Big Game Baltimore Orioles Beat Big Game James

Aug 7, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA;Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) is congratulated by center fielder Adam Jones (10) after hitting his third home run of the game during the third inning against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

The Baltimore Orioles took “Big Game” James Shields over the fence four times in the first two innings on their way to a 10-2 victory over the White Sox.

Now with three of 10 road trip games out of the way, the Orioles can take two wins to California, while also holding on to first place in the American League East, actually now with a one-game lead.

The James Shields that Manny Machado hit twice, with J.J. Hardy and Chris Davis joining the party, is just not the same guy who averaged 219 innings a season over a nine-year period from 2007-2015. There were two not-so-great seasons in that time (2009 and 2010 with Tampa Bay), but overall he has been one of the top, most-dominant pitchers in the game.

He now has an ERA this season of 5.43, doing that on a salary of $21 million, the same he is due the next two years. His won-loss record is now 5-14 for 2016 between the Padres and ChiSox.

Meanwhile, Dylan Bundy again displayed the talent so long anticipated, yet feared might never arrive. More than a few Orioles fans over the past couple of years would have traded Bundy straight up to get Shields, even with his huge salary. How does that look now? It’s enough to make Jimenez look like a bargain.

A year ago, even Oriole castoff Matt Albers was looking like someone the O’s could use. He put up a 1.21 ERA over 30 games in 2015. When with the Orioles in the dark years, he was 11-12 with a 4.60 ERA. A guy who always looks like his pants are ready to fall off, some O’s fans might have wished to have him back. But this is now again more like the guy we remember, sporting a 5.79 ERA and serving up a third home run ball in three innings to Machado.

It strikes me how so many players make general managers look either totally brilliant or like fools. Though we here at The Baltimore Wire were not enthused about, say, the acquisitions of Jimenez and Gallardo for example, there was reason to believe and hope they would perform better than they have. And likewise with Shields. Those who signed him to this large contract did not do so without reason to hope for past performances to continue. It comes down to players doing on the field what they are capable of doing.

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As ultimate proof that this was a good day for the Baltimore Orioles, Ubaldo Jimenez pitched three perfect innings! Yep, nine consecutive outs with the efficiency of throwing only 26 pitches! That is incredible for anyone. Picking up the first save of his career, it simply demonstrates that Ubaldo has been used all wrong his entire career. Who knew? He’s actually a great relief pitcher. Maybe he has a career ahead as a closer! Or maybe not. But props to Jimenez for massively helping the team by finishing off this game and saving the entire pitching staff now for the trip to Oakland and a four-game series.

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