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It was scheduled to start at 8:05 Eastern Time on Friday night, but after a rain delay of two hours and 29 minutes, it started around 10:30 and when it was over it was closing in on 2:30 a.m on Saturday.
Corey Patterson's Grand Slam with two outs on a 2-2 pitch in the top of the ninth tied the game and the Orioles got a solo shot from Jake Fox an inning later to post a wild, comeback, 7-6, 10-inning win over Texas on Friday and Saturday.
Here are some stats and notes from this crazy game:
*It was the O's first win all year when trailing after eight innings. They had been 0-51 until this win.
*Just like on Thursday in the series opener, Texas led 4-0 after three innings.
*Patterson's Slam was the first of his career and second of the year by an Oriole. Luke Scott hit one vs. Seattle on May 13. Fox's homer was his third as an Oriole, all coming over the last five games, covering just 10 at bats.
*O's starters have allowed 8 ER over 7 2/3 in this series while the O's bullpen has not allowed an earned run over 11 1/3 frames.
*The O's improve to 14-12 in one-run games and 6-3 in extra-innings games.
*Texas closer Neftali Perez could not hold a 6-2 lead in the ninth. He entered with a record of 1-2, 2.92 and 23 saves in 25 chances. He had allowed just two homers all year and both came on April 26th before Patterson took him deep and he had given up just a .095 batting average vs. lefty hitters.
*The two O's that entered for injured players, Craig Tatum and Jake Fox, filling in for Matt Wieters and Felix Pie, combined to go 3 for 5 in the game. Fox hit the go-ahead homer in the tenth and Tatum went 2 for 3 with two runs scored.
*Fox has hit five homers on the year. He hit two in 98 at bats with Oakland and has hit three in just 20 at bats for the Orioles. He had an OPS of .591 with the A's and it is .927 with the O's.
*The Orioles are now 8-7 in their last 15 games while Texas is now 6-13 vs. the AL East.
Thanks for burning the midnight oil for us Steve. Went to the Baysox game tonight and was a lot of fun. Baysox won, Chorye Spoon was impressive and was in the 90-91 range most of the night. Unfortunately Mike Gonzalez did not look like he was anywhere close to a call up. Sloppy inning, pitches up, no good. Good 6-3 win though. Then a great Orioles game, what a night.
Steve,
It looks like our international program is making even bigger leaps forward now. Looks like besides Veloz we have two more 6-figure guys on the way.
You have any news on this bit in The Sun?
"The Orioles also have tentatively agreed to six-figure bonuses with at least two other Dominican players, but neither will exceed $175,000, the source said."
These last few days are the biggest signs of progress all season and it didn't even take place on the field. It's good to have a bit of hope about the team. Now if we can only keep Pie on the field.
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I have not heard of any more signings coming from the Dominican. - Steve.
Hey Steve....thanks for the dedication and love the bullet point facts.....good stuff.
Really exciting and want a pleasant addition to the club (Fox and Patterson).
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You got it. - Steve.
I am concerned w/the O's training and conditioning program and staff-The injuries have been consistantly high the past few years.While we are babying pitchers w/unrealistic pitch counts,we are allowing position players to overwork the weights.From oblique pulls,to "strained" quads and hammies,we keep loading up the dl.What gives here?Supplements?Bad weight programs?Too much off season Strengthening programs?We seem to be developing a roster of muscle bound wimps-And one drama queen -Pie.(you never know if he is hurt or looking for sympathy-every game he is acting like he is about to swoon with pain)
Mangement needs to take over the conditioning programs and get sensible trainers to monitor.
c patt has actually been impressive, I wonder if we can get something for him via trade?
Looks like Fox hits better when a team (A's) is not telling him how he should hit. Hope he gets a shot at everyday 1b if they trade Wiggington.
Steve,
Hopefully they give us some updates on those 2 additional signings soon. I've gotta be fair. If I'm going to post all the "crazy angry fan" talk about other teams signing the top international prospects - I have to show the love when we sign some as well as this was the biggest thorn in my side about the O's.
And they look like they turned the corner in this department this week. Any step foward is a big step in my eyes.
Fair is fair...
(I'm a big fan of your writing - the other team international signing posts were frustration at the FO. Intent wasn't a "shoot the messenger" kind of thing)
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I understand that and I posted everything you wrote. No problem with that. The one thing that confused fans to me, is the July 2 deadline. For instance, I am told the O's have been involved with Veloz for over two years, they were just able to officiallly sign him now.
I still think the O's need to do a lot more in the Dominican and I don't expect to hear of many more signings from there. But they got a player that was projected to get possibly over a million dollars until the steriod finding dropped the value. - Steve.
Just getting up. Couldn't get to sleep right after the game.
Great job before and after Steve. Especially through that long delay.
These last 2 games have been really exciting.
I'm glad to see Fox do well, he's so glad to be here.
I was happy we got Patterson back from the start. He has his problems but he has produced, he has contributed.
Things are looking up.
Thanks for keeping me interested during the delay and awake after the game ;-)
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It was fun taking so many calls, even when we didn't agree with the callers! Kind of dragging, bit time today, too. - Steve.
There is no way that Bell is ready to be the Orioles third baseman next year. He has so many holes in his swing. He has struck out 76 times in 75 games in the minors while hitting .266, and has gotten K'd 8 times in just 15 AB's during his callup. Plus, he can't hit right handed. Why are so many bloggers calling for the Orioles to make him the starter at third base? He has to show a lot of improvement before he should even be considered. This is what you get when you read this blog. Fans become infactuated with a prospect and ignor his warts, but automatically assume he will come up to the big club and be an improvement over a veteran like Tejada. In this case, that is just not going to happen this year.
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I just don't know how you can say that with such certainty. Sure he has not torn it up at AAA this year, but his stats have been on a steady incline throughout the year and you look for that. No one can see his 15 Major Lg at bats and project that he is or is not ready. If he isn't ready, I'm fine with him playing more for Norfolk, but I also think he could handle getting some on the job training in the Majors as well. - Steve.
I am not sure the O's injuries are all that out of line with the rest of baseball. Currently, the O's have 7 significant injuries - including players not on the DL like Weiters and Pie - according to MLB.com.
Minnesota has 6, as do the Reds (including Homer Bailey and our old friend Ramon, who is having a pretty decent season). The Rockies have 8, including Tulowitzki and Hawpw, as do the Mets.
Boston has 11 significant injuries, including Pedroia, Beckett, Bucholz, Delcarmen, Ellsbury and both catchers.
Oakland has 10, including Braden and Crisp.
The major league average is 5 or 6 players.
I think it is also easy to watch the game on TV in an air conditioned room and not appreciate how demanding the game is, especially at the major league level. In 100 degree heat with high humidity or rain, a leg injury is a real possibility.
In my opinion, the problem is that when a player gets hurt we either do not have a lot of depth to fill the hole, bring up a young guy and start a Lugo or bring up a young guy and bail on him after a couple bad games (anyone remember Rhyne Hughes?).
Bell should be playing or he should be in AAA. I also think they gave up on Hughes too quickly.
Given where the team is injuries to guys like Pie and Weiters are inopportune, but I do not think the O's are having more of a problem with them than anyone else.
I think last night was the 11th win of the season when trailing by 3 or more runs, which leads MLB. Especially amazing considering how few wins the Orioles have. A new strategy?
Steve.....thanks for your dedication and late night blog.
Love the bullet point facts....short, sweet and loaded with factual information.
Good Stuff.....love to read your blogs and agree with your opinions.
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Thanks so much for your nice comments. - Steve.