The Baltimore Orioles: Comeback Kids Extraordinaire

The Baltimore Orioles are on the verge of a four-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays after logging two come-from-behind wins in the opening three games.

The series got off to an ominous start on Friday night, as the Rays scored three times in the top of the first inning with their starting pitcher dropping the first 13 O’s who came to the plate. But Tampa Bay would not score again over the next 17 innings, as the Orioles came from behind on Friday (6-3), while never trailing in the first game on Saturday (5-0).

The second game of the doubleheader last night got off to another ominous start, as the Orioles and ace Chris Tillman fell behind early, 4-0. But the Orioles scored in six consecutive innings from the third through the eighth to prevail in the end, 8-6. Both teams had 14 hits, but the Orioles led in home runs (4-1) and in total team defense.

Every starter for the Orioles had at least one base hit, with Matt Wieters getting three, including two massive home runs. Chris Davis and Adam Jones hit long balls as well.

Years from now, anyone who looks back at this box score will see the homers by the Orioles and conclude that they were the story of the game. And yes, they were needed. But defense was the bigger story in reality, especially a diving catch by Adam Jones on a bases-loaded, two-out liner in right-centerfield. It that goes through, three runs score and we’re writing a very different recap.

Along with the regular fare of fine plays, Manny Machado also made a highlights reel, sliding catch of a pop-up along the wall. It was pretty amazing stuff. The Orioles turned three double plays, though they also hit into three twin-killings.

Does it feel to you like the Baltimore Orioles hit into an inordinate number of double plays?  I have also felt this way over the years, though I’ve concluded that it is the emotion of a disappointed fan in me that causes that sensation, along with seeing the Orioles play more than all other teams combined.

The fact is that the Orioles are not exceptional in this category. Only four other teams (including the Rays) have hit into fewer double plays. And this statistic is a bit deceiving and not the most useful. The Rays have what is arguably the worst offense in the league, yet they have by far hit into the fewest double plays. If you don’t get many people on base, you won’t hit into as many double plays.

This is very critical fault-finding, but when the Orioles took a lead of 7-6 in the bottom of the seventh, Showalter got Brad Brach up quickly to throw and come into the game. There simply was not enough time to get him ready, and sure enough he walked his first two batters. With the first of them being a lefty, the better move would have been to let him throw a bit longer while T.J. McFarland faced the leadoff hitter. But all’s well that ends well. With three consecutive outs, the threat had passed and the Rays were doomed to see Britton in the ninth. Having thrown 26 pitches however, Brach is surely not available today, though many arms are fresh and ready to go.

If you didn’t see how feature article yesterday on just how good Brach has been this season, be sure to click below and check it out.

Related Story: How Good is Brad Brach?

This is simply going to be a great summer of baseball fun to watch this Orioles team bomb away with long balls. They are truly just about never out of a game, and that is why they lead MLB with the most come-from-behind victories.

Again, here is an update on the prorated pace of home runs and strikeouts …

If you weren’t up late last night, the Rangers beat up the Red Sox pretty bad, so now the Orioles have a three-game lead over the bearded Lilliputians from Boston.