Though it’s only been four days since the Birds last played, it feels like an eternity for much of Birdland. We got a small O’s fix on Monday, as Adam Jones took part in the Home Run Derby, and on Tuesday, as Nelson Cruz and Jones played in the All-Star Game, but the last two days have been completely void of baseball.
We’re ready for more.
The good news is that the team got to rest up. The bad news is that they’d better be ready to hit the ground running in the “second half,” as they kick off a 10-game West Coast trip and a string of 16 straight against AL West opponents. The O’s finished on a nice little 10-3 run before the break, and they need some of that momentum to carry over as they take on some very tough opponents in Oakland, Seattle, and Anaheim.
The sprint to the AL East crown starts tonight.
LINEUPS
Orioles
RF Nick Markakis
LF Steve Pearce
CF Adam Jones
DH Nelson Cruz
1B Chris Davis
SS J.J. Hardy
3B Manny Machado
C Caleb Joseph
2B Jonathan Schoop
P Chris Tillman (7-5, 4.11)
Athletics
CF Coco Crisp
DH John Jaso
LF Yoenis Cespedes
RF Brandon Moss
3B Josh Donaldson
1B Stephen Vogt
SS Jed Lowrie
C Derek Norris
2B Andy Parrino
P Jeff Samardzija (3-8, 2.78)
CURRENT STREAK
Orioles Won 1
Athletics Won 1
LAST 10
Orioles 7-3
Athletics 7-3
TIDBITS
The A’s have an MLB-best +145 run differential.
On the O’s roster, only Pearce (1-5), Hardy (0-3), and Nick Hundley (1-7) have ever faced Samardzija.
Cespedes is having an awful July. The Cuban sensation is hitting just .067/.067/.106 in 45 AB this month.
