O’s Sweep Sox At Fenway

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Bob Phelan

Game One: Orioles 6, Red Sox 4

- Wei-Yin Chen didn’t have his best outing in this game, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts over just five innings. The defense didn’t help him much and it was his first start at Fenway so I wouldn’t say it was a disaster. The bullpen was outstanding holding Boston scoreless over eight innings. Matt Lindstrom and Jim Johnson each pitched one, Johnson earning his eighth save, while Pedro Strop, Luis Ayala, and Troy Patton each pitched two scoreless.
- Mark Reynolds finally hit his first homerun of the season, a solo shot in the 3rd inning. He also hit an RBI double and walked. Matt Wieters drove in a run and had a single and a triple. Chris Davis singled twice, Wilson Betemit had a single and walked three times, Robert Andino singled and walked, JJ Hardy singled, and Adam Jones walked.

Player of the game: Mark Reynolds – 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, double (5), HR (1) (.157 AVG)

Game Two: Orioles 8, Red Sox 2

- Jason Hammel continued to defy all expectations with another fantastic start. He held the Red Sox scoreless until the 7th inning when Darren O’Day allowed his inherited runners to score. He struck out eight Boston batters over 6.2 innings only walking one batter and giving up four hits. O’Day pitched 0.2 innings, not giving up any runs of his own. Troy Patton and Matt Lindstrom each got one out and Kevin Gregg pitched a scoreless 9th.
- Mark Reynolds was at it again, hitting a three run homer and a double. Adam Jones hit a two run homer in the game. Wilson Betemit drove in a run with two singles and a walk. Nick Markakis drove in a run and had a single. Matt Wieters doubled, Chris Davis singled twice, Endy Chavez singled, and JJ Hardy walked.

Player of the game: Jason Hammel – 6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, BB, 8 K, W (4-1) (2.09 ERA)

Game Three: Orioles 9, Red Sox 6

- This was one of the craziest games I’ve ever followed. Tommy Hunter started and sat the Red Sox hitters down in order over the first three innings but gave up a run in the 4th and was removed before finishing the 5th after giving up four more. The bullpen came up huge in this 17 inning affair. Luis Ayala finished the 5th and pitched a scoreless 6th. Darren O’Day got the first two outs of the 7th, Troy Patton got the last one but allowed a double to lead off the 8th. Pedro Strop came in and allowed that run to score but gave up no runs of his own over two innings. Kevin Gregg, Matt Lindstrom, and Jim Johnson each pitched two scoreless innings as well. Chris Davis of all people had to pitch the 16th inning because we ran out of pitchers. He was touching 90 on his fastball and had good movement and a decent off speed pitch. An amazing relay at the plate ended the inning and he struck out Adrian Gonzalez in the 17th before getting a double play. Hes the first position player to earn a win since 1968.
- Unfortunately Davis went 0-8 at the plate with five strikeouts and a double play. The offense got out to a 5-0 lead with two solo homeruns from JJ Hardy and a three run homer off the bat of Robert Andino. Hardy had five hits in the game including a double. Adam Jones hit the game winning homerun, a three run shot off of Darnell McDonald – the Red Sox outfielder. He also singled and doubled. Matt Wieters singled, doubled, and walked. Mark Reynolds singled, doubled, and walked four times. Nick Markakis also walked four times. Nick Johnson and Ryan Flaherty each singled and Wilson Betemit walked. Following this game the Orioles had the best record in baseball. 10 games over .500 in May is a great accomplishment for this team.

Player of the game: JJ Hardy – 5-8, 3 R, 2 RBI, double (5), 2 HR (6) (.217 AVG)

Down on the Farm: May 8th

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Bob Phelan

AAA Norfolk 11, Louisville 4

RHP Joel Pineiro – 6.1 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, W (1-0) (3.65 ERA)
LF Xavier Avery – 2-5, 2 R, 4 RBI, double (4), HR (4) (.243 AVG)
SS Steve Tolleson – 3-4, R, RBI, BB (.265 AVG)
1B Joe Mahoney – 4-4, R, 2 RBI, BB, double (3) (.241 AVG)

AA Bowie 7, Altoona 4

2B Jonathon Schoop – 3-6, R, double (6) (.212 AVG)
CF LJ Hoes – 1-3, R, 2 BB, double (5), SB (9) (.302 AVG)
SS Manny Machado – 2-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, 2 doubles (9) (.269 AVG) – Minor League Player of the Night
C Caleb Joseph – 2-5, 2 RBI, double (6) (.273 AVG)
3B Carlos Rojas – 3-5, R, RBI, double (1) (.278 AVG)

