Orioles Magic: More on one special comeback
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Boston (47-30) at Orioles (35-42)
The Orioles pulled off the greatest comeback in team history Tuesday night in an 11-10 win over Boston. Today the clubs play the third and deciding game of this series at 1:35 p.m.
Brad Bergesen (5-2, 3.76) is on the mound for Baltimore and Josh Beckett (9-3, 3.48) will pitch for Boston.
The Orioles trailed the Red Sox 10-1 heading to the last of the 7th on Tuesday, but then the O's scored five runs each in the 7th and 8th to come from nine runs down to win, 11-10.
It's the biggest deficit the O's have ever overcome to win. The previous best rally was from eight runs down on September 2, 1956 at Boston. That final score was also 11-10.
Here are more stats and notes from the historic O's win:
*According to ESPN, it was the biggest comeback by a last-place team to beat a first-place team in Major League history.
*After getting shutout on Monday, the Birds had scored just one run on nine hits in the first 15 innings of this series, before erupting for 10 runs on 13 hits over the 7th and 8th innings to rally for a victory.
*O's hitters were 3 for 20 at bat in the first six innings Tuesday. In innings seven and eight, the Orioles were 13 for 18 at bat with three doubles and one homer.
*It's the second time in five games they produced 11 runs on 16 hits. They picked up those totals in last Friday's 11-1 win over Washington.
*The O's team average rose from .271 to .274 after the 16-hit attack.
*Six O's had multi-hit games and three drove in two runs or more.
*The Boston bullpen allowed 13 hits and 10 runs (all earned) in four innings of work. The O's put up those numbers vs. a Boston bullpen that entered with an ERA of 2.89 that is the best of any pen in the Major Leagues.
*Felix Pie entered the game in the third inning and went 2 for 4 with a triple and 2 RBI. It's his first 2 RBI game of the year. Pie also threw a runner out at the plate in the 8th inning. Pie is now 6 for 12 during a four-game batting streak.
*Luke Scott had two doubles in a game for the first time all year and the doubles came during the rally in the 7th and 8th innings.
*The O's bullpen gave up just one earned run in 5 2/3 innings of work and has pitched to an ERA of 1.35 on this homestand. The pen ERA is 3.08 over the last 25 games.
*Oscar Salazar hit the Orioles' first pinch-hit homer since Juan Castro had one last July 30th at New York. Salazar's last homer was vs. Minnesota on 9-14-08. Salazar is 4 for 9 as a pinch hitter this year and 9 for 20 as a pinch hitter in his O's career.
*The O's entered the game leading the AL in batting with runners in scoring position at .292 and the Birds went 7 for 11 in the comeback win with RISP.
*Brian Roberts RBI single in the 8th snapped his 0 for 18 stretch.
*As a team the O's are batting .311 over the last 17 games with 93 runs scored.
*The Orioles are 8-2 in their last ten one-run games and are now 10-8 on the year in those contests.
*The O's ended an 8-game losing streak vs. Boston and are now 10-6 at home vs. AL East foes, but just 1-11 on the road.
*Nick Markakis, whose two-run double put the O's ahead 11-10 in the 8th, is now batting .440 (11 for 25) over his last six games and is batting .355 (22 for 62) over his last 15 games.
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Categories (click for archive)Orioles News | Steve Melewski |
Wow. What an incredible game. The best part about being there was listening to Red Sox Nation being served a nice, big slice of humble pie. They were so loud for a majority of the game, and we shut them up real quick. Fun times at the ol' ballpark.
I have a couple of questions, that I was wondering.
1. Wiggy had a 9-game streak going into last night. I know that average-wise a sacrifice fly counts the same as a walk, but does it still keep his streak alive? I feel like there is a rule that since he put the bat on the ball it discontinues the hitting streak.
2. What to do about the Izturis situation? Logic says that we are going to have to cut either Salazar or Pie, and we obviously wouldn't want to do either. Salazar has been an A+ bat off the bench in my humble opinion, and although he isn't flashy, he provides awesome depth in that he can field 4 positions. Pie is our only legitimate backup center fielder, and AJ has certainly been known to come out of games.
I know that you are not a fan of speculating roster moves, and I don't blame you. However, I was wondering how regulated the "questionable" DL moves are (e.g. when a pitcher goes on the DL for 'arm fatigue', but it is really to make room on the roster) for hitters? Can we cite exhaustion, or dehydration, or something unprovable like that and not expose our hitters to waivers? Or is this generally frowned upon by the league?
Thanks. Again, what a great game last night. You would love to see a game like that turn into 6 or 7 for us... especially considering our upcoming competition.
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Wigginton's hitting streak is intact at nine games. There was no time at bat with the sac fly. It also would have stayed intact if he had walked or been hit by a pitch.
You can't fake an injury to stash a player on the DL. - Steve
I missed the replay of last nights 11-10 win. Any chance MASN or MASN 2 wil replay it again?
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I heard it was replayed this morning. You missed that one, I guess.