Baltimore Orioles, Wei-Yin Chen outlast Tampa

It seems that all season the Baltimore Orioles and Wei-Yin Chen have been forced out of their game and thus been made to play on the terms of others. That was true once again last night, as they found themselves in a pitcher’s duel. And make no mistake about the fact that a pitcher’s duel is Tampa’s game. But this time it was the O’s beating someone else at their own game.

The O’s put ten hits on the board (to Tampa’s six), but only plated two runs. And perhaps the thing that stood out the most overall was the fact that the O’s got incredibly solid starting pitching. Chen’s line: 7 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 7 K. This may or may not have been Chen’s best start of the season. But it’s definitely up there in the discussion.

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Chen found himself with an early lead, as Adam Jones grounded out with a

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runner on third in the first inning. However for a period of time it almost looked like the game might be a shootout. Two batters into the last of the first, Tampa had already tied the score. An RBI-double by Shaffer plated a run, and suddenly the game was tied.

And tied the game remained – for some time. The pitchers ruled the day last night in Tampa, and quite honestly it appeared for awhile in the middle innings that this game had long extra-inning game written all over it. Chen certainly did his part by keeping Tampa’s pesky offense at bay. But then the Orioles’ offense decided to click into gear – if only for a short time.

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Chris Davis led off the sixth with a double. And if was Jones once again who plated the run, this time on an RBI-single. However the great thing about this particular hit was that it was the opposite way – to right field. Tampa’s notorious for positioning their fielders literally in the exact spot where teams such as the Orioles end up hitting the ball. Especially with a pull hitter like Jones, this makes it easier to record outs. But as he did with the go ahead RBI on Thursday night, Jones managed to go the opposite way in this case – which was something Tampa couldn’t anticipate.

The series in Tampa concludes this afternoon with Kevin Gausman on the mound for the Birds. He’ll be opposed by Tampa’s Jake Odorizzi. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Next: Orioles: It's Wilson's Turn to Keep up Wild Card Push

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