The O’s put up 17 runs for a decisive victory in the finale, setting a new MLB record for most consecutive non-losing series against their own division.
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
So, are we having fun yet?
Just when you’ve run out of superlatives to describe the 2024 Orioles, they barge into Yankee Stadium and pull off a decisive series victory by hanging 17 runs in the finale against the best pitching staff in baseball. The O’s absolutely walloped the Yankees. Clobbered ’em. Destroyed ’em. Tore ’em to pieces. It was delightful.
What a way to wrap up a series that started out so tense, with the Yankees acting like Albert Suárez’s accidental drilling of Aaron Judge was the greatest crime in American history, then bizarrely criticizing the Orioles’ “pitching style” as if the Yankees staff doesn’t have the most hit by pitches in the American League. A swath of Yankee fans worked themselves into a lather demanding retribution for the Judge HBP, and when the Yankees inexplicably did exactly that by plunking Gunnar Henderson the next day, he scored a crucial run that ended up making the difference in a one-run O’s win. Congrats on getting retribution by costing yourselves a win, Yankees. Expertly played.
There were no such shenanigans in yesterday’s finale, just a good, old-fashioned beatdown laid down by Orioles hitters, who tagged AL ERA leader Luis Gil for as many runs as he’d allowed in his previous nine games combined. The Orioles’ 17 runs were their most in a game since 2021, and tied for their second most ever against the Yankees. After everything that has happened in this series, O’s fans surely took delight in every one of those 17. Mark Brown recapped the romp in all its glory.
With the series win, the O’s made an impressive bit of history. It was their 22nd consecutive series against their own division without losing one — all have been series wins or splits — making them the first club to accomplish that feat since the dawn of the divisional era in 1969. To pull that off against any division would be admirable enough, but to do it against the AL East — which has five competitive teams and no pushovers — is especially outstanding.
These Orioles are good, folks. Really good. And the Yankees, who previously had stood as MLB’s best team, got a taste this week of just how formidable the Birds can be.
Links
Orioles set division series record while routing Yankees 17-5 (updated) – School of Roch
For such a young team, the Orioles did a remarkable job of ignoring the nonsense and staying professional. Much better than their opponent did, for sure.
The Orioles are already all in on 2024. Now they have to trade like it. – The Baltimore Banner
Kyle Goon opines that, with Corbin Burnes only here for one year, the O’s have little choice but to trade prospects for immediate help for the 2024 pitching staff. I agree with that, but I don’t see the Orioles going completely crazy and giving up someone like Samuel Basallo or Coby Mayo.
Are the Orioles better than the Yankees? What we learned this week – The Athletic
I mean, I know what my answer to that question would be. But the Yankees’ writers for The Athletic want to talk it out anyway.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You share your day with four ex-Orioles, all of them pitchers: right-handers Sendy Rleal (44), Luis Rivera (46), and Rick Sutcliffe (68), and the late lefty Eddie Lopat (b. 1918, d. 1992).
On this date in 1966, Frank Robinson made an incredible, game-saving catch at Yankee Stadium. With the O’s clinging to a 7-6 lead with two outs and a runner aboard in the bottom of the ninth, Roy White crushed a shot to deep right that appeared destined for a walkoff two-run homer. But Robinson made a leaping snare as he toppled into the stands, emerging moments later with the ball in hand for a dramatic final out (and sending Yankees manager Ralph Houk into a screaming, kicking tantrum).
The O’s have lost seven straight games on June 21, with their last win on this date coming in 2015. That was a 13-9 barnburner in Toronto in which the Orioles scored seven runs in the second inning, then gave up nine unanswered runs to fall behind, clawed back to tie it, and finally broke the deadlock with a four-run top of the ninth. The two starting pitchers, Chris Tillman and Scott Copeland, combined to allow 13 runs in 2.2 innings. Chris Davis and Jimmy Paredes homered for the Orioles.
Random Orioles game of the day
On June 21, 1982, the Orioles cruised to a 7-0 shutout win in Cleveland. O’s starter Dennis Martinez — who would pitch for Cleveland 12 years later — twirled a masterpiece, tossing his seventh career shutout. He allowed only three hits (all singles) and didn’t walk anyone, and only one baserunner even got into scoring position. The Orioles’ Hall of Fame duo of Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken Jr. each knocked three hits, including a three-run homer for Cal.