Quite a series – sure woulda been nice to at least get the split. The first game of the series, Kuma had an unfortunately lapse in one inning (though since the offense failed to score – wouldn’t really have mattered) but, the next three games were each decided by ONE run, with only ONE of those in the W column.
ON the MOUND
Roenis picked up where he left off after his last start . . .
After struggling mightily in his last three starts prior to the All Star break, he seems to have turned things around – with a nice outing vs the Mets and then here today vs the O’s. Roenis can’t quite get over that FIVE inning hump but, he cruised through the first TWO innings (striking out the side in order in the 1st) and then allowed THREE straight hits to lead off the 3rd: a single, a double and an RBI single that tied the game but, was able to keep it tied by inducing a pop up AND a double-play to end the inning. Over his next innings, he allowed THREE walks and ONE hit but no more runs.
FIVE innings ~ FOUR hits ~ ONE earned run ~ THREE walks ~ SIX strikeouts
} Tom was terrific! TWO full innings with only ONE hit, NO runs and THREE strikeouts
} Brandon had his first real struggle since converting to a reliever. Ultimately, he struck out the side but, there was a double, a couple of walks (one intentional) and a bases-loaded single along the way to his first earned run as a reliever.
} Nando pitched a scoreless 9th in a tie game
} Yourvis had quite an inning – lead-off double and then TWO walks to load the bases. He also induced TWO pop-ups – unfortunately, there was a sac-fly in between them, that would ultimately be the winning run.
AT the PLATE
Finally, double-digit hits (BUT only 1 fer 7 w/RISP) . . .
~ Kyle had a stinging line drive that stung a little TOO much, as Markakis was able to play if off the wall and throw a strike to 2B to nail Kyle trying to stretch it to a double (and get him by several strides a 2B). In his second AB he made the opposing pitcher work for NINE pitches before walking. Then, in rather ‘un-Kyle-like’ fashion, he struck out with TWO on, TWO out in the 7th and to lead-off the 10th.
~ Chris got his FIRST major league hit in his FIRST major league start (Thursday). Today his first major league RBI came in the form of his FIRST major league extra base hit (a double) in this his SECOND major league start. He also had a single in the 4th
~ Dustin and Zu both with THREE hits on the day – including Zu’s 8th inning homer to tie the game at 2
IN the FIELD
* Yowsa! And they say Corey can’t play the field – ‘t wasn’t real pretty but, what a catch to save a XBH!
* TWO nice DP’s (is there ever a bad one?) to end the O’s serious threat in the 3rd (they had already tied the game and had runners at the corners w/ONE out) and for the first TWO in the 9th
* Chris fielded a ground ball in the 8th with the bases-loaded and TWO out but his throw pulled Robbie off the bag and the go-ahead run (at the time) scored.
* JJ with a nice running catch for the second out in the 10th – unfortunately, the bases were loaded so the go-ahead run scored
tweets of the game . . .
Compass Rosy 