Great Britton: O's lefty closer perfect so far in save chances

Once one of baseball's top young starting pitching prospects, Orioles left-hander Zach Britton is now one of baseball's best ninth-inning pitchers. He leads the American League with 27 saves in 27 chances and tonight takes the field in San Diego as part of his second straight All-Star team.

Britton has remarkable numbers. He is 2-1 with an 0.72 ERA. Over 37 2/3 innings, he has walked 10 and fanned 43, giving up a .160 average against. When he has pitched with runners in scoring position, he has allowed an .083 average at 3-for-36. He has inherited 11 runners on base this year and just one has scored.

First-time All-Star Brad Brach has watched closely as Britton has become a dominant closer.

"Over two and a half years now, he has been incredible to watch," Brach said. "It is amazing how he can dominate with one pitch. That sinker is so nasty. It's very good, but he works so hard, too. And it is great to see someone that works that hard get rewarded. He is dominating, there is no other way to put it."

Brach said Britton's sinker is remarkable in two respects: in the late downward movement he gets with the pitch and the velocity at which he throws the sinker.

"I think it is that combination," Brach said. "You don't see 97, 98, 99 mph with the kind of movement that he gets. It is just really hard velocity and that is why guys can't hit him."

Orioles manager Buck Showalter recently said this of Britton: "A utopia for most managers is to have a left-handed closer because most pinch-hitters off the bench are left-handed. You want a left-handed closer that can keep the ball in the park. I can't imagine anybody doing a better job than Zach does for us in that role.

"When you see left-hand pitchers that can face right-handed hitters at the end of the night with the game on the line, that is big. It has been a proud time for all of us to watch Zach's development as a major league pitcher. He's found a role that really fits him and we have a lot of confidence in him."

Since Britton became the Orioles closer in May of 2014, he has saved 100 of 108 chances for a 92.6 save percentage. Since the start of last year, that percentage is even better at 94.0 percent, saving 63 of 67.

Now he is an All-Star for the second year in a row.

"It is something I thought about, trying to perform at that level, whether or not you ever make an All-Star team," Britton said. "It's not really the point. It is more having and expecting high standards for yourself. I kind of got away from that I felt like when I was struggling as a starter. The 2014 offseason I started taking that mental approach that I want to perform at that level. To make two All-Star Games is kind of crazy."

Britton said he expects an improved comfort level as an All-Star this time around.

"There is a lot of stuff going on your first time," he said. "You kind of feel a little bit out of place. So now I know what to expect and I can enjoy it a little more than I did last year."

Sunday against the Angels, Britton reached a milestone: recording his 100th save.

"I think it's a nice round whole number, but save opportunities are the product of being on a winning team," Britton said. "There are a lot of things that have to happen for that. I'm happy how things have gone. But at the end of the day, until we are the last team standing, individual records won't matter that much. After you are done playing or in the offseason maybe, you can enjoy that. No matter what we do as individuals, it is not as good unless we win the World Series."

Five Orioles have 100 career saves:
160 - Greg Olson
122 - Jim Johnson
105 - Tippy Martinez
100 - Zach Britton, Stu Miller

Now the Orioles want to finish what they started with a strong second half and win another AL East title. What is needed for that to happen?

"Everyone always says it's pitching, right? We need to be more consistent, just our whole pitching staff, we need to be a little bit better," Britton said. "We know we have a top offense and we need to keep these guys in the game. Hopefully we can get our starters settled in. I feel like with some of the track records of these guys, we have a chance to do special things. Hopefully those guys get back on track and we'll be good to go."

Four other Orioles will join Britton in the All-Star Game tonight. Here is what they said about making the American League team and representing the Orioles in San Diego:

Mark Trumbo: "It's very special. You can't necessarily plan for it, but if enough things go right for you and you have a little luck throughout the year, to get some recognition is always nice. I think the first place part is much more special though. Being a guy that has come from teams that haven't always produced at that level, this has been much more enjoyable."

Manny Machado: "It is very humbling. Something we have all worked hard for and none of it would have happened if I didn't have my teammates by my side. Excited to go out there with four other guys from my team. We'll enjoy ourselves. Having five guys going shows how hard we worked all year and people are seeing it."

Brad Brach: "It's awesome. Going back to where I had the start to my career, it's extra special. Petco Park is a special place for my family because that is where it all started and that is where my first few years (in the major leagues) were."

Matt Wieters: "It's exciting. It's a fun event, it's a fun game. Just to be there with some of the better players in the game, I'm excited. First one after the (Tommy John) surgery, you can take a little bit of extra satisfaction to be able to get back after having surgery. It's great."