Baltimore Orioles lighting up the west coast sky

The Baltimore Orioles have lit up the scoreboard thus far on their west coast swing, defeating San Diego 12-6 yesterday.

The Baltimore Orioles surpassed 55 homers for the month of June yesterday in San Diego, a new MLB record. Granted San Diego is struggling this year, however in the first two games of their current west coast swing the O’s have been lighting up the west coast sky, bombarding it with home runs. And in reality, that’s a trend that started last weekend when Tampa was in town – heck, it started in April.

Yovani Gallardo got the start for the O’s, and he delivered a quality start. Gallardo’s line: 6 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 6 K. For what it’s worth, Gallardo also had two hits in the game, as he had to swing the bat under NL rules. The O’s took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on RBI-singles by Schoop and Machado. Later in the inning suddenly it was 4-0, as Mark Trumbo slammed a two-run homer into one of the upper levels of Petco Park’s outfield grandstand. Needless to say, it traveled far and wide.

One inning later Davis reached on a throwing error, which allowed a fifth run to score, and Adam Jones added an RBI-single in th sixth. The fact is that this game had the appearance of being over well before it was actually over, however San Diego did mount somewhat of a rally with a three-run homer in the last of the sixth inning. But there was little doubt of the final result in the end. 

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Trumbo and Machado would add two-RBI doubles in the ninth, and when the smoke cleared the Birds held a 12-3 lead. San Diego was able to rally for three runs in the last of the ninth, however it was too little too late. The Orioles won the game, and the short two-game series.

In my view the reason the 55 homer record in June is so important is due to the fact that June is a very important month in the schedule. While all months and all games are important, June is when you start to see things coming together in terms of who you are as a team. So while we always knew this team’s offense was going to be potent, this month certainly showed what they’re made of.

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Adam Jones summed up best how the team was feeling after the game, as the O’s are now 17 games above .500 (quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports):

We’re just feeding off each other. When you’re going good it’s easier to do, when you’re going bad, that’s when you’re really got to find yourself. Right now it’s easy. It’s a little easier to come to the park and play because we’re playing well, so just keep it up.

And that’s what good teams do – they feed off of each other. The Birds are a good team, and they’re playing as well as anyone right now. They obviously have to keep that up – but so far so good.

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The Orioles will now head to Seattle for four games this weekend. Chris Tillman will get the start this evening for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Seattle’s Taijuan Walker. Game time is set for just after 10 PM.