The return on the Orioles’ mid-season trade for right-handed pitcher Scott Feldman had been minimal at best coming into the team’s Sunday showdown against the Colorado Rockies Sunday. However, with a lot of help from Adam Jones and Chris Davis, Feldman did not disappoint in the 7-2 Orioles win. Entering the rubber match of the three-game series with a just 5.18 ERA and a losing (2-3) record since joining the Orioles on July 2nd, Feldman was mostly strong in a 6 2/3 inning, five hit, 101 pitch performance.
A 15-hit onslaught led by Baltimore’s two biggest offensive stars didn’t hurt either. Davis and Jones combined for seven hits in the game, including Davis’ Major League-leading 45th home run, a two-run shot in the 8th, and Jones’ 25th homer, also for two runs in the third. Jones came within a triple of hitting for the cycle, while Davis added two doubles to go along with the homer. Also with his blast Jones became only the second OF in Orioles’ history with three 25-home run seasons, joining Hall-of-Famer Frank Robinson.
“It’s good to see everybody in the lineup swinging the bat well,” said Davis. “We didn’t try to do too much…. We took what they gave us.”
Yet Feldman led the way when it was close. Allowing only one hit through the first five innings, the pitcher surrendered two wild pitches in the sixth, before striking out SS Troy Tulowitzki and inducing an inning-ending fly out from 1B Michael Cuddyer to escape without damage done. In the 7th, Feldman allowed a leadoff double to future Hall-of-Famer Todd Helton before finally giving up a run on RF Charlie Blackmon’s double to right. Blackmon then stole third without a throw from C Taylor Teagarden and scored on a fielder’s choice to tighten the game to 3-2 at that point.
“I thought he had some quick innings, minimized his pitch counts… solid,” said O’s manager Buck Showalter. “With one or two exceptions he’s given us a chance to win every time out.”
Davis also praised Feldman’s performance, calling it “huge,” saying “that’s what we want him out there for, to go deep in the game and give us a chance to win.”
The one rough inning has been the Achilles heel for Feldman, who has continued to struggle against teams facing him the third time through the lineup. Tommy Hunter, who has been one of the Orioles’ most consistent relievers, entered to get the last out in the 7th inning before giving way to Darren O’Day and Josh Stinson, who each pitched one scoreless inning in relief. Feldman said he made “some adjustments” between his last pitching performance and today but credited staying confident as the major factor in his improvement.
Getting Feldman to produce consistently has beguiled the team, while Bud Norris, the Orioles’ other big starting pitching pickup, has won every game he has started for the Birds.
But in this game, Feldman seemed far more in control than he had previously, consistently throwing first-pitch strikes, locating his pitches and getting outs early in counts. In August, the righty had been 0-1 in two prior starts, allowing five runs on August 3rd against Seattle in a loss, but rebounding for a no-decision on August 12th against the Arizona Diamondbacks. With crucial games upcoming against the Oakland A’s, Tampa Bay Rays, and Boston Red Sox, all teams the Orioles are battling for playoff spots, they will need Feldman to pitch more like this moving forward.
“Every game is important down the stretch,” said Davis.
Indeed. And if Jones and Davis can hit like they did against the Rockies, pitching will be a little easier for the O’s, with more margin for error.
