Baltimore Orioles: Mark Trumbo hasn't heard no bell
It took extra innings, but the Baltimore Orioles proved they were still a viable playoff contender as Mark Trumbo’s walk off homer led them to victory.
Whereas the Baltimore Orioles have been criticized all year for living and dying by the home run, it’s always a good thing to have someone like Chris Davis or Mark Trumbo. Be it in April or September, when you’re at home and you go into extra innings, you always have a shot to win on one swing of the bat. In this case, it’s September – and the Orioles are fighting for their playoff lives.
The Birds got a decent outing out of Yovani Gallardo, who checked in with a quality start. He also put his team in a position to win, although he didn’t ge the run support he probably deserved. Gallardo’s line: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K. However keep in mind that at this stage of the game it’s not about run support or anything else – it’s about winning.
Arizona got an RBI-single from Jake Lamb in the first, and an RBI-double from Jean Segura in the second to take a 2-0 lead. That Lamb RBI-single was fairly consistent with something that’s plaqued the Orioles for years. It was a dying quail that was seemingly barely nicked at the plate. There’s nothing that frustrates a hard-slugging team more than a guy that gets a base hit like that.
The Orioles struggled in this game to get guys into a position to score, and for some time it appeared that the Birds might just peter out. Had they reached their breaking point? Was this truly the end? Keep in mind the motif I gave you yesterday folks: I DIDN’T HEAR NO BELL!
The Orioles slug you to death when they’re at their best. And Pedro Alvarez started that process last night with a solo homer in the last of the eighth that cut the lead to 2-1. Matt Wieters followed suit in the last of the ninth to tie the game at two, and force extra innings. The Birds almost won it outright there in the last of the ninth when J.J. Hardy tried to score from first on Adam Jones’ single. However he was called out at home plate. The Orioles challenged under the collision rule, but it was ruled inconclusive.
And on we played. The Birds had the bases loaded in the 11th but were unable to plate a run, and it was starting to look like this could turn into a marathon-type game. However in games like this you always give the nod to the home team because of their last at-bat. Especially with a guy like Mark Trumbo in the lineup.
Trumbo stepped to the plate in the last of the 12th to lead off the inning. And pretty soon he was “closing out” the inning, as he sent a deep shot to left field. And there was no doubt from the moment he hit it that the ball was gone. Trumbo’s homer walked the Orioles off as winners, and more importantly gave them some fodder in the playoff race.
Unfortunately for the O’s, Trumo and his walk off homer couldn’t help them to gain any ground in the race for the postseason. Detroit won as well, which leaves the Orioles a half game out of the playoffs – as it stands right now. There’s still a lot of baseball to be played.
The Arizona series continues tonight at Camden Yards. Wade Miley will be on the mound for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Arizona’s Robbie Ray. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
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