Another win on Saturday vaulted the O’s ahead of the Yankees atop the AL East.
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
Remember when the Orioles lost five games in a row and the world was basically ending? Yeah, me neither.
The O’s have been on cruise control since snapping that skid, winning their fourth straight game last night with a 6-5 nail-biter over the Rangers that featured Heston Kjerstad’s clutch grand slam, the Birds’ record 60th home run of the month. With a sellout crowd on hand to celebrate, the Orioles moved into sole possession of first place in the AL East for the first time since May 12. Read about all of the ups and downs of last night’s thriller in my game recap, and don’t forget to vote in the MBP poll. I think I know who’s going to win.
With last night’s game airing on Fox, and tonight’s on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball, the Orioles are getting a chance to strut their stuff for a national audience who might not have watched the O’s play much this year. Last night’s game pretty well encapsulated who the 2024 Orioles are. They hit lots of dingers. They’re filled with young, exciting talent. And they have a bullpen that will make you tear out your hair, even if they’re able to get the job done more often than not. If any of these new viewers like what they see, and feel like hopping on the Orioles bandwagon, go right ahead. The more the merrier.
Tonight the Birds will try to finish a four-game sweep of the Rangers, the team that unceremoniously ended their season a year ago. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10, with Cole Irvin and Andrew Heaney set for a battle of the southpaws.
Links
Orioles’ Heston Kjerstad continues to make impact with grand slam in win over Rangers – The Baltimore Banner
Brandon Hyde joked that the Orioles would practice coming out for curtain calls after Kjerstad was late with his. No lie, I would actually love to watch them practice this.
Lineup options plentiful for Hyde – School of Roch
In years past, it was difficult for Brandon Hyde to decide on his lineups because there were no good options. Now it’s difficult for exactly the opposite reason. I like this way better.
O’s have 60 homers in June as final day of the month is here – Steve Melewski
The O’s set a franchise record for home runs in a month. They’ve got one day left to match the MLB record of 74. Sure, they’d have to hit 14 home runs tonight, but who are we to say they can’t?
The numbers behind Orioles’ Gunner Henderson’s historic start – The Baltimore Sun
This is your daily reminder that Gunnar Henderson is awesome.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Only one player in O’s history has a June 30 birthday: first baseman Jesús Aguilar (34), who played 16 games with the Orioles at the end of the 2022 season. He spent time in the A’s and Braves organizations last year but no longer appears to be playing professionally. Have a good one, Jesús.
On this date in 1997, Hall of Famer Mike Mussina earned his 100th career win, tossing eight outstanding innings to beat the Phillies, 8-1, in front of 47,837 at Camden Yards. Fellow Hall of Famer Cal Ripken gave Mussina a comfortable lead by blasting a grand slam off former Oriole Calvin Maduro. Mussina went on to win 147 games for the Orioles and 270 in his MLB career.
And on this day in 2009, the Orioles pulled off the greatest comeback in franchise history, erasing a nine-run deficit to beat the Red Sox, 11-10, in an instant classic at Camden Yards. The O’s were dead in the water in the seventh inning, trailing by a 10-1 score, and a mid-game rain delay had chased away much of the crowd. But then: Orioles Magic. The O’s erupted for five runs in the seventh, starting the inning with two singles, a double, and an Oscar Salazar three-run dinger, to cut the deficit to 10-6. And in the eighth, they rallied for another five-spot, capped by Nick Markakis’s two-out, two-run double off closer Jonathan Papelbon, to complete the incredible comeback. What a night that was.