Baltimore Orioles: Ubaldo Jimenez helps the offense

The 6-4 final score from tonight’s game isn’t really indicative of how most of the game went down. However perhaps at the end the Baltimore Orioles learned a valuable lesson: they aren’t the only team that doesn’t give up. Philadelphia mounted a bit of a comeback, however this is not to say that the O’s “forgot” that; it’s just always good to have a reminder.

Similarly, Ubaldo Jimenez‘s stat line isn’t indicative of how well he pitched. Jimenez’s line: 6.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 8 K. Jimenez was on point all night, at one point pitching out of a situation in which two runners were in scoring position with nobody out (in the fourth inning). 

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Chris Parmelee once again reminded the Orioles that he’s hoping that he’s here to stay, with a first inning homer on the first pitch he saw.  However in the last of the inning Chase Utley was able to advance to third on a Wieters throwing error, and he later scored to tie the game on Ryan Howard‘s RBI-single.

The game would remain tied until the top of the fourth, when the Orioles started to pounce. Wieters would make up for his earlier error with an RBI-single, and later in the inning David Lough came to the plate with the bases loaded. Lough would send a two-RBI double down the line in right field, and the O’s had a 4-1 lead. While that double busted the game wide open for the moment, the O’s weren’t done in the fourth inning…

Courtesy of Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

…because Ubaldo Jimenez still had to come to bat. With J.J. Hardy at third base, Jimenez sent a swinging bunt down the third base line which just died. With two outs, Hardy was running on contact and scored easily. Speaking for myself, that’s how baseball should be. As opposed to pitchers effectively getting a free ride in terms of hitting, why shouldn’t they do something for their own cause?

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One inning later the Orioles closed their scoring out for the evening, with a solo home run by Travis Snider. However as I said, Philadelphia served the Orioles up a reminder that not all games are going to be as easy as 19-3. With two runners on in the last of the seventh, Freddy Galvis‘ three-run homer cut the lead to 6-4. However the combination of Chaz Roe, Brian Matusz, and of course Zach Britton closed Philadelphia out in the end for a 6-4 victory.

Nobody’s accusing the O’s of thinking that all games are a walk in the park. But it’s nice to be reminded here and there that other teams are trying also. It keeps you grounded, and if anything it keeps you playing until the final out. Incidentally, perhaps the biggest two outs of the game were recorded by Brian Matusz, who relieved Chaz Roe in the last of the eighth. Philadelphia had the tying run at the plate, but Matusz shut them down.

Adam Jones was out of the lineup for the second straight game, with just normal bumps and bruises. He did get an MRI on his shoulder, which showed no structural damage. Jones’ hope is to be back either tomorrow or Friday in Toronto – the O’s and Jones are hoping for tomorrow. With the win, the O’s are now threee games over .500 for the first time in 2015.

This quick two-game series concludes with an afternoon matinee at Citizens Bank Park today. It’s obviously a quick turnaround for Buck Showalter and the O’s, however that’s part of baseball. Bud Norris will be on the mound for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Philadelphia’s Sean O’Sullivan. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Next: Baltimore Orioles raise some brows with Chen demotion

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