So That's All it Took?

Interestingly, as soon as Orioles Update posts its much-anticipated contraction issue, the Orioles respond with a two-game winning streak. Nervous, guys?

At any rate, the past two games have been two of the most exciting of the year. Thursday's 11-5 win over the Marlins demonstrated that the team is capable of actual offense as they scored double-digit runs for only the second time this year.

Last night began very inauspiciously for the Birds, opening a three-game set against their interleague rivals, the Washington Nationals. Jake Arrieta was ineffective for the second consecutive start, quickly spotting Washington six runs in only four and a third innings of work. Meanwhile, the Orioles managed nary a run.

Very depressing. With their earlier sweep of the O's, better record, and the excitement over the excellent start to Stephen Strasburg's career, you get the sense that the Battle of the Beltways is tilting in favor of Washington.

But not on this night. The Orioles would not go quietly into the night, for a change. In the fifth inning, Miguel Tejada, Nick Markakis, and Adam Jones picked up RBIs to cut the Nats' lead to 6-3, while Mark Hendrickson, Frank "What's the" Mata (I can't take credit for that one) and Will Ohman shut down their powerful (when they play the O's, at least) offense.

The O's bats re-emerged in the 8th. Matt Wieters drew a walk, and Scott Moore, batting for the underachieving and hopefully soon released Garrett Atkins, crushed a 3-1 fastball from Tyler Clippard to the flag court. 6-5, Nationals. Two batters later, Corey Patterson, robbed of a home run earlier on an amazing catch by Nyjer Morgan, singed to center to drive home Cesar Izturis and level the score.

The Orioles had a tense 9th inning. Ryan Zimmerman singled to lead off the inning, and Alfredo Simon struck out Adam Dunn. Josh Willingham singled to advance Zimmerman, who then moved to third on a sac fly Pudge "The Fish" Rodriguez. He controls the weather. (approximately 1 person will get that joke), Willingham stole 2nd, giving the Nationals 2 men in scoring position with two outs. Wouldn't it be just so Oriolesque to come back from a 6-0 deficit only to lose 7-6 in the ninth?

Roger Bernadina drilled a liner into the hole, only to be erased on an amazing, game-saving, throw to first by Izturis. Hail Cesar!

Adam Jones popped out to lead off the ninth. There are signs that he's coming around, but this was a poor at bat. Wieters walked again, and Scott Moore, already one of the heroes of the day for replacing Atkins with actual production, singled him to second. The not-much-faster-than-Wieters new Oriole Jake "Crazy Like A" Fox pinch ran.

Julio Lugo then hit into a sure double play, only to be saved by a throwing error. Fox chugs home and the Orioles win. Amazing.

It's too late to save this season. But, if Atkins gets DFA'd and the team can play like it has the past two nights, maybe they can at least be watchable for the second half of the season.






Maybe.


Let's go O's!!