Bob Haynie: The Orioles Get A Big Win In Boston
On a night in which they committed three errors, their starting pitcher walked six in five innings and they went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position, the Baltimore Orioles still managed to earn a monumental 3-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Tuesday's win kept the Orioles very much alive in the chase for one of the American League Wild Card spots. Heading into Wednesday's action, the Birds trail the Rangers and Rays by only two games with 12 to play.
In a tension filled game, the Orioles overcame a 2-0 deficit to win for the 14th time in their last 20 contests at Fenway. As usual it wasn't easy.
Baltimore starter Scott Feldman gave up a leadoff homer to Dustin Pedroia and pretty much struggled all evening. Fortunately, the bullpen was huge for manager Buck Showalter as five relievers combined to hold the Red Sox to only one hit.
Chris Davis hit homerun number 51--a massive shot to center--in the 6th inning to tie the game at 2-2. Davis' HR broke Brady Anderson's club record set in 1996.
I have to admit, when the Birds had runners on second and third with none out in the eight and didn't score, I felt another one-run loss coming. As usual, I wrong.
The Orioles broke through in the ninth against their former teammate Koji Uehara as Danny Valencia tripled and Matt Wieters brought him home with a sac fly. Amazingly, Uehara had retired 37-straight batters before Tuesday's loss.
Closer Jim Johnson made everyone sweat before notching his 46th save of 2013.
As we have learned, watching the Orioles can be very stressful. But scoreboard watching is extremely exciting. Thankfully, doing both is still a big part of our September sports fun.
