Around the Diamond – O’s 10, Rays 6

Around the Diamond

Coming into tonight’s game, I was expecting a repeat performance from last year from David Price and Miguel Gonzalez.  For those that don’t remember the game, here are the stats from Baseball Reference.  Evidently, I was wrong.  Oh so wrong…

Box Score

First Base

What the heck is going on with the starting pitching?  I remember a game last year against the MFY in which Gonzalez gave up three home runs.  The stats depicted there indicate a much better performance than tonight.  Gonzalez had poor control going deep into counts as depicted by the pitch to strike ratio and also the higher WHIP for the game.   Oh and shall we point out eight versus one strikeout tonight.  Gonzalez got into a groove for the 4th and 5th, but this would not be his night.  Another starting pitcher doesn’t make it into the 7th.  The bullpen continues to be taxed again.  Who is going to get sent down to make up for it?

Second Base

Let’s step away from the home runs and focus on the third inning.  Runners on first and second for Tampa and a double play ball is hit to Chris Davis.  Davis throws to JJ Hardy to make the force, but JJ throws it back high to Davis.  These defensive errors are what differentiated the Orioles of the first half of the season from the second half.  We look at them shake our head and move on.  But Buck has stressed defense being a key for this team and so far the team hasn’t showed that being a foundation going forward.

Third Base

The Orioles lineup really fought against the Rays all night.  That’s an accomplishment for how good David Price can be at times during the game.  This game truly emphasized how important it is to have solid contribution from the bottom of your lineup.  7-8-9 were 3-9 with 3 runs and 4 RBI.  That is a solid contribution and is necessary especially in the AL East.  Tip of the cap to Pearce, Reimold, and Casilla as that is an impressive showing to keep rallying the team back through the night.

Home Plate

The Orioles entered into their first extra innings game.  The Bottom of the Ninth really struck me as being different.  Buck used three players to try to get the win right away.  Blowing through Dickerson, McLouth, and Flaherty left a short bench.  However, it makes a lot of sense as you’re trying to preserve the bullpen for the weekend series.  Alas, it was not meant to be despite some good hitting.  The Orioles hung in there for the 10th inning with a leadoff hit, bunt single (always take the out), the longest single ever, and then a grand slam walk-off.

Don’t run on me or before I come to the plate.

Summary

It was a really weird game.  Back and forth game, weird base running in the tenth, and then a walk-off grand slam.  10 runs scored on a Tampa Bay team led by David Price… weird.  Series win though, and we’ll take it.  Let’s go beat up on Don Mattingly and the Yankees of the West.