Baltimore Orioles: Matt Wieters washes New York out of town

Matt Wieters came up as a pinch-hitter after an hour-and-a-half rain delay in the last of the eighth and gave the Baltimore Orioles the lead and a win.

Matt Wieters and the Baltimore Orioles will be the first to tell you that baseball has an unpredictable nature. Ironically, it’s one of my least favorite things about the sport. I like my T’s crossed and my I’s dotted, and I’m not big on surprises. But sometimes to win games you have to go off the agenda I suppose, and rain delays will certeainly force teams to do that whether they like it or not.

But more on that in a moment. Kevin Gausman was solid in his start yesterday, shutting New York down for the most part. Gausman’s line: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K. Gausman’s lone run given up was on an RBI-single in the third by ARod. NY did get runners on base, however the Gausman and the O’s always found a way to get out of the threat.

However NY starter Sabathia shut the Birds down as well for the most part. Whereas we saw several runs scored in the first two games of this series, yesterday we got a pitching duel. And mind you, those are the types of games in which the Orioles don’t do well. Ironically, this NY team has experience with small ball, because it’s one of the only ways they’ve been able to put runs on the board this year.

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As we moved to the seventh inning and storm clouds started to move into the vicinity of the ballpark, the Orioles’ grounds crew moved into position near the tarp on the first base line. That’s always a sign that rain and a possible delay might be coming. Finally the umpires called for the tarp just as a massive storm hit the Inner Harbor with the Orioles batting in the last of the eighth – with two runners on and one out.

Again, rain delays are almost unforeseen, although rain was in the forecast yesterday. It makes things unpredictable, which is part of what makes me nervous. Again, I like to stick to the agenda! But had things stuck to the agenda yesterday, odds are the O’s would have lost 1-0. Sometimes rain has a funny effect on games…

…and one hour and thirty-seven minutes later, the rain was over and the game resumed. After Schoop struck out and Pena singled to load the bases, the Orioles sent Matt Wieters up as a pinch hitter. And Wieters delivered, sending a bases-clearing single into centerfield. The third run scored on an errant throw, which also allowed Wieters to go to third.

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Did the rain play a factor in this? All you can really say is that the rain halted the game, and the O’s took the lead following the delay. But putting two runners on base prior to the tarp coming out, the Orioles already were taking some momentum in the game. So it’s tough to say.

Certainly from New York’s perspective you don’t want to blame the rain because it’s part of the game and it comes off as sounding like an excuse. But from the Orioles’ side of the coin you take wins however you can get them. This win combined with Boston’s loss put the Orioles in first place once again.

Next: Baltimore Orioles: Tyler Wilson hurt by first pitch fastballs

The Orioles will now welcome in the defending world champion Kansas City Royals for a big series at the yard. Mike Wright will get the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Kansas City’s Danny Duffy. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

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Matt Wieters came up as a pinch-hitter after an hour-and-a-half rain delay in the last of the eighth and gave the Baltimore Orioles the lead and a win.

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