After a day of rain, the Orioles and Devil Rays played the second game of a three game series. Miguel Tejada was one RBI behind Mike Bordick's April RBI record of 29 set in 2000. The Orioles were also looking to stretch their winning streak to 7 games in a row going into this game.
The Orioles were down early because Sidney Ponson didn't pitch well the first couple of innings. By scoring 1 run in the first inning and 3 runs in the second inning, the Devil Rays were up 4-0 in the game. LET THE COMEBACK BEGIN. Miguel Tejada tied the Orioles club record in the third inning with a RBI single to score Chris Gomez; O's down 4-1. In the 4th inning, the token left handed batter, B.J. Surhoff, homered over the right field scoreboard; O's down 4-2. Fast forward to the 7th inning with Melvin Mora standing on 1st base and Tejada at the plate. Could he pass Mike Bordick? With Tejada even at 2-2 in the pitch count, Miguel Tejada hits a long fly ball and it is gone. Tejada passes Bordick for the Club Record in RBI's with 31 in the month of April. After the seventh inning, the game was tied up at 4-4.
The O's were looking for a hero; enter Brian Roberts. Luis Matos started off the 8th inning with a single. Rafael Palmeiro was then intentionally walked, and Geronimo Gil flied out. Brian Roberts steps into the batters box looking for an RBI, and he got 3 with a high homerun over the right field scoreboard. He told an AP reporter:
"I don't have an answer anymore. I've run out of stupid one-liners," Roberts said when asked about his power numbers.
B-Rob has simply been clutch in every aspect of the game. If the O's need a spark, he is there. If the O's need a man on base, he is there. If the O's need a baserunner in scoring position, he steals it. If the O's need a homer, he lauches it. Does anyone remember that other second baseman who was traded.
The O's won the game 7-5 by giving up one run in the next 7 innings. A Devil Ray, Jonny Gomes, hit a solo homer against B.J. Ryan in the nineth inning. To little, to late for the Devil Rays. Ponson finally found some control after the 2 inning and lasted till the seventh inning. Steve Kline, Todd Williams and B.J. Ryan came in relief, Ryan for a save, and kept the game out of reach for the O's. What a great team effort. Bruce Chen will be on the hill for the O's in the series finale, and he will be looking to sweep the Devil Rays.
Posted by helimech24 at May 1, 2005 08:00 AM | TrackBack