Baltimore Orioles best DC in Beltway Series opener

The Baltimore Orioles defeated Washington 4-3 to win the opening game of the Battle of the Beltway last night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Whether you call it the Beltway Series, the Battle of the Beltway, or the MASN Cup, the Baltimore Orioles won the first installment of games with Washington last night. While the Birds only put four runs on the board, it was a game that seemed to follow the traditional script of Oriole wins as opposed to some of the games we’ve seen of late that got out of control. And that was a welcome sight for fans – from around the 695 Beltway, that is.

Dylan Bundy tossed six solid innings and left his team in a great position to win the game. Bundy’s line: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 4 K. At times Bundy seemed to employ the same strategy that Houston used against the Orioles this past weekend; changeups against this hard-swinging team will get you to where you need to be.

Washington took an early 1-0 lead on Murphy’s RBI-single in the first inning. That came following a lead off walk, which is never good. However Bundy quickly righted himself and minimized the damage. The Birds were actually held hitless until the last of the third when Jonathan Schoop broke that up with a solo home run to tie the game at one. The ball went clear over the foul pole, and was upheld on instant replay.

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So as fans from around the beltway settled in for a great game between the region’s two teams, the O’s searched for a way to get the lead. However it was Washington who got it back almost immediately the following inning on Rendon’s solo homer. Was it possible that the Orioles were not only letting their season slip away, but their grasp on the hearts and minds of the mid-Atlantic region?

Luckily for the Birds, their “beltway bats” came springing to life in the last of the fourth. Following a Machado lead off double Chris Davis smacked an RBI-double to tie the game at two. That brought Mark Trumbo to the plate, and he did what he’s done 37 other times this year – smacked a home run. This of course was of the two-run variety, and that gave the O’s a 4-2 lead.

Washington would net one additional run in the seventh on Espinoza’s solo homer, however Mychal Givens would retire them in order following that home run. However it cut the Orioles’ lead to one at 4-3. Washington would also put the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position with two outs in the eighth, however Brad Brach dramatically struck out Zimmerman swinging to end the threat.