Game Recap 06/24: Orioles 5 Reds 4 in 12

Unbeaten and surprise starter Chris Jakubauskas had the start against the Reds struggling starter Edinson Volquez. Though Jakubauskas didn’t get the win, he received a no decision meaning that he is still unbeaten. He went 5 innings giving up 5 hits and 3 runs with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts.

Luckily, the O’s offense showed up as well. Brandon Davis made up for his 2-run error in Pittsburgh with his first major league hit coming as a 2-run triple to put the O’s up 2-0 early. In the next inning, Adam Jones hit a solo shot to center field giving the Orioles the 3-0 advantage. In the 4th, J.J. Hardy hit an RBI single to score Matt Wieters and to grab the 4-0 score. To this point, Chris had a shut-out going but got into some trouble in the 5th. He gave up a 2-run double to Brandon Phillips, who hits the ball really well. Then he gave up a double to Joey Votto which scored Phillips and brought the Reds in at 4-3. In the 6th, Jason Berken relieved Jakubauskas and gave up the tying run by way of an RBI single.

From there, it was a bullpen duel. Jim Johnson pitched the 7th and 8th giving up only 2 hits. Kevin Gregg came in the 9th and retired the side in order. Koji Uehara pitched the 10th and 11th and dominated as usual giving up only a hit and striking out 3. He really amazes me because his pitches barely reach the low-90’s but the batters swing at his stuff like he’s throwing 100+. The movement he has on his pitches must be unbelievably tricky.

Then Mike Gonzalez came in and I thought the game was over. Then he gave up a lead-off single and I really, really thought the game was over. Then Joey Votto grounded into a fielder’s choice so even though Brandon Phillips was out at 2nd, Votto was still on at 1st and I still thought it was over. He got another out and then Jay Bruce hit a double. All I have to say is thank God for J.J. Hardy because he threw Votto out at home to save the game. That brought the bottom of the 12th inning and Derrek Lee to the plate. Lee must have known that if they didn’t win the game right then and there, they’d lose because the bullpen was almost done and they had a near-loss experience. So, on the 1-2 count from Jose Arrendondo, he cranked a shot out to left field for the walk-off homer, his first homerun since May 8th. He went 3 for 5 on the night.

This was a big win and a big game for the O’s as it marked the first time the Reds came to Camden Yards to face the Orioles during Interleague Play. The game was also played before a sold out crowd of 45-some thousand. When was the last time the O’s sold out a game that wasn’t Opening Day or a Red Sox/Yankees game filled with Red Sox/Yankee fans? I’m not sure but it’s definitely been a while.