Baltimore Orioles Move Within Striking Distance of the AL East Lead

 

The Baltimore Orioles had a rare win last night in which they didn’t need to rely on their bullpen to keep a close game intact. Behind starter Chris Tillman, the Orioles cruised past the Seattle Mariners in a 10-4 victory. A six run victory might as well be a landslide for the Orioles, who are have become used to one run victories.

It was another big victory for the Orioles, although any victories moving forward will be big.

Tillman came back from an injury scare to look solid. He pitched six impressive innings of one run ball, and he improved to 8-2 on the season with a 3.22 ERA. I have to admit, at the beginning of the season I had the least amount of faith in Tillman living up to his expectations. This is a huge lift for an Orioles team that will need starters they can rely to give them quality starts down the stretch.

Nate McLouth looked very good again hitting in the lead-off spot last night, going 3-5 at the plate with a home run. The Orioles also got production from the guys that have been doing it all year for them. Adam Jones and Matt Wieters both had three hits, with Wieters hitting his 22nd home run of the season.

There absolutely is a different feel to this Orioles team in 2012. Fans seem to expect the Orioles to win every game, which is a feeling Baltimore fans haven’t had since 1997.

This victory puts the Orioles within half a game of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Orioles play the Mariners again tonight with starting pitcher Wei-Yin Chen going for the Orioles.

The Yankees open a series against the Toronto Blue Jays tonight. Andy Pettitte returns to the mound for the Yankees. Who would of thought the Yankees would be relying on the 40-year-old Pettitte to help solidify their rotation?

A Yankees loss and Orioles victory tonight means the Orioles would move into sole possession of first place of the AL East. The Orioles have been going back and forth with the Yankees in a tie for first place and tonight the Orioles finally have a chance to move ahead. No matter what the Yankees do though, the Orioles have to take care of their part. Beat the Mariners tonight and hope the Blue Jays can give the Yankees trouble.

Orioles fans, #BUCKLE UP because it may not be long before you see the cartoon bird sitting atop first place in the AL East!