it From the Booth.