Baltimore Orioles player of the week: Jordan Westburg walks off into the spotlight

I'm not sure who makes the MLB schedule but whoever it is has some kinks to work out. The Baltimore Orioles had two off days this past week and four total in the month of May before having just one off day in the entire month of June. Nevertheless, the O's played five games this week and finished 3-2 while maintaining a half game lead on the New York Yankees for the best record in the American League.

The week started with a heart-stopping series against the crosstown Washington Nationals. The Orioles were only able to muster three hits, all singles, in Game 1, but Jordan Westburg did make a standout play at second base, robbing the Nationals Trey Lipscomb of a hit in the second inning. Game 2 was a different story, as the bats came to life. Westburg had a double and scored twice, including one of the two runs the O's scored in the 12th inning, helping the Orioles avoid being swept for the first time in nearly two years.

After the second off day of the week, the Orioles welcomed the defending National League champion Arizona Diamondbacks to town. In the opener of the series, with new owner David Rubenstein watching from his temporary position as Mr Rubensplash, Westburg ripped an RBI double that gave the Orioles the lead. The Birds held on to win the game 4-2.

Jordan Westburg's Game 2 vs. Diamondbacks clinches Orioles Player of the Week

Game 2 of the series was the highlight game of the week. Westburg went 4-5 with a double, two RBI and a stolen base. He got the scoring started in the second inning with his second RBI double in as many games, then bookended the scoring with an RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning for his second walk-off hit of the season. Westburg then went 1-2 with yet another RBI and two walks in the series finale.

With a hit in all five games, Westburg brought his hitting streak to six with a double in four straight games. He went 8-19 with with two runs, five RBI and a stolen base this week while playing standout defense at both second and third base. Westburg has been one of the best players on one of baseball's best teams to this point and is showing no signs of slowing down. With so many star players on the Orioles, Westburg has been overshadowed a bit, but he's making a name for himself, which helped him nab this week's Orioles Player of the Week.