Baltimore Orioles: Mark Trumbo sets record in slam-bang end

Mark Trumbo became the first Baltimore Orioles player in history to homer twice in the same inning as the Birds defeated Texas 11-5.

We knew the Baltimore Orioles would have a good offense in 2016, but what Mark Trumbo did last night was just sick. Yeah, that’s how I’m referring to it: just absolutely sick. Anytime you set a team record (a positive team record, that is), you’re in pretty good shape.

And that’s exactly what Trumbo did last night. He and Jonathan Schoop each had two home runs. However Trumbo’s two came in the Orioles’ nine-run seventh inning. Yeah, a nine-run seventh inning, in which eleven O’s came to the plate, and in which Texas found itself vanquished. Trumbo is now the first and only Oriole to hit two homers in the same inning.

Vance Worley hung on to get the win, after giving up the lead early. Worley’s line: 6 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 6 K. The Birds had an early 1-0 lead, however Worley struggled through the second inning and gave up five runs. So at first it appeared that Texas was all but going to laugh it’s way through the game, leaving the once-proud Birds in a three-game funk. Then the seventh inning hit. 

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Trumbo actually got the whole thing started with a two-run home run early in the inning. While that cut the lead to 5-3, Texas didn’t exactly appear to be worried – quite yet. However before they were able to record an out, the Birds had another runner on base and Schoop came to the plate. And his two-run homer tied the game, and suddenly the Orioles looked to be in business.

Again, before Texas could record an out, suddenly the O’s had the lead. Nolan Reimold strided to the plate and he found himself hitting one out – a solo shot, to give the Birds a 6-5 lead. Later in the inning Adam Jones would add an RBI-single, his second of the game. We thought that to be an insurance run at the time…but these O’s had just begun to fight.

The Birds batted around in the inning, and before you knew it Trumbo was coming to the plate again. This time there were two runners on base (including Jones). There’s no way he was going to homer again, right? He didn’t…

…oh but he did! His three-run homer gave the O’s a 10-5 lead. To add insult to injury for Texas, Schoop added his second of the game in the eighth, a solo shot. The Orioles’ bullpen took it from there, closing out this historic game for the Birds.

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Make no mistake about the fact that this sacked a shot across the bow, and it registered deep in the heart of Texas. Two home runs in a game is pretty special. But you know your offense is firing on all cylinders when a guy smacks two in an inning, and becomes the first in the history of your franchise to do so.

Mark Trumbo has quietly become one an early favorite for one of the best acquisitions that the team made in the off season. He seems to have a balancing effect on the lineup. If he wasn’t hitting behind Jones and Davis, he’d either be hitting third or cleanup. So Jones and Davis are seeing better pitches, and with them on base Trumbo’s doing what he does. And to think…the O’s gave up a third string catcher in a trade to get him.

Next: Baltimore Orioles: Chris Tillman messed with Texas

The series continues tonight with game three of four. Local Ft. Worth, TX product Yovani Gallardo will take to the mound for the O’s (pitching in front of family and friends), and he’ll be opposed by Texas’ Colby Lewis. Game time is set for just after 8 PM.