I did not get to see the Orioles win three of four games over the long weekend, since I was busy traversing the interstates of Eastern Pennsylvania, canoeing, sitting by a lakeside fire, and so forth. No complaints there, especially since the O's used some solid pitching, timely hitting, and even the occasional spectacular defensive play to draw within a single game of the Yankees for the American League East lead. They're peaking at the right time, particularly Mark Reynolds, who had a pair of home runs in each of the Birds' two wins against New York and made some surprisingly deft plays at first base to save errors for his infield mates. The unprecedented good fortune keeps accumulating for the most enjoyable Orioles team of my adult life, as they won three separate series in the Bronx for the first time since 1976, when Reggie Jackson wore orange and black and some early-season games featured Tippy Martinez and Rick Dempsey in navy pinstripes. In yesterday's 8-3 comeback win over the Yankees, Randy Wolf earned the victory in his club debut with 3.1 innings of emergency relief of Chris Tillman, who left after 3 innings with elbow discomfort. When the O's picked the 36-year-old lefty Wolf off of the scrap heap last week, it didn't seem to be a good fit. So naturally he was right there when the team needed him. That's how things go in 2012.
You cannot fathom how much I am rooting for the O's this month. If the O's and the Rays can pass the Yankees, it would make my whole damn year.
ReplyDeleteMax - You and me both! There's a real chance that the top four teams in payroll (Yanks, Red Sox, Tigers, Phils) could miss the playoffs. Eat the rich!
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