The Baltimore Orioles’ impressive streak of 17 consecutive extra-inning wins ended with a 6-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on April 24th. Then, the Orioles lost again in extra innings, to the Oakland A’s, in devastating fashion (after leading 5-0, heading into the bottom of the 6th inning) in Sunday’s game.
But their streak of 100+ wins when leading after the 7th inning continues despite the loss to the A’s, since the score was tied at the end of the 7th inning. Nevertheless, the loss doesn’t dim the fact that this was the first 4-game series win in Oakland in a long time, and the fact that the Orioles once again have won a series.
While the team isn’t quite keeping pace with the blistering start of the surprising Boston Red Sox -18-7 through Sunday – the 15-10 Orioles are nonetheless playing winning baseball.
Before Oakland, the Orioles won series at home against the Tampa Bay Rays, LA Dodgers, and Toronto Blue Jays and on the road against Oakland respectively, before handing Sunday’s game to the A’s.
The good news is that the Orioles aren’t the Toronto Blue Jays (the AL East’s version of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles of a few years ago). The Blue Jays, with offseason signings of star pitchers Mark Buerhle and 2012 National League Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey, resembled some sort of “Dream Team” like the Michael Vick and Nmandi Asomughe-led Eagles. But so far the team can’t seem to win a game, especially when the game is a one-run affair, of which they’ve won (through Sunday) only three of 10.
The Orioles have a losing record in one-run games and in extra-inning games so far, a galaxy away from last season’s 16-game extra inning wins streak and only 9-losses in one-run games.
But the difference is that their 7th inning steak, an astounding streak when you think about it, continues, and that they continue to win series.
The Sox are playing motivated baseball behind the tragedy of the Boston Marathon and the hiring of new manager (formerly Jays manager) John Farrell. Jon Lester seems unhittable so far, and the Sox lineup has been producing, with the return of David Ortiz, who was injured near the end of last season, (and accused by former manager Bobby Valentine of faking injury).
But the good news for the Orioles is that series keep getting won. Jim Johnson has been nearly unstoppable in a save situation, and Tommy Hunter has suddenly, with his back against the wall, looking like a roster cut, put together a few good appearances out of the bullpen.
Another issue, starter Jake Arrieta and his befuddling inconsistency, also with his back against the wall, was sent down to AAA Norfolk (though it was initially reported he was out of options, which turned out to be incorrect).
Thankfully for the Orioles, his demotion solved one glaring problem in the rotation and if he fixes things he can be back.
On MASN, after Saturday’s win over Oakland, commentator Rick Dempsey called the 2013 Orioles bullpen “the best” he had ever seen. Considering the great O’s teams of the past, and that fact that he was on a World Series-winning team in 1983, that’s a pretty bold statement.
But the problem in the bullpen – and it’s a big one – is Pedro Strop. He seems to have completely lost it in the pen, continuing a lack of confidence that hasn’t been there since before September 2012.
Manager Buck Showalter cannot afford to keep sending Strop out of the pen when he’s been in such a tailspin. The loss against the A’s on Sunday is just the latest collapse by Strop, who has looked wild and out of control on the mound, rushing pitches, seeming to get discouraged.
Showalter will have to make a decision on him soon.
But until then, enjoy the ride. If the O’s keep winning series, the paycheck will come when the Red (hot) Sox become a little cooler.
Whenever that is, the O’s will be waiting.
