The good news is that the Orioles won yesterday 10-7 over the Tampa Bay Rays. After those first two games in Tampa, the Birds really needed to get back on the winning side of the ledger.
That said, it should’ve been much easier. I like Chris Tillman a lot, but when you get staked to a 9-1 lead, you should be able to give team more than six innings. I have been concerned (for a while) about the starting pitching.
Yesterday’s game should have been a walk in the park for Tillman. Unfortunately, as with most Orioles pitchers, they aren’t economical with their pitches and he was gone after six. The bullpen wasn’t at their best and a 9-1 lead became a 10-7 final.
How many out there thought when it was 9-1 that we would see Jim Johnson yesterday? Not me.
Thankfully the bats were awake. It was a doubles party at Tropicana field and almost everyone was invited. Chris Davis is going through a bad stretch but JJ Hardy has gotten hot. Adam Jones was a triple away from the cycle, and Alexi Casilla had two hits and an amazing tag play at second base.
A win is a win and I’m happy about that, but the starting pitching has to start pulling more of its weight if this team wants to achieve its ultimate goal. Last year there was a lot of talk about the Orioles making a significant move. Maybe this year there needs to be more than talk. The Orioles don’t have a true number one (or number two) starter right now. You can win a lot of poker hands with four “threes,” but I’m not sure you can win a pennant.
