Baltimore Orioles: Adam Jones swings Birds into first

The Baltimore Orioles took sole possession of first place in the AL East last night on the heels of an Adam Jones homer as they defeated Boston, 5-1.

There are a lot of strong players on the Baltimore Orioles, but Adam Jones is the leader on the field and in the clubhouse. He has been for some time. And he showed that leadership on the field last night in heading the effort by the BIrds in defeating Boston, 5-1.

It wasn’t only Jones who contributed, however. Tyler Wilson pitched a gem in what amounted to a decent bounceback start after getting touched up a bit in Toronto. Wilson’s line: 8.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K. Anytime you pitch eight innings of three-hit baseball anywhere, you’re doing something right. But especially at Fenway.

It was Jones who got the scoring started in the game, and got some runs on the board for the O’s. He smacked a two-run homer in the third inning, and the O’s held a 2-0 lead. One inning later he struck again, this time with an RBI-double down the left field line and into the corner. To borrow a term from billiards, that ball walked the dog down the line. 

SoDo Mojo

Chris Davis added an RBI-single and Jonathan Schoop an RBI-double in the fifth, as the O’s built a 5-0 lead. And when you’re starter is going as good as Wilson was last night, a 5-0 lead is very safe. Even in a park like Fenway! Wilson commanded the strike zone all night and kept Boston hitters guessing.

However Boston’s still a good geam, and Ortiz’s solo homer in the last of the ninth would get them on the board. But it was too little too late in a sense. This was the Orioles’ night, and at the end of the day it was their series – taking two-of-three. This sends the Birds back to Baltimore with a one game lead over Boston, and in sole possession of first place.

The O’s touched up Boston starter Rodriguez early on, which put the BoSox in a defensive crouch for most of the game. Rodriguez of course is a former Oriole farmhand who was traded to Boston in 2014. Many fans have been critical of that deal, but if you’re intent on judging it game-by-game it certainly worked out for the O’s last night.

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Adam Jones was asked after the game about Tyler Wilson, and he gave glowing reviews (quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports):

"I want to give a round of applause to Tyler Wilson. To stifle a lineup like this, he did a really good job throwing strike one. I think today’s about him. I don’t care about myself. Today’s about him. He went out there and in a rubber match of this game, a big series win and threw eight innings, eight strong innings."

Stifling any big league lineup is a noteworthy feat for sure, however Boston’s is very powerful. Wilson pitched to contact for much of the night, and he got hitters to put the ball in play. Having superior defense behind him also afforded him the luxury of peace of mind in doing that.

Next: Baltimore Orioles fall as Kevin Gausman struggles in Boston

The O’s move from one big series to another, as Toronto comes to town for three at Camden Yards starting tonight. Mike Wright will get the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Aaron Sanchez. Game time is set for just afer 7 PM.