It was just one game, but it seems like the start of something special for the Baltimore Orioles. On Wednesday, May 27 the Birds completed a three game sweep of Toronto in an improbable comeback win. It was their first sweep of the season, as well as their first three game winning streak of the season.
The Blue Jays knocked Orioles starter Rich Hill out of the game in the fourth with their offensive attack. When Toronto starter Roy Halladay left the game after the seventh inning with a five run lead, he surely felt confident that his bullpen could get him the win.
The Oriole offense got hot with Halladay out, and scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game at eight.
The score stayed tied through the ninth, and the game headed into extra innings. In the top of the eleventh, Toronto second baseman Aaron Hill hit a two run homer to take the lead. It appeared as if the Orioles were going to fall short of a comeback victory.
However, in the second half of the inning, Nick Markakis led off with a single. Hits from Melvin Mora and Luke Scott followed. With the score at 10-9 and runners on first and third, rookie outfielder Nolan Reimold stepped up to the plate.
He had entered the game in the eighth inning as a pinch hitter with the bases loaded and struck out. This time, Reimold did not leave any men on. He launched a 3-run home run to defeat Toronto, 12-10.
Yes, the Orioles are in last place in their division. And yes, they did sweep Toronto, who is in a funk and currently on a nine game losing streak. But, this win was exciting and a sign that for Oriole fans, there is a lot to look forward to. The team is being infused with lots of young talent, and there is even more to come.
Nolan Reimold’s bat was on display today. We have also seen rookie pitchers Brad Bergersen and Jason Berken come up from the minors to pitch solidly. Thursday, David Hernandez will come up from AAA Norfolk to pitch in place of injured Koji Uehara. In Hernandez’s last outing in the minors, he struck out 14.
On Friday, the most anticipated prospect of all will make his debut at Camden Yards. It was announced on Tuesday that catcher Matt Wieters, the Orioles’ first round draft choice in 2007, would be behind the plate in Friday’s game against the Detroit Tigers.
As young players come up from the minor leagues, fans are witnessing the transformation of this team. By September, the Orioles will look nothing like they did on opening day.
The success that has been had by rookies Reimold, Bergersen, and Berken, as well as outfielder Adam Jones, and the promise of more young talent to come is giving Oriole fans excitement and hope for the future, which is not something that could have been said two years ago.
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