Tide changing for O's as hitters get hot and Waters pitches a gem
The Orioles began this road trip with hopes of turning things around after a 4-7 homestand coming out of the All-Star break. And they have.
The hitters have been effective with great at bats day in and day out. The approach has been to work the count, stay in the big part of the field and take what the pitcher gives you. Nothing reflected that more than the 9th inning of game one in Anaheim when they scored 4 against Scot Shields and K Rod, the best closer in the game.
Nick Markakis and Melvin Mora delivered two-run hits to tie the game at 5-5. Unfortunately the Angels won it in the bottom of the 9th against George Sherrill, but the effects of the comeback carried over into the first inning of game two on Tuesday night.
Against Jon Garland, the top four hitters smoked balls up the middle to jump out to a 2-0 lead before the Angels' right-hander could grab the rosin bag. After that, it was all about the rookie starter Chris Waters making his Major League debut and dominating the best team in baseball.
Chris Waters? Yeah, that Chris Waters. I didn't know a thing about him until I spoke to Brad Komminsk, the Bowie manager, late in the day Tuesday. Not overpowering, a little inconsistent and prone to nerves, but a hard worker and hot early in the season going 5-0 for the Baysox.
He was anything but nervous in his ML debut. He looked like he belonged from the first pitch of the game, strike one to Chone Figgins.
Waters was great strike after strike, retiring the leadoff hitter in 7 of his 8 innings. I thought Dave Trembley might send him back for the ninth, but as he explained, we would have been happy with five innings and we got 8, so why push it? Good move, 3-0 O's. One start, one win. Nice going Chris.
This again proves what Joaquin Andujar said many years ago when asked to assess the game of baseball. "The two words that tell you all you need to know about baseball, you 'never know.'"
Chris Waters may never win another game in the big leagues, but he is a reminder you can't overlook anyone when you are trying to rebuild a pitching staff. The Orioles are headed in the right direction and I hope we see many more Chris Waters in the coming months, who come out of no where to realize their dream of making it to "The Show."
Hi Buck -- I made some comments on last night's game, too -- on www.the-baseball-lady.com
It was truly remarkable to watch Chris Waters last night.
And it was truly remarkable to see how much fun Melvin Mora had in delivering the cream pie to Chris' face!