Breaking down the Battle of the Beltway: Game 2

Saturday: Orioles 8 Nationals 3

This was a really good game both offensively and defensively. And finally Guthrie pitched another gem AND got lots of run support. I’m definitely happy about this, the O’s got over their little no-run-support-when-Guthrie-is-on-the-mound hill and hopefully they won’t go back to that for his next start because he deserves a much better record than what he currently has. He went 7 innings giving up only 2 runs on 5 hits. The team still found a way to hurt him, but on the defensive side. Brandon Snyder, who was recently called up to play first base during some games, made an error allowing the 2 runs to be scored.

Even though the defense ruined Guthrie’s chance at a shutout, the team made up for it at the plate scoring 8 runs. Something really cool: every spot in the line-up got at least one hit. Also, 2/3 of the line-up (6 of 9) got an RBI. Andino, hitting in the lead-off spot, went 1 for 5 with an RBI. Adam Jones went 2 for 5 with one run scored. Markakis went 2 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI. He has finally heated up fully and is hitting where he should be, now he just needs to keep it up for his batting average to raise to where it should be (he’s currently hitting .260). Guerrero also scored a run and had an RBI going 2 for 4 and his average continues to rise (.310) as he continues to be smoking hot. All the money spent on him has begun to be paid off with his offensive skills. Wieters went 2 for 4 with an RBI and he’s .021 from batting .300. Nolan Reimold, who was recently called up from Triple-A Norfolk went 1 for 3 including a 2-run homer. Finally, Brandon Snyder went 2 for 4 with a run scored, making up for that error he made defensively.

Games like this are bound to start happening more often as the offense gets hot and the starting pitching continues to be better than expected and consistent. I know this was against the Nationals, a team much like the O’s, but you have to start somewhere right?