masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSo much for playing small ball.

The Orioles tried it in the third inning last night, scored twice, and decided to go back to mashing tonight.

J.J. Hardy’s two-run shot in the first inning gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead against Angels starter Ervin Santana, and gave Hardy a career-high 27 home runs.

Mark Reynolds hit his 34th homer later in the inning, a three-run shot that increased the lead to 5-0.

Reynolds ties Miguel Tejada (2004) for the most home runs by an Oriole in a single season in…So much for playing small ball.

The Orioles tried it in the third inning last night, scored twice, and decided to go back to mashing tonight.

J.J. Hardy’s two-run shot in the first inning gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead against Angels starter Ervin Santana, and gave Hardy a career-high 27 home runs.

Mark Reynolds hit his 34th homer later in the inning, a three-run shot that increased the lead to 5-0.

Reynolds ties Miguel Tejada (2004) for the most home runs by an Oriole in a single season in the 2000s.

Santana hit Nolan Reimold and Robert Andino singled to bring leadoff hitter Matt Angle to the plate for his second at-bat of the inning.

Santana threw 38 pitches before finally making it back to the safety of the dugout.