Smart ball
Right after I ripped the O's offense for wasting an opportunity in the first inning and being overly aggressive in the second, the Orioles did everything right to take a three-run lead against Mark Buehrle in the third. Brian Roberts singled to open the inning and stole second without a throw; Robert Andino bounced the ball to the right side to move him to third; and Felix Pie hit a fly ball to bring him home. That's real baseball.
And, as so often hasn't happened lately, the Orioles kept the pressure on Buehrle, scoring two more runs on an infield hit by Nick Markakis and Nolan Reimold's 12th home run of the year.
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Comments
Curious as to how the run in the first is an earned run when there were 2 errors that contributed to the scoring of that run.
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Pete's reply: It wasn't an earned run.
Posted by: daydreamer | August 23, 2009 3:15 PM
According to the box score on ESPN.com, the run was unearned.
Posted by: ken | August 23, 2009 4:01 PM
The huge difference between Robert Andino and Cesar Izturis is that the former does the little things that win ballgames while the latter makes the tiny mistakes that lead to defeats.
Nolan Reimold's controlled aggression is always a joy to watch!
Posted by: Attila the Hon | August 23, 2009 4:29 PM
Exactly the situation that makes small ball overrated... I mean, it's nice to watch (and it's ugly when it doesn't happen) but was ultimately pointless after the hit and homer. Big ball is better.
Posted by: Steve D. | August 23, 2009 5:23 PM
Steve D. - Yep. That run they manufactured by playing small ball was ultimately pointless. Especially given that the final score was 5-4. Really astute, dude. I guess I forgot that the Orioles can hit home runs whenever they want, too.
Posted by: Hooves | August 23, 2009 7:03 PM
Pete,
I wrote yesterday asking why Trembley did not start Pie and was told because he did not hit left-handed pitching. So much for that theory. If someone is hot, play him until he cools off.
Jeez.
Posted by: Ray | August 24, 2009 8:03 AM