The Birds’ improbable win in the second game of the doubleheader helped them avoid falling to last place in the American League.
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
The Orioles won a game yesterday! So it can, in fact, happen. Of course, they also lost a game yesterday, but hey…baby steps. Check out my recap of the Birds’ unlikely victory in the nightcap of the Boston doubleheader, which featured Trevor Rogers returning with a vengeance with 6.1 scoreless innings.
The Orioles optioned Rogers, who was the 27th man for the twin bill, back to Triple-A Norfolk after the game, but that was largely a procedural move. They can (and almost certainly will) call him back up for the next turn through the rotation. An outing like that deserves an encore.
It was a big win for the Orioles for one key reason: it prevented them from dropping to the worst record in the American League. It seems almost unbelievable, but a loss in the second game would have given the O’s a worse record than even the White Sox. The White Sox! That embarrassing scenario, if it happens, will have to wait until another day. The Orioles (17-34) continue to cling to a half-game advantage over 17-35 Chicago.
The O’s wrap up the four-game set at Fenway Park behind Dean Kremer this afternoon. A win would give them a 3-4 record on the road trip, which is not good, but at least an improvement over their 0-6 homestand the previous week. And it’ll help them stay one step ahead in what’s become an uncomfortably tight race to stay out of the American League cellar.
Links
Orioles’ Trevor Rogers overcomes his own doubts in impressive return to the big leagues – The Baltimore Banner
After reading Rogers’ post-game quotes, I’m rooting for this guy even more. It can’t be easy when your own fan base considers you the worst trade acquisition since, like, Glenn Davis.
Should Orioles be concerned about Félix Bautista? | MAILBAG – BaltimoreBaseball.com
I wouldn’t say I’m concerned, but he’s not quite the same pitcher he was in 2023. He’s less of The Mountain and more of the Fairly Large Hill.
Orioles DFA Cionel Pérez – School of Roch
Farewell, Cionel. We’ll always have that great 2022 season, and your uncanny ability to catch home run balls in your hat.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Six former Orioles have birthdays today, including three-time O’s All-Star shortstop Miguel Tejada, who turns 51. Other ex-Birds born on this date are catchers Fernando Lunar (48) and Melvin Rosario (52), right-hander Bill Dillman (80), first baseman Jim Marshall (94), and the late outfielder Andrés Mora (b. 1955, d. 2015).
On this date in 2003, O’s reliever Buddy Groom pitched his 638th major league game, setting the record for most appearances by an MLB player without getting an at-bat. (Kind of an obscure record, but there you go.) Groom eventually pitched in 786 games in his 14-year career, and in case you were wondering, no, he never did get a plate appearance.
Random Orioles game of the day
On May 25, 2013, the Orioles edged out the Blue Jays, 6-5, at Rogers Centre. The O’s pounced on defending Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey for six runs, plating three in the first on RBI hits by Chris Davis and J.J. Hardy, and later adding dingers by Danny Valencia and Adam Jones. Orioles starter Freddy Garcia and reliever Steve Johnson combined to let back five of those runs, but late-inning guys Darren O’Day and Jim Johnson locked down the Jays for the win.