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Baltimore Orioles: Matt Wieters Has a Birthday Bash

By Randy Buchman

May 21, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters (32) follows through on his swing for a three-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
May 21, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters (32) follows through on his swing for a three-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 21, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters (32) follows through on his swing for a three-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
May 21, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters (32) follows through on his swing for a three-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

Matt Wieters hit a game-winning three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning to lead the Baltimore Orioles to a 3-1 victory over the Angels.

The big blow came at literally the last moment, following a two-out single by Chris Davis and then a two-out walk by Mark Trumbo to set the table.

Wieters hit an outside pitch nearly 400 feet over the left-center field wall. It was the sort of opposite field shot we normally only see from Crush … the kind of ball that only a very large and strong human being can hit.

If Wieters is feeling old, he has evidence that he is just fine. It was hit on his 30th birthday, making it a memorable occasion. More than half a lifetime ago, I remember little of my three-decade marker, other than I could not believe how quickly I had gotten so terribly old. Yes, it gets worse. Wieters won’t forget this day or this evening.

This is one of those signature sorts of wins that can mark a season. The Orioles won a game they really should have lost. They were literally lost for most it, completely baffled by Matt Shoemaker’s split-finger pitches. It was one of the best performances I have seen against the O’s in recent years.

The only chance for the Orioles was a different pitcher, and that is what they finally got in the ninth inning with Joe Smith. A pitch away from losing, the O’s pulled it out.

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Gotta run today without much else (after the late night and now the early morning). Just a couple quick items …

  • The home plate umpire was again just so bad, squeezing the zone for much of the game, but ultimately making two terrible calls against the Angels in the bottom of the 9th Escobar and Scioscia did not distinguish themselves with their reactions, but they had an injustice to complain about. More of the terrible calls this year have helped the O’s versus hurt them, as they have more often seemed to do.
  • Brad Brach, now with a 4-0 record after 41 games, is on pace to be 16-0 as a reliever by the end of the season. Wouldn’t that be something?
  • When watching the Angels, does anyone else have the same feeling that it appears like Mike Trout comes to bat about every third hitter?
  • A sweep in Anaheim. That would be sweet!
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