Drama at the Yard

1 comment

June 18, 8:43 AM

by Pete Sabatini, Baltimore O's Examiner

 

 

1 run deficits, 2 run deficits, 3 run deficits…they just don’t seem to matter to this Orioles team.  6^th, 7^th, 8^th inning?  No problem.  There’s either no pressure, or they’re thriving on the pressure.  In any case, it sure is fun to watch.

The drama before the game was around Miguel Tejada’s first return to Baltimore since the big trade that sent him to Houston.  Teammates hugged him, coaches shook his hand, and fans at once cheered and booed. 

Reaction was fittingly mixed.  The impact was light with only 21,535 in attendance, somewhat less than capacity of 48,262.  He clearly has friends still in the organization, and while some fans appreciated his effort, others remember the tiresome complaining, trade demands, and visible drops in effort. 

Melvin Mora seemed to be confused by the reaction.  “The only thing I don't understand is why the people booed him. He did everything he can do for this organization. He played day-in and day-out for us. He played hard every day, and I think you should clap when you see a guy like that."

Melvin must have missed a few days, a few press conferences, and more than a few headlines.  But in any case, there are things to cheer him for and a few things to remember less fondly.  But when it came to the game, the Orioles got the better of things.

Let’s see how the pieces of the trade stacked up:

Miguel Tejada - 0 for 3 outing with 1 walk

Luke Scott – 1 for 3 with 1 walk

Matt Albers – 2 and 1/3 innings, 1 solo HR, and 1 K

Advantage Orioles.

The real fun was happening away from the trade players.  Markakis hit his 12th homer of the season in the 7th to bring the Birds within one.  In another magical 8th, after Jim Johnson kept the Astros off the board, Mora drove in Adam Jones and Brian Roberts with a 3-2,1out, double to right-center putting the Birds ahead 6-5.  It looks like there’s no need to worry about George Sherrill who then locked down the 9th with a perfect inning, including 1 strikeout.

The Orioles are now a game above .500 once again and look to stay above that mark in the second game of the 3 game series Wednesday night.  The Astros have now lost 6 straight.

Score: 6-5 Orioles, (Box Score)

Next Game: Houston 7:05pm Wed., Guthrie (3-7) vs. Moehler (3-3)

Record: 35-34, 7.5GB

(AP Photo)

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