Happy Tuesday, Camden Chatters! And what a good morning it is, waking up after the most exciting Orioles game of the young season. Down 7-1 going into the bottom of the sixth, your favorite baseball team scored eight runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings to come from behind and secure a 9-7 victory.
The comeback was dramatic. Jeremiah Jackson launched a grand slam into left field to cut the lead to just one run. In the next inning, it was Pete Alonso’s turn. With Taylor Ward on base, Alonso hit
a bomb that went directly over the head of Mr. Splash, who was wearing a polar bear head. The optics were perfect and the Orioles were up, 8-7. Jackson hit another dinger in the eighth inning for good measure, and Ryan Helsley’s 1-2-3 ninth inning locked up the win. You can get all of the excellent details from this wild win in Paul Folkemer’s game recap.
Dean Kremer was called back from Norfolk to make last night’s start. It was a mixed bag, to say the least. Kremer gave up three home runs, which is very bad. But he struck out nine without walking a batter, which is good. Kremer is no ace, and there is no telling what will happen to him now. Mike Elias is a tricky guy. But the line all along has been that Kremer is a good back-of-the-rotation starter, and that much remains true.
The offense started the season in a concerning way, but the bats are coming around. They have scored at least five runs in four of the last five games. Before putting up nine runs last night, they had back-to-back games with six runs scored. The weather is heating up this week and we can only hope that the bats will like the new temps.
Tonight, the Orioles will try to take the series against the Diamondbacks. And they have a decidedly front-of-the-rotation starter going for them. Trevor Rogers will make his fourth start tonight. He is on a week’s rest as the Orioles stretch out the rotation, presumably in an effort to keep Rogers and others ready throughout the entire season. Rogers has allowed four earned runs in three starts, a total of 19 innings. Hopefully, he has another good one in him tonight.
If you missed all of the roster updates from yesterday, allow me to bring you up to speed. Poor Ryan Mountcastle was placed on the 60-day IL with a broken foot. In his place, the Orioles called up infielder Weston Wilson. However, rehabbing Jackson Holliday was in the Orioles’ dugout last night. Could his recall be imminent? He doesn’t have much time remaining on his rehab stint, but the other Jackson, Jeremiah, is playing like a man who does not want to lose his job.
Yaramil Hiraldo, who is out with shoulder inflammation, has also been moved to the 60-day IL. The Orioles optioned Cade Povich to make room for Kremer, a move that might make sense but also is a little frustrating. Povich has been great. He’ll be back, I know.
Also yesterday, the Orioles traded for Reds infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand , then optioned him to triple-A. Encarnacion-Strand has played for the Reds in parts of the last three seasons. He is 26 years old.
Links
O’s manager Albernaz hit in head by foul ball in dugout – MLB.com
It was a scary moment in the game last night when Jeremiah Jackson fouled a ball into the dugout that hit manager Craig Albernaz in the face. Albernaz got checked out and returned one inning later sporting a scratch and a swollen face. Jackson apologized by hitting two home runs.
Ryan Helsley doesn’t know what went wrong in New York, but he hopes to put it right with the Orioles – The Baltimore Banner
He certainly looked good last night. More of that, please.
Jackson hits two home runs, including grand slam, and Alonso delivers go-ahead shot in wild 9-7 win – MASN Sports
Roch Kubatko has a rundown of last night’s win, including quotes from the players.
Birthdays and History
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have a ton of Orioles birthday buddies, but sadly none of them left too lasting and impression on Orioles history. They are:
- Jeff Fiorentino (43), one of those dark days players who, for some reason, looms larger in my memory than is warranted. He appeared in 56 games with the Orioles from 2005-06 and 2009.
- Gregg Zaun (55), nephew of Rick Dempsey.
- Brad Pennington (57), the relief pitcher who taught 14-year-old Stacey that sometimes it’s ok to turn off the TV before the pitch is thrown.
- Mike Trombley (59), who was a pretty good reliever for the 2001 Orioles. He spent most of his career in Minnesota.
- Greg Myers (6o), journeyman catcher who stopped in Baltimore from 2000-01.
- Jay Aldrich (65), a 1990 seven-gamer.
- Frank Bertaina (b. 1944, d. 2010), a relief pitcher and prankster whose teammates gave him the nickname “Toys in the Attic” because he was…insane? Or something. It was not clear to me after googling.
- Kal Segrist (b. 1931, d. 2015), who had 11 plate appearances for the 1955 Orioles.
On this day in 1990, Cal Ripken started a streak (not that one) that led to a major league record 95 straight errorless games and 431 total chances by a shortstop.
