Even With David Price Pitching the Orioles Win

The Orioles faced the best pitcher in baseball today. That's right they were up against David Price. For sure it would be a loss right? Wrong! It took extra innings and Price coming out of the game, but it happened. Baltimore 1 Tampa 0. Price pitched 8 innings and only allowed 2 hits. Another brilliant performance by the best.

How did the Orioles possibly win with Price on the hill? They got some terrific starting pitching of their own. Miguel Gonzalez was amazing. Gonzalez also gave up just 2 hits. He lasted 7 innings and lowered his ERA to 3.80. Gonzalez threw 104 pitches after it was all said and done. This performance was incredibly clutch. It sends a message to the rest of the league when you have Miguel Gonzalez dueling with David Price. Very pleased with this outing from Gonzo today.

Of course Gonzo wasn't alone. With a 1-0 victory in ten innings there were others that contributed to the shutout. By the way, this is the second consecutive shutout for the birds. 18 innings of shutout baseball. Tonights shutout was capped by Jim Johnson's 32nd save on the year. Once again, I will take Johnson over anybody. The guy is clutch.

Luis Ayala actually picked up the win in this wild game. Ayala worked the ninth inning in this victory. Troy Patton gave up a hit to his only batter and Ayala followed it with brilliance. Very impressed with how Ayala worked out of this one. Ayala's ERA now sits at 2.68. Darren O'Day worked the 8th in the victory recording a strikeout and also lowering his ERA to 2.68.

There were few offensive highlights as to be expected against Price, but other than the game winning hit, one player stood out. That player is Robert Andino. Andino managed to get on base 3 times tonight. He walked twice and also picked up a hit in the game. Mr. Smiley came through for the birds.

Now finally to how the Orioles won the game. Top of the 10th..Mark Reynolds is able to...draw a walk! Yes! Way to go Mark. Ok, so the automatic out is on base. It looks like the Orioles have a chance here. With 2 outs, Taylor Teagarden steps to the plate. All Teagarden does at that point is deliver a huge double! Teagarden at second and Reynolds scored! The Orioles lead and it is because Taylor Teagarden drove in Mark Reynolds. Are you kidding me? Anyone who didn't believe in miracles does now! Wow! Teagarden! This guy now has two HUGE extra inning game winning hits in his short time with Baltimore. Not bad for a #2 catcher who is a defensive specialist with no stick. That staff sure did look good today with Teagarden behind the dish. I like this guy!

-Noland

Orioles Defeat Rays, Back in 1st (I WAS THERE!!!)

One of my good friends from work hooked us up with some sweet seats today for the Orioles-Rays game. These seats were just 7 rows back down the 1st base side. Needless to say, my wife and I had a blast. This may have been the best seats I have had for a baseball game I have been to, so I was pumped. Given Tropicana Field is not as classy as Camden Yards, but it is a decent little stadium. We could basically reach out and touch the players too which is always awesome. Just a great outing for us.

These pictures are live close up shots from the wife's Iphone.

We got to the game right as it was starting, which I guess you can say perfect timing. The game itself was fantastic also. The Orioles snapped their rough 6 game losing streak and are once again tied with the Rays for 1st. Brian Matusz was the biggest reason for their success. He only gave up one run in his brilliant 7 1/3 innings of work. Matusz probably would have gotten through 8 if it wasn't for horrible defense from a certain infielder, but we will get to that later.

The best part of the game had to be Chavez's homer. The homer was just so exciting because it was completely unexpected. I mean who expects Endy Chavez to go yard. A close second was seeing Robert Andino hit. Andino was 0-3, but the wife and I are big fans of his and the way he carries himself. This guy is awesome.

We also loved seeing the bullpen guys pitch. Seeing Jim Johnson pick up his 17th save was awesome. Another amazing sight was the power that is in Pedro Strop's arm. Strop hit 99, 99, 99 on three straight pitches. That was impressive. That double play ball he induced after inheriting Matusz's runners was awesome. Strop is extremely impressive to see live I must say. This is now the 3rd time Jenna and I have seen it and we hope we are able to see this guy pitch for many years to come.

Just an absolutely fantastic game other than one thing. Mark Reynolds has got to go. He is dead weight he offers this team nothing. The error nearly blew an amazing performance by Matusz. This guy simply cannot play the field anywhere if he has to stay. I'd prefer we'd find any taker possible, but if we have to keep him, then he has to be DH. I hope he isn't there when I see the Orioles play the Nats in a few weeks live.

-Noland

More Oriole Roster Moves

The Baltimore Orioles are now in a tie with the Tampa Bay Rays for 1st place in the AL East. This is partially because Tommy Hunter has been awful lately to lose the Orioles the best record in baseball. During his last start he couldn't get past the 4th inning. Because of his poor pitching, the Orioles optioned Hunter today. It is the 2nd time this season that Hunter has been optioned. The first time Hunter was optioned he didn't actually go to Norfolk because another player went on the DL so he was recalled. This time he is going down and there is no telling how long he will be down there.

Recalled in Hunter's place is Miguel Gonzalez. The pitcher was not on the Orioles 40 man roster, but with the roster at 39, Gonzalez was simply added. He signed with the Orioles as a minor league free agent February 28th. Last year he was with the Red Sox pitching in Single A, Double A, and Triple A. Through 5 minor league seasons Gonzalez was 18-22 with a 3.92 ERA. This season though Gonzalez has been much better pitching to a 2-1 record with one save and a 1.50 ERA. He was as deserving as anybody of a promotion.

In addition to that, Endy Chavez is on his way back off the disabled list. Unfortunately, for Xavier Avery, that means Avery is on his way out. Avery started out amazingly with the birds, but has cooled as of late. He is in a 3-30 slump and was 0-3 with 3 strikeouts last night. If you asked me last week if I would be upset with Avery being sent out I would have said yes. However, now I say that since Chavez is back it is ok. Probably better for Avery to get the extra work at Norfolk. If Reimold is done for the year though, I would not keep Avery down for too long.

-Noland