The Baltimore Orioles continued their undefeated season on Friday evening, defeating the New York Yankees 6-5 with a seventh-inning home run bySeth Smith.
If you wanted to create a formula for how theBaltimore Orioleshave been so successful from 2012 through the present, what would that method look like?
HRs + RP + D = W
For those not as familiar with shorthand, that is home runs plus relief pitching plus defense equals wins.
As has frequently been discussed, in the time frame from 2012 to now, the Baltimore Orioles have used that equation to gather more wins than anyone else in the American League. It has led to three playoff appearances and one ALCS appearance.
The formula was on full display on Friday night.
The Baltimore Orioles were down 5-1 in the fifth on the back of HRs by Yankees’Matt HollidayandGary Sanchez.Ubaldo Jimenezhung a couple curveballs, and those two guys did not miss.
But, the bottom of the fifth started with a leadoff single byJonathan Schoop. Two outs later,Luis SeverinowalkedAdam Jones, and it ended up costing him dearly.Manny Machadocrushed the next pitch to left-center field for a three-run home run, anEarl Weaverspecial, to make it a one-run game.
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From there, the Orioles’ bullpen shut down the Yankees.Oliver Drakerelieved Jimenez in the fifth and was followed byDarren O’Day,Donnie Hart(W, 1-0 – his first MLB win),Brad BrachandZach Britton.
Brach, in particular, was lights out, striking out the side in emphatic fashion in the 8th. Zach Britton was much, much better in the ninth than his first two outings, getting a strikeout and two ground ball outs. However, on the second out, a comebacker to Britton, it appeared he may have turned his ankle, and the severity of his injury is still unknown if he is injured at all.
In the seventh, Jonathan Schoop led off with a sharp ground ball toChase Headleyat third offTyler Clippard, the new Yankees’ 7th inning man. Headley had just made two great defensive plays in the 6th, but he rushed the throw, andGreg Birdhad little chance to scoop it. Schoop ended up on second base on the error.
J.J. Hardylaid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Schoop to third with one out.
Seth Smith stepped up and deposited a 2-1 pitch just over the scoreboard in right to give the Orioles a 6-5 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. It was a chilly night in Baltimore, but that ball seemed to keep carrying until it was over the wall.
As for the defense in the Orioles’ winning equation, it was again led by the fantastic glove work byChris Davisat first base. However, that at this point is worthy of its discussion altogether.
Next: Baltimore Ravens Ozzie Newsome is consistently consistent
The Orioles run their record to 3-0, withMasahiro TanakafacingKevin Gausmanon Saturday afternoon.
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