Baltimore Orioles: The Ups and Downs of an Easy Win

The Baltimore Orioles won 7-3 on Tuesday night, thanks to the power stroke of Chris Davis and a great pitching performance from Ubaldo Jimenez.

But…the game sure didn’t start out that way.

Nick Markakis, for the second straight night, led off the game with a base hit, and then Freddie Freeman hit a two-run home run. Once again, Ubaldo started off looking like 2014 Ubaldo, and not pre-All-Star break Ubaldo. Orioles fans were full of angst.

And then, Jimenez went on to load the bases after hitting Jace Peterson, and it looked like it was going to get worse. But, Chris Johnson swung at the very first pitch, lining out to Adam Jones.

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Ubaldo was able to get out of the first allowing only two runs, but with the Orioles’ recent offensive issues, would that be two too many.

No, no it wouldn’t.

Julio Teheran struggled mightily in the first inning. He faced the entire line up, allowing three runs on a Chris Davis bomb to left center field.

The team got a key walk from Jimmy Paredes. Travis Snider was hit by a pitch, and Chris Parmelee also drew a key walk.  Why mention these three? Because all three have been awful in the month of July.

At this point, I want David Lough and Nolan Reimold starting every day, and Snider and Parmelee either on the bench, or, preferably released.

But then Ryan Flaherty, who also is struggling, grounded out.

But, Chris Davis would hit another home run in the second inning, and the Orioles would cruise from there.

Just as impressive as Davis’ home runs was Ubaldo Jimenez’s response to the first inning.

After the first, Ubaldo allowed exactly zero hits the next six innings. Not bad for a guy who looked destined for a third straight short outing.

All this leads me to a call for sanity among Oriole fans. O’s fans are frustrated at the lack of movements, calling out Buck Showalter for who is in the starting line up, and jumping on a pitcher as soon as he leaves up a run.

I know baseball is an emotional game, but the Orioles’ brass is trying to get them into the playoffs. You can take that to the bank.  These are sound baseball men who know what they are doing.

And although it looks like the New York Yankees, who are currently playing very well, have a strong grip on the division, there is still a lot to play for for the Baltimore Orioles.

On a four-game win streak currently, the O’s seem to be coming together and heating up at the right time. Pitching, defense and hitting.