Series Results: Blue Jays 2-1
The Good
Chris Tillman continues to prove why he is a true ace, and why he is the unquestioned number one pitcher in the Orioles’ rotation. Tillman lost on Friday night but pitched incredibly well, allowing just two unearned runs in 8.0 innings while striking out six. The offense unfortunately was non-existent for the game, as the Orioles were shut out. Tillman’s ERA on the season now through three starts is a miniscule 0.84.
Left fielder David Lough got his informal initiation as an Oriole Saturday night, when he singled home the game-winning run to walk off the Toronto Blue Jays, and was then hit in the face with a pie by center fielder Adam Jones. Lough started only one game in the three-game series, but had the team’s biggest hit. His impressive defense should allow him to force his way into regular at bats as the season progresses.
First baseman Chris Davis has hit for a respectable average so far this season, but until Sunday, he had not hit a home run after belting the most long balls in the major leagues last season. That changed in the third game of the series, when he crushed a mammoth shot to straightaway center field, albeit with the outcome of the game already decided. If Davis’ power can begin to streak however, the Orioles offense should awaken from its early season swoon.
The Bad
Ubaldo Jimenez was spectacular for the majority of last season, but in his first three starts as an Oriole, has gone 0-3 with an ERA over 7. Jimenez allowed five runs in only 5 1/3 innings of work, and also allowed a season-high ten hits. Jimenez simply needs to pitch better if the Orioles are going to contend this season (the good news is, he should). The one positive thing from the game was that he walked only two batters – a respectable number for a pitcher who sometimes struggles with control.
Rookie Jonathan Schoop has played multiple positions early on this season including third base, with regular third baseman Manny Machado on the disabled list. Schoop has had his growing pains however, and those continued Friday night when the natural second baseman committed two throwing errors from third base that led to the only two runs of the game for either team.
While it looked like he may have actually struck out Colby Rasmus earlier in the at bat, Tommy Hunter’s inability to close out the game on Saturday night was painful. After getting the first two batters of the inning out on five pitches, Hunter got ahead of Rasmus 0-2 and appeared to put him away on a ball in the dirt, but the umpires decided Rasmus checked his swing. Rasmus then drove a game-tying homerun to right-center field to give Hunter his first blown save of the season.
Closing Thoughts
The biggest positive takeaway from the series was that shortstop J.J. Hardy returned to the lineup after missing six of the previous seven games due to injury. While Hardy did not record a hit, it was good to see him return on Saturday and play in consecutive games. The series loss hurts, especially against a division rival, but the Orioles need to rebound quickly, as they begin a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays Monday evening. The offense and defense should both improve significantly when Manny Machado returns as well, but if the Orioles continue at a 5-7 pace, they may be out of it if he does not return before mid-May.
Looking Ahead
The Orioles will send Wei-Yin Chen to the mound for game 1 against Chris Archer of the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, with the following matchups slated to be Jake Odorizzi vs. Miguel Gonzalez in game 2, and David Price vs Chris Tillman in game 3 in a matchup that already looks like it should be a stalemate between aces. The Rays enter the series at 7-6 as the entire AL East is currently hovering around .500.
