Rob Long: Been There... Done That
Not that you needed it, but Nick Markakis proved his value, once again, for the Baltimore Orioles. While the O's were wearing Chris Sale down inning by inning, Markakis was right in the midst of it offensively and of course defensively.
It all began in the top half of the fifth inning with the Birds nursing a 1-0 lead Markakis gets a single to center with two outs. It seemed pretty harmless at the time until Steve Peace doubled to deep center to score Markakis to make it a 2-0 lead.
Then things got really interesting in the bottom of the seventh inning after the Chicago White Sox made it a one run game. With the Orioles up 3-2 with two outs and runner on Conor Gillaspie hit a fly ball to deep right field that looked as if the Sox were going to at least tie the ballgame up at three but Nick Markakis had other plans.
The right fielder leaped up and snatched the ball from the top of the fence preserving the one-run lead as pitcher Bud Norris pumped his fist, celebrating the play.
Markakis' night was not over. With two outs and three runs in already in the top of the eighth, Markakis hit a Matt Lindstrom pitch 370 feet to right field giving him three hits on the night and the O's an 8-2 win.
No, Nick Markakis did not win the game on his own. Bud Norris pitched a gem going seven innings giving up two runs, striking out five with no walks. Steve Pearce also had a three hit night himself and J.J. Hardy chipped in with two hits himself.
However, sometimes in the midst of it all the unassuming Markakis gets overlooked and even unappreciated. He epitomizes the word professional and last night was yet another example of his consistency.
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