Swept Seattle in 32 innings; the MVP of the series = J.J. Hardy

The Orioles sweep the Mariners in this very interesting and very exciting 3-game series. Yes, these are two of the worst teams right now but so what? It’s still great to see some solid wins 3 days in a row including two that went to extra innings.

Tonight was the quintessential example of a pitchers duel. Both the starting pitchers tonight, Britton and Vargas, pitched a “complete” game. It technically wasn’t complete but it was 9 innings for both of them. Britton only gave up 3 hits and no runs with no walks and 5 strikeouts while Vargas gave up 7 hits and no runs with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts. Britton threw 108 pitches while Vargas threw 101. What an incredible game for both men. Britton has really proved himself all season and seems to get better and better as he goes along in the season.

Kevin Gregg came in the 10th giving up 2 walks but getting out of the inning. Jim Johnson then came in for the 11th and 12th. In the 11th, he got a 1-2-3 but in the 12th, he gave up the tie-breaking run to Olivo who had the RBI single. I thought for sure it was over, that the O’s couldn’t make ANOTHER comeback like they did on Tuesday.

I was wrong. But that was with a ton of help by the Mariners’ pitcher Brandon League who came in in the 12th. Derrek Lee got a lead-off single followed by both Vladdy AND Adam Jones getting hit by pitches. That loaded the bases up with no outs with Matt Wieters up. Unfortunately, he didn’t come through this time, he lined out to the SS. But, lo and behold, J.J. Hardy put the perfect ending to his welcome back series by getting the walk-of 2 RBI single that led the O’s to sweep the series.

Hardy has been awesome this series and I think his offensive help has really helped turn this team around, at least for now. The O’s look towards the division-leading Rays this weekend while they still sit in last place with a 17-19 record. I really really hope the O’s can take 2 from the Rays to start climbing back in the AL East.