Baltimore Orioles: Seven-run third equals a sweep at The Fens

Coming into this series most people probably thought that if there was a sweep it would have been Boston sweeping the Baltimore Orioles. Just by default, if nothing else. Boston isn’t expected to be much better than the Birds, but…they’re Boston. But the O’s won the first two games, and Bruce Zimmerman was a “beneficiary of circumstance” in the finale. Zimmerman’s line: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 5 K.

This game was over fast. Zimmerman blew balls by Boston hitters, and the Orioles weren’t about to waste his effort. Anthony Santander smacked an RBI-single, and Maikel Franco a two-RBI double in the first, giving the Birds a 3-0 lead.

Offensively the O’s took the second inning off, but then loaded the bases again in the third. Freddy Galvis walked with the bases loaded, running it to 4-0. But they wanted more…

…and they got it. Later in the inning Austin Hays‘ two-RBI double ran the score to 6-0. However unfortunately for the O’s, Jays had to leave the game. The Orioles later termed it hamstring discomfort. Hopefully it isn’t too serious.

But the Orioles still weren’t done. Trey Mancini‘s two-RBI double later in that third inning ran it to 8-0. Cedric Mullins would score on a passed ball later in the inning, and Ryan Mountcastle an RBI-single. When the smoke cleared, the O’s led 10-0 after three.

Boston did put up a couple of nominal runs. Hernandez’s sac fly-RBI in the last of the third cut the Orioles’ lead to 10-1. Martinez smacked a solo homer in the fourth, and an RBI-double in the sixth. But the competitive part of the game was over after the seven-run third put up by the Birds.

Cedric Mullins had a great game for the Orioles. Due to the long third inning, he has six at-bats; and he got on base in all six of them. Five hits and a walk, including a double whereby he later scored on Anthony Santander’s RBI-double in the ninth.

Ironically the sheer number of runs kind of overshadows the effort Bruce Zimmerman put forth out there today. Zimmerman dominated a very potent lineup this afternoon, in his first ever start for his hometown team. And that’s very consistent with the entire team, who dominated in their entire series against Boston at Fenway Park. For the record, out of the three games in Boston, two netted quality starts (including today).

The Orioles now head to New York to open up a three-game set against the NYY at Yankee Stadium. Jorge Lopez gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by New York’s Jordan Montgomery. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.