After Matusz got out the big-salary boys, O's won it in the ninth

When Brian Matusz took the mound in the last of the eighth inning last night, he saw Yankees players with bats in their hands, not dollar signs.

In a 3-3 game with one out and the go-ahead run just 90 feet away, Matusz would get Jacoby Ellsbury on a foul pop to third. After an intentional walk to Carlos Beltran, he got Brian McCann to fly out to center. He kept the game tied with those two big outs and the Orioles would then score two in the ninth to beat New York.

In getting out Ellsbury and Beltran with the game on the line, Matusz retired two players who signed contracts worth a combined $238 million with the Yankees this winter.

That is one way of saying he did a great job in relief and he wound up getting the win. Masahiro Tanaka didn't take a loss, but Jonathan Schoop hit a huge three-run homer off New York's $155 million man.

If this had been a game of greenbacks the O's would not have stood a chance - even with their increased payroll.

It was a big win by the Orioles, as Tommy Hunter hung on for the save in the last of the ninth and is now 3-for-3 in save chances.

The Orioles now have their first two-game win streak of the season and have won three of the last four. I wrote that this start would become an issue if 1-4 turned into 5-10, but the Orioles are trying to ensure that does not happen.

Helping their cause is the fact that no one in the American League East has gotten off to a fast start. As of this morning, all five teams are within one game of first place, which is held by Toronto at 5-4.

By the way, it was big to win a series at Yankee Stadium. The 2013 Orioles lost two of three there three different times. The 2012 playoff Orioles won all three series at New York.

As for the offense, it sure looks a lot better now:

O's offense first seven games: .231 average., 22 runs, three homers.
O's offense last 2 games: .400 average., 19 runs, four homers.

Schoop has certainly settled in after his 2-for-18 start that had a couple of fans convinced he was overmatched. In his last three games, he is 5-for-12 with two doubles, a homer and four RBIs.

So the Orioles have won two in a row and three of the last four. Perhaps some that were nervous among the fan base have calmed a bit. Good time for an off-day.

The grind of the long season continues tomorrow night at Camden Yards.