Baltimore Orioles Return Home With Momentum on Their Side
The Baltimore Orioles offense erupted in their road series against the New York Yankees.
After a 1-5 start, the Baltimore Orioles quickly shifted the momentum of their season by taking 3-of-4 on the road against Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and the New York Yankees.
Sunday’s series finale started off on the wrong foot for Mike Wright and the Orioles after failing to escape the first inning and allowed five runs (two earned) to put the O’s in the early 5-0 deficit.
Mike Wright Jr. is not having a great afternoon https://t.co/ZVYG5SlrF1 pic.twitter.com/1V8r9kVQcY
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 8, 2018
Personally, I can’t see Mike Wright making another start for the Orioles anytime soon unless injuries mount later in the season. In quite a large sample size in MLB, Wright has gone 6-9 in 150 innings pitched with a 5.94 ERA, including a 7.94 ERA in two starts in 2018.
Once Wright was pulled, the Orioles slowly chipped away at the Yankees lead as the O’s bullpen pitched 11.1 innings and allowed just two earned runs the rest of the way.
However, the performance of 30-year-old Richard Bleier was simply remarkable. Bleier tossed three shutout innings through the ninth inning and into extra innings. The reliever allowed just three hits, along with a critical strikeout to end the 11th inning.
Richard Bleier has pitched three days in a row, but he's ready for more. 💪 pic.twitter.com/OxgZRTJVkL
— Orioles on MASN (@masnOrioles) April 9, 2018
The Orioles would go on to capture the victory after Craig Gentry‘s diving grab in left field then produce the game-winning RBI in the 12th inning.
But, not before Orioles veteran catcher Caleb Joseph completed the rare 1-2-5 double play in the bottom 12th before Brad Brach struck out Stanton to end the game.
RECAP: This one had it all, including a game-saving 1-2-5 double play. O’s come from behind to beat the Yankees and take the series. #Birdland
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) April 8, 2018
More: https://t.co/zJd90jCYDD pic.twitter.com/aVpl65v6UR
Despite a just a win in their first six games of the 2018 season, the Orioles bounced-back against American League East rival Yankees to take 3-of-4 and now sit 4-6 on the young season.
Joseph mentioned the team’s “never-die mentality” with MASNSports.com’s Roch Kubatko following the O’s 8-7 win on Sunday.
Caleb Joseph: “This team is similar to the ’14 team. We talked about it earlier. There’s a never-die mentality. It’s almost as if we get better as the game goes on, kind of like a diesel engine. Once you get it revved up, it’ll go forever." #orioles
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) April 8, 2018
The O’s bats emerged in their weekend series by smashing seven home runs with 23 RBIs and posted a slash line of .240/.305/.398.
Compare that to the Orioles offense through the first six games as they hit .185/.265/.315 with five home runs and 13 RBIs.
Next, the Orioles return home for a three-game set against the 6-4 Toronto Blue Jays. The Orioles rotation returns to ace Dylan Bundy tonight with Andrew Cashner and Kevin Gausman closing out the series.
Next: Orioles Send Rasmus to 10-Day DL
In return, the Blue Jays will send J.A. Happ, who struggled in his last start, in the series opener. Tim Beckham, Pedro Alvarez, Chris Davis, Adam Jones, Joseph and Manny Machado have all hit home runs off Happ in their career.