Going for two in a row

I was going to wear my Felix Pie T-shirt this morning, but I took a bad route to the dresser and didn't get there in time. Seriously, though... Pie played an outstanding left field last night. He was aggressive going to the ball and ran down a few near the line that saved his pitchers. Probably the best he's looked all season. Didn't stop me from dropping the above line on you, but it might be out-dated by tonight. Heck, he might win a Gold Glove. These things do happen unexpectedly. A game that lasts 2 hours, 23 minutes. A first-pitch temperature of 83 degrees. A 6-3 victory. Let's do it again. I don't mind the repetition. Buck Showalter is 3-1 in his managerial debuts, his only loss coming with the Arizona Diamondbacks. I just wonder whether he always sprints to the mound during pitching changes. He kicked up some serious dust with two outs in the ninth. I was afraid that he'd pull a hammy instead of Michael Gonzalez. Alfredo Simon got the final out, but not the save. The Orioles held a three-run lead and he entered without the tying run being on-deck. As far as we know, Simon is still the closer here. He's just not the automatic choice to start the ninth, as we learned last night. Gonzalez has allowed one run in eight innings since coming off the disabled list. He's given up four hits, walked two, struck out four and cranked up his fastball to 94 mph. His ERA is down to 4.50. That standing ovation he received as he walked off the mound last night caught me by surprise. Sure beats getting booed in the home opener - while he was dressing for the game. The Orioles are paying Gonzalez $12 million. They'd like to know whether he'll earn it as their closer. If we're evaluating over these last two months, it might be time to find out if he's able to fill his intended role. Of course, saves aren't important to Showalter. He's more interested in the win stat, as he pointed out last night. Matt Wieters is batting .352 with five doubles, a triple, three homers, 16 RBIs and a 1.016 OPS in 22 games since June 20. Luke Scott is batting .328 with four doubles, seven homers, 15 RBIs and a 1.108 OPS in 15 games since coming off the disabled list. Jeremy Guthrie has turned in four consecutive quality starts. He's walked two batters during that span. The Orioles collected five hits with runners in scoring position last night after totaling four over their previous five games. Shifting gears a bit, did you know that the Right Side Foundation, created by Nick and Christina Markakis, is holding its 2nd Annual 5K Run and 1-Mile Fun Walk on Sunday at Patterson Park in Baltimore? Learn more about it right here. The goal of the foundation is to improve the lives of distressed children throughout the state of Maryland.