A Delmarva 8, Charleston 7

LHP Tim Berry – 6 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, BB, 6 K (3.68 ERA)
1B Nick Delmonico – 3-6, 2 R, double (8) (.269 AVG)
C Justin Dalles – 3-6, R, 2 RBI, 2 doubles (3) (.345 AVG)
3B Jason Esposito – 3-4, R, RBI, BB (.237 AVG)
DH Wynston Sawyer – 2-4, R, 2 RBI, BB (.226 AVG)

Down on the Farm: May 7th

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Bob Phelan

AAA Norfolk 4, Louisville 2

LHP Dana Eveland – 5 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, W (3-2) (2.21 ERA)
2B Matt Antonelli – 2-4, RBI (.222 AVG)
C Chris Robinson – 1-3, RBI, BB (.262 AVG)
RF Jai Miller – 2-4, 2 R, RBI, HR (3) (.253 AVG)

A Delmarva 4, Charleston 5

RHP Dylan Bundy – 3 IP, H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K (0.00 ERA) – Minor League Player of the Night - Bundy gave up his first run as a professional but it was unearned. The batter reached on a passed ball after a strikeout and scored on back to back errors. Bundy was supposed to go four innings but he reached his pitch count.
CF Glynn Davis – 2-4, BB (.271 AVG)
DH Justin Dalles – 1-3, BB, double (1) (.304 AVG)
RF Brenden Webb – 1-4, R, double (6) (.225 AVG)

Down on the Farm: May 6th

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Bob Phelan

AAA Norfolk 1, Durham 2

LF Jamie Hoffman – 1-3, double (6) (.226 AVG)
3B Bill Hall – 1-3, R (.289 AVG)
DH Joe Mahoney – 1-3 (.213 AVG)
1B Chris Robinson – 3-3, RBI, 2 doubles (4) (.256 AVG) – Minor League Player of the Night

AA Bowie 0, Akron 5

RHP Zach Clark – 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, L (2-2) (4.54 ERA)
SS Manny Machado – 1-3 (.257 AVG)
2B Jonathon Schoop – 1-2, BB (.194 AVG)

A+ Frederick 1, Carolina 0

RHP Mike Wright – 6.1 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, W (4-1) (2.62 ERA)
RF Bobby Stevens – 2-4, R, double (2) (.254 AVG)
DH Kipp Schutz – 1-2, RBI, BB, SB (1) (.290 AVG)
LF Tyler Kolodny – 1-2, HBP, SB (1) (.174 AVG)

A+ Frederick 2, Carolina 3

LHP Rick Zagone – 5 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 4 K (1.40 ERA)
DH Kipp Schutz – 2-4 (.303 AVG)
3B Tyler Kelly – 1-3 (.256 AVG)

A Delmarva 2, Charleston 8

LHP Trent Howard – 4 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 BB, 2 K (1.93 ERA)
C Justin Dalles – 2-4, 2 R, RBI, HR (1) (.300 AVG)
DH Gabriel Lino – 2-3, RBI, BB, double (6) (.265 AVG)

Down on the Farm: May 5th

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Bob Phelan

AAA Norfolk 5, Durham 2

RHP Chris Tillman – 6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, BB, 2 K, W (3-3) (5.10 ERA)
CF Xavier Avery – 2-5, R, 2 RBI, double (3), HR (3) (.240 AVG) – Minor League Player of the Night
SS Steve Tolleson – 2-4, R, RBI, BB (.241 AVG)
DH Bill Hall – 1-4, 2 RBI, BB, double (4) (.286 AVG)

AA Bowie 3, Akron 8

3B Zelous Wheeler – 2-4 (.191 AVG)
1B Brandon Waring – 1-3, R, BB (.277 AVG)
SS Manny Machado – 2-4, R, double (7) (.255 AVG)
C Caleb Joseph – 1-3, R, RBI (.266 AVG)

A Delmarva 6, Charleston 4

LHP Eduardo Rodriguez – 6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, BB, 2 K (2.70 ERA)
LHP Zach Davies – 4 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, K, W (1-1) (3.74 ERA)
CF Glynn Davis – 2-5, R, 2 RBI, SB (10) (.263 AVG)
2B Sammie Starr – 2-6, RBI, SB (3) (.280 AVG)
RF Brenden Webb – 1-3, R, 2 BB, double (5), SB (4) (.229 AVG)

