BALTIMORE, Maryland, Sunday, September 18, 2016 - With supreme effort, the Orioles defeated the Rays on Sunday, 2-1, to gain a less than satisfying split in their four-game pennant race series with the last place team in the AL East. With Boston playing the Yankees on Sunday night, the Red Sox lead over their closest competitor is two and one-half games. When Boston arrives at Camden Yards tomorrow for the start of a pivotal four game weekday series with the Orioles they will be holding either a two or three game lead over their closest pursuer. It is, as they say, crunch time.
Sadly, for the Birds, the heart of their batting order is anything but hot right now. Chris Davis is still striking out way too often, Mark Trumbo still leads the American League in home runs, but his actual production has slowed considerably after a start that raised eyebrows all over baseball. Manny Machado, whose homer today provided the Orioles with one of their two runs, and who is still batting over .300, is showing signs of trying to do too much in his at bats in late inning clutch situations. Manny is becoming a team leader, and his ability and effort are beyond question. But in the clutch, sometimes a single is what is needed more than going for a game-winning home run. The Orioles' five starting pitchers are split into two categories: Chris Tillman, Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy all give the Orioles a chance to win every time they take the mound. Wade Miley and Yovani Gallardo, on the other hand, have had miserable second halves for the Orioles. Miley came to Baltimore from Seattle on the trading deadline - July 31, 2016 - and, though placed in the starting rotation immediately, has yet to be credited with a winning decision. In his last 7 starts his ERA is 8.58. Gallardo has been in the starting rotation throughout the season, save for a prolonged stint on the disabled list early in the season. In his last seven starts he is 1-5 with a 6.42 ERA.
Despite these realities, the Orioles are within two or three games of the Division lead. Amazing. One reason why the Birds are so close to Boston is the stunning turnaround of Ubaldo Jimenez. Acquired from Cleveland in the 2014-2015 off-season, Jimenez pitched so poorly at the start of this season that the Orioles had to pull him from the rotation in spite of their huge investment in him. And yet, at the Orioles' most desperate hour, Jimenez turned his entire season and career around. In his last 7 games, 5 of which are starts, his record in a modest 2-2, but his ERA is under 4. His last 3 starts include a complete game 2-hitter and two seven inning outings. Before today's late win against the Rays, Jimenez was the starter in the Orioles' only win of the series. If Baltimore gets in to the playoffs they will have to credit Ubaldo's turn-around.
There are other Orioles who have come up big in these last two weeks. It seems that every hit by J.J. Hardy comes late and in the clutch. Similarly, Michael Bourn, whom the Birds picked up just before the post-season rosters were frozen, has had lots of big moments, both in the field and at the plate. Friday, in the Orioles' win over Tampa, Bourn knocked in the winning run and, with two out in the Tampa ninth, Bouirn helped gun down the tie run at the plate with a fantastic relay throw to Machado.
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