A walk-off home run from Chris Davis on SOR Night II. Just my little gift to you. I didn't mention it earlier because I wanted it to be a surprise.
The Orioles are a half-game behind the Angels for the second wild card and five games behind the first-place Yankees, who have cooled off the Blue Jays.
Say what you will about the Orioles - and I've read and heard plenty - but they know how to get off the canvas. The no-hitter was supposed to be the knockout punch. They had reached rock bottom. They weren't showing enough of an edge in their postgame comments.
It's a long season. Enjoy the ride.
Davis told reporters after his latest home run that he'd "love to stay here." But he's not going to discuss his contract status.
"We have way too much on our plate right now, too much to focus on," he said. "I feel like it's selfish to sit here and talk about my future with the team when we're trying to make the postseason, so we'll address that when the time comes."
I keep saying that baseball is a funny game, but consider the perception of Davis among fans. They wanted him signed to a long-term extension in 2013. A year later, the general feeling was, "Whew, good thing the Orioles didn't sign him to an extension." And now, it's "Pay the man whatever he wants!"
It's understandable after his drop in production and suspension last season, but he's going to hit the jackpot this winter.
Wei-Yin Chen will attempt to move his record above .500 for the first time this season. He's 6-6 with a 3.21 ERA in 22 starts.
In his last outing, Chen held the Mariners to one run and three hits over 7 1/3 innings. He allowed three runs and four hits in five innings on Aug. 5 in Oakland.
Chen didn't get the decision that night in the Orioles' 7-3 win. He's 4-0 with a 2.19 ERA in six career starts against the A's.
Billy Butler is 9-for-21 with three doubles, a triple and two home runs lifetime against Chen. He's also slow. So slow that I can't qualify it be comparing him only to living players.
Butler is so slow, Jonathan Schoop stepped on second base to get the force last night, took a selfie with J.J. Hardy, updated his Facebook status and still nabbed Butler at first base to complete the double play.
Butler is so slow, Major League Baseball has a special clock just for him to speed up the pace of the games.
Anyway, Sam Fuld is 3-for-18 against Chen, Danny Valencia is 4-for-17 and Josh Reddick is 0-for-9 with four strikeouts.
Kendall Graveman makes his second career start against the Orioles and his fourth appearance. He's allowed three runs and seven hits in 7 1/3 innings.
Graveman allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings on Aug. 5 in Oakland. He's pitched once in relief at Camden Yards, going two-thirds of an inning and striking out one batter.
The current Orioles are 7-for-25 against him. Hardy is 2-for-4 with a double.
Shameless plug alert: I'm appearing on "O's Xtra" that airs at 1 p.m. on MASN.
Also, be sure to check out this write-up and video on SOR Night II from MASNsports.com's Olivia Witherite. And thanks again to everyone for the support. This blog exists because of you.
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