Baltimore Orioles Win Game of Inches
Jun 17, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis (21), center fielder Adam Jones (10) and teammates high five after they beat the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Baltimore Orioles defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 7-5. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Yesterday’s headline for the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays game from Monday night proclaimed that the O’s lost a game of inches. Indeed, a bases-loaded line drive into the left-field corner by Steve Pearce went foul by a small margin. It would have been the difference in the outcome of the game.
On Tuesday evening, a long fly by Chris Davis with the sacks jammed remained fair by inches, hitting the pole about 10 feet high and scoring four runs in one swing – even if it was delayed until a replay clarified what had happened.
And Steve Pearce was able to provide the margin of victory in this game, hitting a two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning and adding what would prove to be the gap for the final score of 7-5.
The two O’s homers would make a winner out of Miguel Gonzalez and a loser of Eric Bedard. Gonzalez gave up two homers of his own, but both were third inning solo shots by Sean Rodriguez and Desmond Jennings.
The win was a critical one for the Baltimore Orioles, avoiding a fall to .500 while also picking up a game on the Blue Jays – who were beaten by the Yankees.
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The final series game this afternoon in Florida will match Kevin Gausman against Alex Cobb. Gausman has pitched very well in his two starts since being called up to the O’s.
Cobb will be making his ninth start of the season, coming in with a 2-4 record and 3.99 ERA. This will be his first 2014 start against the Orioles. For his career he is 3-0 against the Orioles with a 1.73 ERA over four starts.
Against Cobb – Chris Davis is 2-for-9 with a triple, Nick Markakis and Nelson Cruz are 1-for-6, Adam Jones is 3-for-12, J.J. Hardy is 3-for-11, and Flaherty 1-for-4.