Crush Davis Leads Orioles to Walk-Off Win
By Nate Wardle
Jun 23, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles pinch hitter
Chris Davis(19) hits the game-winning three-run home run in the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles defeated the White Sox 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Chris Davis’ three-run, pinch-hit, walk-off home run capped off a big, but frustrating night for the Orioles offense and helped Brad Brach get his first win as an O.
Game 75 – Chicago White Sox (35-42) 4 Baltimore Orioles (40-35) 6 F
W: Brad Brach (1-0, 4.87)
L: Ronald Belisario (3-4, 5,50, BS)
MVP: Chris Davis – 1/1, 1 HR, 1 R, 3 RBI, Pinch-hit walk-off home run for Crush
The GOOD: The offense was both good and bad on this night, but you have to start with the hero. Crush Davis got the night off against tough lefty Chris Sale. In fact, Nick Markakis was the only lefty to start. Davis got his chance though, after Steve Pearce singled and Adam Jones got hit by a pitch. Davis ran the count full against struggling White Sox closer Belisario, and then the Hulk arose. Davis sent a pitch to deep right field, capping off a frustrating offensive game with a W.
How about the guy he pinch-hit for. Delmon Young had been off for almost a week, and Buck Showalter wanted to get him in the lineup. All Delmon did was go 3-4 with a double. A professional hitter, just like Steve Pearce.
It was Pearce who got the ninth started with a single, and would come around to score the tying run on the homer. Pearce also scored on Adam Jones’ home run in the first inning.
Speaking of Jones, he went 2-4 with 2 RBI, 2 R and one very important HBP in the ninth. Jones has 8 homers in the month of June.
But, of all the hitters, Caleb Joseph had the best night. Caleb went 3-3 with a double and a solo home run in the 8th inning. The knock on Caleb was always his defense in the minors. Joseph was the Eastern League Hitter of the Year last year. But, it has taken a little time for his bat to show up in the majors, while his defense has been quite good. I think it is safe to say Caleb Joseph is the Orioles’ starting catcher the rest of the year.
Manny Machado had several great defensive plays in the third inning alone, helping to keep the Orioles in the lead by making two stellar plays at third base.
The pitching in this game was good enough. It wasn’t great, it certainly wasn’t bad, but the Orioles pitchers deserved to win this game. And it is cool to see Brad Brach pick up his first win as an Oriole.
The BAD: The Orioles offense. If you didn’t watch this game, you have to be confused at this point. But the Orioles left runners on in almost every inning, including the bases loaded twice. While the Orioles were bailed out by Davis, this could have been a tough loss. But, I won’t elaborate on that, since all of the Orioles did have a hit except Nick Markakis. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until Davis that any of them came up with clutch hits.
What’s NEXT: The Orioles will play game two of this long home stand on Tuesday night. The O’s will send Miguel Gonzalez (4-4, 4.41) to the mound to face hard luck starter Jose Quintana (3-7, 3.87). Quintana has been much better than his record indicates. The O’s will try to move their winning streak to four games and continue their homer barrage in June.