Around the Diamond – O’s 5, Yankees 3

Around the Diamond

That game was a bit better than last night.  But was it truly a good game for the Orioles?  Let’s break it down in AtD.

Box Score

First Base

The Orioles had two quality starts in a row from their starting pitches with Miguel Gonzalez last night and following it up today with Jason Hammel.  Hammel pitched a quality game with a good strike to ball ratio and only one walk.  Hammel gave up 8 hits with two of them being home runs, but he minimized the damage throughout his start.  My only qualm was his inability to get through the 7th inning.  I was really hoping that #1 pitcher might be able to accomplish this today, but I guess we’ll have to wait again.

Second Base

As much as we can focus on the offensive barage with the home run ball, I’d like to focus on the fact that the Orioles went 0-10 with RISP.  In games against the Yankees in their stadium, its the way to lose games.  You have to be able to continue to pile on runs on them to not allow them a chance.  The Orioles did score runs on ground outs.  But it shortens bigger innings like in the Top of the 1st (1st and 3rd, 1 out) and  Top of the 3rd  (2nd and 3rd, 1 out).  If we live and die on the home run, we’ll eventually die.

Third Base

How do the Yankees do it?  How do they go out and get players off the scrap pile in Vernon Wells, Travis Haffner, and Lyle Overbay who see success with the Yankees.

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It makes no sense and if even one of these players were on the Orioles, they would be the next Vladimir Guerrero.  Only one explanation…dark magic.

Home Plate

There were questions about the bullpen earlier this year.  However, they appear to be back to their normal tricks.  The bullpen is dominating with 0 ER over last 8.2 IP in 3 games and an ERA of 0.69 over the last 8 games.  And the combination of Matusz, O’Day, and Johnson is devastating.  If the Orioles get the bullpen again this year, watch out.

Summary

The Orioles picked up a win that they gravely needed.  They now return to a national broadcast on Sunday Night Baseball for the first time since 2008 which was the last game held in old Yankees Stadium.  As Jake stated from yesterday, expect to see a lot of the triple play and bobble and little of today’s game.  Let’s win the rubber game and take two series from the AL East on the road.