Dwight Evans, 1992 Fleer #6

Another frustrating loss for the Orioles last night. An early deficit, some struggles with runners on base, a late hiccup by the bullpen...it's a pretty familiar template already this year. But I guess you know it's not your night when the game plays right into Buck Showalter's hands like it did in the top of the eighth - bases loaded, two outs, tie game, Steve Pearce available to pinch hit for David Lough - and the game-breaking move doesn't work out. Pearce, who's surprisingly been the most valuable depth guy for the O's in 2014, worked the count to 2-2 before hitting a grounder to shortstop. Force at second, inning over, Rays take the lead in their next ups with a pinch two-run home run by the anonymous Jerry Sands off of sad-sack Brian Matusz. Just for the extra twist of the knife, Delmon Young swats a pinch homer of his own with one out in the ninth to ensure the one-run loss. Sigh.

Obviously, the best-case scenario for the Pearce at-bat would have been a game-breaking grand slam. I figured this sort of thing would be a rare occurrence, but I had no idea how rare. With a tip of the cap to Roch Kubatko, the Orioles haven't had a pinch-hit grand slam since July 26, 1991. It was Dwight Evans, batting for Sam Horn in the bottom of the seventh inning against Gene Nelson with the O's trailing Oakland 9-5. There were two outs, two runs already in for Baltimore, and Nelson had just replaced Rick Honeycutt as the third pitcher of the inning (Dave Stewart had been pulled earlier for Honeycutt). On a 1-1 count, Evans drove a ball deep down the left field line in Memorial Stadium for the equalizer. Sadly, Mark Williamson and Gregg Olson conspired to allow three A's to score in the top of the ninth and the Birds lost 12-9. I guess that's just a good reminder that baseball retains its ability to frustrate and disappoint us through the years.

Dwight Evans, 1992 Upper Deck #248

Here's a fun little trifle from the High Heat Stats blog: on July 16, 1991, the Orioles played a road game against the Angels. Dwight Evans (age 39 years, 255 days) started in right field for the O's and batted cleanup. He went 0-for-4. Dave Winfield (age 39 years, 286 days) started in right field for the Halos and batted cleanup as well. He went 0-for-3. Combined, they were the oldest pair of starting right fielders in any game in baseball history. It was actually the fifth time they played that season, so that was the game that established the mark. If you're wondering (and haven't clicked the link to the box score yet), Jeff Robinson held the Angels to two hits in seven innings but took a 2-1 loss. Mark Williamson inherited two runners in the eighth and coughed up a scant 1-0 lead. Mark Langston went the distance for the home team, striking out seven and permitting six hits. A Leo Gomez home run in the second inning accounted for the lone Baltimore run, and came one batter after David Segui singled and was thrown out trying for a double. Thanks, David.

Ah, I never get tired of finding new reasons to beat on David Segui, I said nervously, while wondering about the kinds of things people will throw in my face 20 years down the line.

Dwight Evans, 1991 Score Rookie/Traded #62T

In an attempt to keep the spoileriffic good times rolling, I give you Dwight Evans, one of the greatest right fielders in Red Sox history. Yet they just cast him aside at age 39, despite the fact that he had produced a 103 OPS+ in 1990 and was one season removed from batting .285/.397/.463 (136 OPS+) with 100 RBI. So the Orioles took him in, and he rewarded them with a .393 on-base percentage in 1991, which turned out to be his farewell season. Now they seek to avenge dear Dewey, and Kevin Millar, and Fred Lynn, and all of the other Beantown castaways who found shelter in Charm City. There shall be no playoffs for you, Sawx Nation!

All kidding aside, it's been a blast watching the O's play with energy and fire and more-than-occasional competence, taking 10 out of 15 from a host of contenders down the stretch. They won three of four at Fenway Park (or as we like to call it, Camden North) last week, and their Monday night 6-3 win over that goatee-wearing fat-faced punk Josh Beckett was responsible for the Red Sox dropping into a tie for the wild card lead with the resurgent Rays. The spoilin' Birds have two more chances to bury Boston, the first coming tonight against our old chum Erik Bedard. He couldn't make it out of the third inning in his last start against Baltimore. To quote Adam Jones, LEGGO!

Dwight Evans, 1991 Topps Traded #37T

The Orioles win! As I was hustling down the length of Track 14 this afternoon to catch my Camden Line (that's Camden as in Camden Yards, of course) train, I saw The Interlopers in front of me, with "MATSUZAKA 18" jersey shirts and blue hats with red "B"s and cans of Bud Light to drink on the ride to the park. I was tired at the end of a long day's work, but I stood in the aisle of the train car, a crush of humanity on both sides of me, the air conditioning either not working or rendered ineffective by all of the body heat. I stood and stole resentful glances at these carpetbagging "Sawx" fans who were flocking to MY stadium to claim it as their own and to drown out the cheers of the lonely O's faithful. I thought about leaning in to a young boy in a 2004 World Champions tee and offering my prediction for the game: Orioles 4, Red Sox 3. But I thought better of it, not wanting to seem petty and small.

As it turns out, I was surprisingly close to the mark. The woeful Birds offense clobbered Josh Beckett, as he allowed the most hits of any Boston starter this year. Rookie reliever Jim Johnson continued his late-inning dominance and turned things over to George Sherrill, who shut the door. 5 to 4. Those Northern intruders left with a bad taste in their mouths.

I don't like to gloat, but life is about these little victories. I'll drive my point home with a Red Sox legend, a man who spent parts of three decades in Fenway Park but finished his career in orange and black. Eventually, Dewey saw the light and suited up for the good guys.

At least that's how I like to think it happened.