April 7-9: Baltimore Earns Impressive Series Win over Yankees
After losing both of its first two series, the Baltimore Orioles finally earned its first series win of the 2014 season by beating the New York Yankees, two games to one. Baltimore lost, 4-2 in Game One of the series on April 7, but bounced back on April 8 to win Game Two 14-5. The Orioles were simply on fire from the plate, recording 20 hits and 14 RBI total in the game. Adam Jones, Matt Wieters and Delmon Young each went the yard with home runs. Young and Wieters each had three RBI.
In Game Three. Baltimore was knocking home runs out of the park in this game, and managed to steal a 5-4 win on April 9. The O’s scored two late runs in the ninth inning to take the win. Rotation pitcher Miguel Gonzalez had a solid outing, allowing seven hits and three runs in six innings pitched.
April 11-12: Orioles Split First Two Games against Toronto
Baltimore tried to extend its win streak to three games but lost Game One of its series to the Toronto Blue Jays, 2-0, on April 11. Rotation pitcher Chris Tillman was outstanding, giving up just three hits and no earned runs in eight innings pitched. But the Orioles couldn’t get anything going at the plate, recording just five hits total for the game.
The Orioles continued to struggle offensively in Game Two of the series, but still pulled out with a 2-1 win over Toronto on April 12. Jonathan Schoop and David Lough both produced RBI that gave Baltimore all the runs they would need.
Rotation pitcher Bud Norris came out hot, allowing just five hits and zero runs in seven innings pitched. Relief pitcher Zack Britton, however, pitched the final two innings of the game so the win went into his record column.
Orioles Player of the Week: Delmon Young
In his first year as an Oriole, Young is already proving his worth. Young recorded seven hits with three RBI’s and a home run in the last three games played for Baltimore.
Analysis: Baltimore’s ugly start to the season put them behind in the won-loss column as the Orioles currently stand at a 5-6 record. But impressive wins over the division rival New York Yankees has helped restore some confidence in Orioles Land. If they can keep the pitching tight and the offense rolling, Baltimore should be able to make up ground in the MLB standings.
Next-up: After completing the Toronto series on April 13, Baltimore will take on the Tampa Rays in a three-game home series on April 14-16, followed by a four-game away series against the Boston Red Sox on April 18-21.