Down on the Farm: May 4th

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Bob Phelan

AAA Norfolk 10, Indianapolis 5

RHP Steve Johnson – 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, K (2.60 ERA)
CF Xavier Avery – 2-4, 3 R, BB (.232 AVG)
SS Steve Tolleson – 1-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, double (5), SB (2) (.227 AVG)
3B Bill Hall – 1-4, R, 2 RBI, BB, double (3) (.289 AVG)
RF Jai Miller – 2-3, HBP (.253 AVG)
1B Joe Mahoney – 2-4, 2 R (.220 AVG)

AA Bowie 7, Akron 5

LHP Jacob Pettit – 5 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 2 K (3.90 ERA)
CF LJ Hoes – 4-4, 3 R, 2 RBI, HR (1) (.324 AVG) – Minor League Player of the Night
SS Manny Machado – 1-3, R, BB (.245 AVG)
C Caleb Joseph – 2-4, R, 4 RBI, 2 doubles (5) (.263 AVG)

A+ Frederick 4, Carolina 10

RHP Scott Copeland – 4.2 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, BB, 7 K, L (1-2) (5.10 ERA)
DH Kipp Schutz – 2-4, 2 R (.283 AVG)
1B Aaron Baker – 1-2, R, double (5) (.207 AVG)
2B Tyler Kelly – 1-2, RBI, BB, HBP, double (4) (.264 AVG)
LF Tyler Kolodny – 2-4, R, 2 doubles (2) (.143 AVG)

A Delmarva 0, Savannah 10

RHP Tyler Wilson – 5 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, L (3-2) (3.67 ERA)
1B Nick Delmonico – 1-3, BB, double (7) (.267 AVG)
RF Brenden Webb – 3-3, BB (.225 AVG)

Down on the Farm: May 3rd

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Bob Phelan

AAA Norfolk 3, Indianapolis 2

RHP Joel Pineiro – 6 IP, 3 H, ER, 0 BB, 5 K (1.50 ERA) – Pineiro signed a minor league contract in April for some minor league depth, this was his first start.
SS Steve Tolleson – 2-5, R, double (4) (.222 AVG)
3B Bill Hall – 2-5, R, 2 RBI, HR (2) (.294 AVG) – Minor League Player of the Night
CF Xavier Avery – 1-2, RBI (.221 AVG)

AA Bowie 2, Richmond 6

RHP Bobby Bundy – 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, L (1-5) (4.78 ERA)
CF LJ Hoes – 1-4, R, SB (8) (.297 AVG)
SS Manny Machado – 1-4, RBI, double (6) (.242 AVG)
DH Ronnie Welty – 1-4, double (7) (.333 AVG)

A+ Frederick 0, Myrtle Beach 4

RHP Kyle Simon – 5 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, BB, 2 K, L (0-5) (5.87 ERA)
RF Bobby Stevens – 2-4, SB (4) (.241 AVG)
1B Aaron Baker – 1-3, BB (.200 AVG)

A Delmarva 1, Savannah 3

RHP Parker Bridwell – 5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, L (2-1) (4.21 ERA)
1B Nick Delmonico – 2-4 (.265 AVG)
LF Connor Narron – 1-3, R (.250 AVG)
SS Mychal Givens – 1-2, BB (.218 AVG)

O’s Excercise Demons, Win Series In New York

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Bob Phelan

Game One: Orioles 1, Yankees 2

- This was a tough game to lose. Anytime you hold the Yankees to two runs in Yankee stadium you have to win. Unfortunately our only run came in on a Chris Davis sacrifice fly in the top of the 2nd inning. Jason Hammel made one mistake and that came in the bottom of the 2nd when he left a fastball up in the zone to Eric Chavez who hit it out of the park for a two run homer and the win. Other than that Hammel continued to pitch great, striking out five batters over six innings. Matt Lindstrom and Jim Johnson each pitched a scoreless inning as well. We had five hits in the game, all singles from JJ Hardy, Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, and Wilson Betemit. Jones walked and Wieters was hit by a pitch.

Player of the game: Jason Hammel – 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, L (3-1) (1.97 ERA)

Game Two: Orioles 7, Yankees 1

- Brian Matusz has slowly gotten better and better with each start and he finally put it together at the right time to shut down the Yankees. He only gave up one run on six hits and a walk over 6.1 innings with four strikeouts. His only walk was the lead off batter of the 7th inning. Darren O’Day came in with one out and got out of the inning and also pitched a scoreless 8th. Luis Ayala tossed a scoreless 9th to cap it off.
- The offense did what it couldn’t do the night before and put some runs on the board. Chris Davis hit a solo homerun in the top of the 2nd inning. He also singled and doubled in the game. JJ Hardy hit a two run homer in the 3rd. Wilson Betemit drove in a run with a single in the 6th and Nick Johnson followed that with a fly ball that got past Eduardo Nunez for a two run error. Johnson did eventually get his first hit of the season in the top of the 8th with an RBI double. Adam Jones doubled, Nick Markakis singled twice, Robert Andino singled and walked twice, and Matt Wieters singled.

