Through 67 games, the Orioles are on pace for the same 109-53 record as the franchise-best 1969 team. Wow!
Hello, friends.
The Orioles! They’ve done it again. The first two games of the nine-game “these teams are actually good” stretch of baseball are in the books and they’ve won both of them. Last night, a 4-2 win over Atlanta made it a season-high six straight wins for the O’s, who rallied after Keegan Akin blew a 2-0 lead in the top of the eighth to take back the lead at the 4-2 final score in the bottom of the eighth.
Colton Cowser’s pinch hit home run made the difference, though unfortunately, the scoring rules of baseball don’t allow for Cade Povich to get the win in his Camden Yards debut despite pitching six shutout innings where he gave up only five hits and didn’t walk anyone. Check out Alex Church’s recap of the game for more of the lovely totals. It’s been nearly seven years since the last time that the Braves lost at least five straight games.
Last night’s win puts the Orioles at a 45-22 record for the season. That’s three wins better than their same pace from 67 games a year ago. Much as the 2023 O’s trailed the Rays in June, with a five game deficit despite an excellent 42-25 record, the 2024 O’s must look up at the Yankees, as the even more amazing .672 winning percentage still leaves the O’s 2.5 games back of the Yanks. They smoked the Royals again last night, riding a six-run first inning to an 11-5 win.
The Orioles can only keep winning the games in front of them. So far, they are. They’ve now played 41% of the season and they’re on pace to win 109 games. 109! That would be the equal of the franchise-leading 1969 Orioles, who went 109-53. I honestly can’t imagine it, or 1970’s 108-54. The O’s would have to keep ripping through both leagues to muster that record. It’s not the most likely outcome, but they’re talented enough that it’s a possibility. It’s really something.
Having picked up the four-game mop of the Rays over an extended weekend series before this, the O’s now have the chance to add a sweep on top of that if they can find a way to beat the Braves again as the series concludes this afternoon. It’s a 1:05 start time for Atlanta’s getaway day, so don’t get caught off guard by the daytime start. Cole Irvin makes the start for the O’s as they take aim at a seventh straight win, with the Braves sending Reynaldo López to the mound to try to stop their skid before it hits six losses in a row.
For the dedicated scoreboard watchers out there who are eyeing the Yankees even though it’s only June (I’m one of you, don’t worry,) that’s a 2:10 start as their series with the Royals finishes off in Kansas City. It’s Nestor Cortes pitching for New York, with the least impressive active KC starter, Alec Marsh, trying to stop the Yankees from hanging a bunch of runs again.
Around the blogO’sphere
Coulombe on elbow soreness: “I think we’re pretty optimistic about it” (School of Roch)
Danny Coulombe actually came out and said that the optimism is that “it’s not the one you guys are thinking about.” Which is never a bad thing to hear when talking about elbow soreness. The O’s will still have to manage in his absence, but hopefully it won’t be an extended one.
MLB notes: Orioles “intently exploring bullpen market” and may look at starting pitching (The Athletic)
Ken Rosenthal’s latest notes column includes an item about the Orioles near the end. The need for bullpen help is obvious. A right-handed hitting outfielder seems like less of an immediate need.
With Povich facing Braves’ Schwellenbach, it was a ‘big day for Lincoln, Nebraska’ (The Baltimore Banner)
The University of Nebraska’s baseball coach was on hand to witness two of his former charges facing off against one another in an MLB game. With Schwellenbach only allowing two runs in six innings, this was an excellent night for both of the Cornhusker products.
Ryan O’Hearn leveled up… again (MLBTR)
O’Hearn is doing even better so far this year than he did a year ago – and considering the fact that offense is down across the league, O’Hearn’s offense being up means he’s improved even more relative to the compeition. It’s fun.
The first 2023 Orioles draftee to reach Double-A? A 10th-round pick (The Baltimore Sun)
If you’ve been reading Camden Chat’s daily minor league recaps, you probably noticed Matthew Etzel long before he got the promotion to Bowie.
The next Orioles prospects who could be in line for promotions (Orioles.com)
Beat writer Jake Rill mentions a handful of prospects whose performance might get them a level bump like Etzel. Rill’s group includes first rounder Enrique Bradfield Jr., whose season batting numbers aren’t overwhelming. He did just hit his first homer of the year last night, though. Bradfield, that is, not Rill.
Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries
In 1999, the Orioles scored 22 runs in beating the Braves, setting a franchise record for runs scored in a game. Over the course of the 22-1 obliteration, Cal Ripken Jr. went 6-6 and Mike Mussina got one of his easiest wins of his career while also getting two hits and driving in three runs. Say, who are the O’s playing today? Maybe they can have a nice 25th anniversary celebration.
There is one current Oriole who has a birthday today. Happy 34th to James McCann! We might see the backup catcher in the starting lineup for a day game following a night game. There are a couple of former Orioles also born on this day: 2011-13 reliever Pedro Strop and 1991 catcher Ernie Whitt.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: Holy Roman Emperors Charles the Bald (823) and Charles the Fat (839), poet W.B. Yeats (1865), actor Stellan Skarsgård (1951), actress Ally Sheedy (1962), stunt man Steve-O (1974), and twin actress/designers Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (1986).
On this day in history…
In 1625, England’s King Charles I married French princess Henrietta Maria, whose namesake was given to the colony of Maryland.
In 1777, the Frenchman Marquis de Lafayette arrived in Charleston, South Carolina to help train the new country’s army.
In 1966, the US Supreme Court issued its ruling in Miranda v. Arizona, requiring that police inform people of their rights before they are questioned. The “Mirandizing” is a standard of police procedural television dramas, starting with, “You have the right to remain silent…”
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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on June 13. Have a safe Thursday. Go O’s!