Baltimore Orioles: Birds victorious in the Friendly Confines, hit .500

The gravy train ran on for the hottest team in baseball last night, as the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Chicago Cubs. The Birds got a dominating outing from starter Jordan Lyles, who made himself at home in the “Friendly Confines” of Wrigley Field. Lyles’ line: 7.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 5 K.

the game got off to an inauspicious start however, as Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the last of the first on a solo homer by Happ. Rivas’ RBI-single an inning later ran the tally to 2-0, and for a split second we wondered if the Orioles’ winning streak was in jeopardy. But it wasn’t.

Anthony Santander’s RBI-single in the top of the third got the Orioles on the board and cut Chicago’s lead to 2-1. One inning later they took the lead when Ramon Urias smacked a two-run home run. They extended that lead to 4-2, the eventual final, when Jorge Mateo hit a solo homer in the seventh.

Timely hitting and good pitching – that’s what wins games. Lyles and the Orioles’ pen were all outstanding last night. That’s another quality start for an Oriole starter last night. Those are starting to rack up also.

After the game Brandon Hyde hit the nail on the head in terms of the O’s having won their ninth straight game:

We’re playing baseball all the way around. Some games we’re throwing it lights out, some days we’re mashing, we’re getting extra-base hits one after another. That’s the sign of a good team, when you can win baseball games in different ways and fashion.

Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports

You find different ways to win games. And the O’s are doing just that. And it’s paying off; they’ve won nine straight games for the first time since September of 1999.

The series concludes this evening at Wrigley Field. Spencer Watkins gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Chicago’s Justin Steele. Game time is set for just after 8 PM.