Player of the game: Chris Davis – 3-4, 3 R, RBI, double (7), HR (5) (.333 AVG)

Game Three: Orioles 5, Yankees 0

- Arrieta was finally able to get the monkey off his back following his implosion a couple starts back. He was as dominant as I’ve seen him in his career, striking out nine batters over eight scoreless innings. Its a shame his pitch count wouldn’t let him go for the shutout but Jim Johnson pitched a perfect 9th inning to end the game.
- Matt Wieters had a big game, hitting a solo homerun in the 4th to give us the lead. He also doubled in a run in the 7th, singled, and walked. Robert Andino singled three times, drove in a run, and walked. Nick Markakis doubled and crushed a solo homerun in the 7th inning. Nick Johnson got his first hit out of the way and is now on fire, hitting a double and singling in a run. JJ Hardy singled and doubled. Mark Reynolds, Chris Davis, and Adam Jones each walked.

Player of the game: Jake Arrieta – 8 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 K, W (2-2) (3.52 ERA)

Down on the Farm: May 2nd

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Bob Phelan

AAA Norfolk 1, Indianapolis 3

LHP Dana Eveland – 8 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, BB, 2 K, L (2-2) (2.56 ERA)
SS Steve Tolleson – 2-5, double (3) (.209 AVG)
LF Jamie Hoffman – 1-4, solo HR (2) (.235 AVG)
3B Bill Hall – 2-3, BB (.276 AVG)

AA Bowie 5, Richmond 3

RHP Tim Bascom – 6 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (3.72 ERA)
CF LJ Hoes – 2-3, R, BB, SB (7) (.299 AVG)
1B Brandon Waring – 1-3, R, BB (.291 AVG)
LF Robbie Widlansky – 1-3, R, BB (.267 AVG)
RF Ronnie Welty – 2-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 doubles (6) (.344 AVG) – Minor League Player of the Night

A+ Frederick 2, Myrtle Beach 7

RHP Justin Moore – 6 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, K, L (0-3) (5.96 ERA)
RF Jeremy Nowak – 2-4 (.307 AVG)
LF Kipp Schutz – 2-4, 2 R (.269 AVG)
2B Tyler Kelly – 1-3, BB, double (3) (.269 AVG)
C Joe Oliveira – 2-3, 2 RBI, BB (.226 AVG)

A Delmarva 1, Savannah 7

LHP Tim Berry – 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, L (1-4) (3.47 ERA)
LF John Ruettiger – 1-3 (.323 AVG)
DH Justin Dalles – 1-3, R, BB (.300 AVG)
2B Nick Delmonico – 1-2, BB, HBP, double (6) (.253 AVG)

Down on the Farm: May 1st

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Bob Phelan

AAA Norfolk 4, Indianapolis 6

RHP Chris Tillman – 5.1 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, L (2-3) (5.63 ERA)
RHP Stu Pomeranz – 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, BB, 6 K (0.00 ERA) – Pomeranz was a low key minor league signing but hes been dominant between AA and AAA. I’d love to see him replace Kevin Gregg in the bullpen.
C Luis Exposito – 2-4, R, BB, double (5) (.295 AVG)
2B Ryan Adams – 2-5, R, double (9) (.218 AVG)
SS Blake Davis – 2-3, RBI, BB (.158 AVG)
RF Jai Miller – 3-4, R, 2 RBI, BB, double (7), HR (2) (.239 AVG)

AA Bowie 2, Richmond 0

RHP Zach Clark – 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, W (2-1) (4.55 ERA) – Minor League Player of the Night
CF LJ Hoes – 1-4, R, BB (.287 AVG)
DH Brandon Waring – 2-4, R, RBI, triple (1) (.289 AVG)
SS Manny Machado – 1-3, BB (.244 AVG)
C Caleb Joseph – 1-3, RBI, BB (.261 AVG)

A+ Frederick 3, Myrtle Beach 0

LHP Rick Zagone – 6.2 IP, H, 0 ER, BB, 4 K, W (2-0) (1.31 ERA)
3B Matt Sweeney – 2-4, R, RBI, 2 doubles (8) (.250 AVG)
DH Mike Flacco – 2-4, 2 Run HR (2), 2 SB (4) (.259 AVG)
LF Kipp Schutz – 1-3, BB (.250 AVG)