Baltimore Orioles: Home Season Ends Quietly
Mar 31, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles left fielder Nelson Cruz (23) hits a solo home run in the seventh inning of an opening day baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles defeated the Red Sox 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
The Baltimore Orioles 81-game home schedule ended on Sunday afternoon as many O’s day-time games end … with a loss. The Red Sox held on for a 3-2 win.
It used to be that the Orioles played rather lifeless and meaningless games in late September because they were not going to be going to the playoffs, now it is happening because they are. This way is better!
The Orioles did not have several of their starters in the lineup, including Adam Jones and Nick Markakis. Adam Jones actually came into the game to pinch hit in the eighth inning for starter David Lough, prompting this humorous text from Dan Connolly …
Adam Jones is pinch-hitting for Lough. AKA Things I never thought I'd type for $200.
— Dan Connolly (@danconnolly2016) September 21, 2014
The Orioles only managed six hits on the day, while Boston tallied 12. The O’s had chances to pull even but could not get the critical hit.
The home season of 2014 began and ended with the visiting Boston Red Sox. Nelson Cruz set the tone on opening day for what would be his “Most Valuable Oriole” season by powering the Birds to a 2-1 win back on March 31st.
When it was all said and done, the Baltimore Orioles would go on to win 49 more games at Camden Yards, posting a final record of 50-31. What is impressive about this—beyond winning at a .617 pace—is that most of those wins came later in the season.
On June 22, after the Orioles finished off a road trip with an 8-0 win over the Yankees, their overall record was 39-35. However, the home record at that point was only 16-17. So from that point forward, the Baltimore Orioles were 34-14 at the Yard … very impressive.
So the final seven games of the season will be on the road – four at New York and three in Toronto. If somehow the Orioles could win all seven, they would finish with identical 50-31 records at home and away. Why not be greedy?