O's Throttle Blue Jays, Trembley Retains Job
Orioles 13, Rays 7
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Saturday, October 3, 2009
BALTIMORE, Oct. 2 -- Once President of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail picked up Manager Dave Trembley's 2010 option on Friday, putting an end to the biggest mystery of the Orioles season, another important question arose:
Would the Orioles embarrass themselves again on a night in which Trembley received a vote of confidence, the way they have the past two seasons?
In grand fashion, they didn't, bashing the Toronto Blue Jays early and often in a 13-7 victory before 16,921 drenched fans at Camden Yards.
The Orioles hit three homers, including a two-run shot and a grand slam by rookie first baseman Michael Aubrey, pushing his season RBI total from eight to 14 in one night. The six RBI were a career high for Aubrey and most by an Oriole since Luke Scott had seven at Seattle on July 7.
With the victory, the Orioles (62-98) need one more win in their final two games against Toronto to avoid the third 100-loss season in their history.
That's the obvious goal left for a season that has been the worst, statistically, since they dropped a franchise-low 107 games in 1988.
So Friday night, despite a consistent rain that grew in intensity and caused a 23-minute delay in the eighth, and a shaky performance by Jason Berken in his final 2009 start, the Orioles' spirits couldn't be dampened.
They won big, and gave the beleaguered Trembley a reason to celebrate.
The offense rolled early against Toronto lefty David Purcey, scoring three runs in the first on a two-run double by Nick Markakis and Ty Wigginton's RBI groundout. Melvin Mora drove in a run on a single in the third and then Matt Wieters knocked out Purcey in the fourth with a three-run homer, the rookie catcher's ninth home run of the season.
Purcey, who allowed just one run in 7 2/3 innings while beating the Orioles in Toronto on Sept. 21, was pummeled for seven runs in 3 2/3 innings Friday. The Jays' relievers didn't fare much better, giving up six runs over 4 1/3 innings.
