Undeterred by the torrent of Phils fans at Camden Yards, the O’s took two out of three against the NL’s best team.
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
If this weekend’s Orioles-Phillies series was a potential preview of the Fall Classic, then O’s fans have to be feeling pretty good about their chances in October.
The Birds made a heck of a statement against the best team in the National League, winning the series handily despite a tough loss in the opener. I certainly didn’t have “the Orioles hit four dingers and score eight runs against Zack Wheeler” on my bingo card, but that’s precisely what happened in the Father’s Day finale as the much-hyped Wheeler vs. Corbin Burnes pitching matchup turned out to be incredibly one-sided. The O’s offense handed one of baseball’s best pitchers one of the worst outings of his career while Burnes continued his 2024 dominance.
Check out Tyler Young’s recap for a breakdown of all the action, which sent the large contingent of Phillies fans home unhappy. It was a practically perfect Orioles win, other than some ninth-inning defensive shenanigans that turned an 8-3 advantage into an unexpectedly tense save situation. It’s fine, though, it’s not like the O’s have a history of blowing a five-run lead in the ninth inning on a holiday that ends in “-ther’s Day.”
Today the Orioles enjoy a well-deserved day off — their only one of June — after playing 17 straight games. If they were tired, they sure didn’t show it, going 12-5 in that stretch against a pair of divisional opponents and the NL East’s top two teams. Next comes the toughest test yet, a three-game series at Yankee Stadium against baseball’s best team. The Yanks, though, lost two straight games in Boston, including a 9-3 blowout on Sunday Night Baseball in which they surrendered nine (!) stolen bases, a franchise record for the Red Sox.
With that, the Orioles are now just 1.5 games behind the Yankees, and tied in the loss column. If by chance the O’s can sweep this series in New York, they’ll take over first place for themselves. I don’t think it’s likely, but considering what the Birds just did to the Phillies, it’s by no means impossible. Let’s go!
Links
Orioles hit four home runs off Wheeler in 8-3 win (updated) – School of Roch
This was a first for me: the game was interrupted several times by a fighter jet flyover as part of Fleet Week festivities. It was pretty cool, though I might not think so if it had caused, like, an Orioles outfielder to botch a fly ball and blow the game.
Orioles share what their dads mean to them on Father’s Day – The Baltimore Sun
If you’re looking for a story that will hit you in all the feels, here you go.
6 potential Orioles starting pitching trade candidates, and one free agent – The Baltimore Banner
Andy Kostka offers some possible rotation targets for the injury-riddled Orioles. What say you, Camden Chatters? Would you rather give up a bigger haul of prospects for a Garret Crochet or Jesús Luzardo with years of control, or take your chances with a more modest trade package for a veteran like Tyler Anderson?
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! The only player in O’s history born on June 17 was the late Dave Pope (b. 1921, d. 1999), an outfielder who spent parts of two seasons with the Birds from 1955-56.
On this date in 2009, rookie catcher Matt Wieters, the mega-hyped O’s prospect playing his 14th career MLB game, hit his first major league home run. The two-run shot in the second off the Mets’ Tim Redding helped the Orioles to a 6-4 win in front of 31,906 at Camden Yards. Wieters ultimately hit 146 dingers in 12 big league seasons.
Random Orioles game of the day
On June 17, 1978, the red-hot Orioles notched their 15th win in their last 16 games, beating the Athletics at Memorial Stadium, 5-4. The O’s jumped out to a quick lead with a three-run first inning against 18-year-old Athletics rookie righty Mike Morgan, who was making his second major league start (he’d thrown a complete game in his debut, but lasted only one inning this time). Morgan, by the way, pitched in parts of four decades, retiring in 2002 at the age of 42. Quite a career. Ken Singleton homered and Mike Flanagan earned the win.
After that victory, the Orioles’ all-time record on June 17 was an astounding 21-3. They reallllly liked playing on National Eat Your Vegetables Day, apparently.