Manny Machado, 2014 Bowman #110

If the Orioles were bothered by having to play an afternoon game in a completely empty Oriole Park at Camden Yards, they sure didn't let it show. The Birds came out swinging today with a six-run outburst in the first inning, en route to an 8-2 win in a tidy two hours and three minutes. Chris Davis had the big blow with a three-run home run that landed on Eutaw Street. WGN announcer and resident White Sox homer Hawk Harrelson's subdued call created a unique moment, as MASN's Gary Thorne and his more enthusiastic call of the blast were audible on the Chicago station's broadcast. Thorne was on his game throughout the unusual proceedings, as evidenced by his seventh-inning impression of a golf announcer during an Adam Jones double. Manny Machado also had a good day, going 3-for-4 with a single, double, homer, and three runs scored.

Though Baltimore's baseball fans were not permitted to enter the ballpark today, a small group of diehards still made their presence felt. A smattering of folks watched from the balconies of the Hilton across the street, with an O's banner hung over the railing. Still more Birdbrains stood at the gate outside of the bullpen picnic area, gazing in at the action on the field and cheering loudly enough to be heard on TV and radio on a number of occasions. As I drove home from work and listened to Fred Manfra and Joe Angel describing a mostly uneventful ninth inning, the chants of "Let's Go O's!" came through loud and clear. When winning pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez was asked about the would-be Knothole Gang after the game, he broke out in a big smile. It would definitely not have occurred to me to eavesdrop on the empty-stadium game, but I'm glad that a few others did.