Grayson Rodriguez and the Baltimore Orioles put on a show this evening at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and with a special guest in the house at that. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Joan Jett toon in tonight’s game, and had to have been impressed with what she saw. Rodriguez’s line: 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K.
Jett of course is a legendary Orioles “super fan.” Her family came to Maryland when she was a young girl, and she got into the the local team, that being the Orioles. She had already joined the Birds earlier in the season in Tampa. She also committed to returning before all was said and done this season during an interview on MASN. Question is, will that happen in September, or…October?!
Ryan O’Hearn’s two-RBI single in the last of the third put the Orioles on the board and gave them a 2-0 lead. One inning later Ryan McKenna scored on a wild pitch, extending the lead to 3-0. But the Orioles were just getting warmed up.
Ryan Mountcastle’s RBI-single later in the fourth extended the lead to 4-0. However how often have we said that this team does it’s best work late? Usually that happens when they’re trailing – or at least it happens in a more poignant manner, that is. But even with the Orioles already leading, the Birds still did their best work late.
Ryan McKenna’s two-RBI single in the eighth blew the game wide open, with the Orioles leading 6-0. Later in the inning with two on, Anthony Santander’s three-run homer onto the flag court extended the Oriole lead to 9-0. If the game wasn’t already over before, it was over then. And the Orioles took game one of the series, 9-0. And securing the Orioles’ 82nd win of the season, clinching a second straight winning record.
One more point about Joan Jett’s visit. As I said, she mentioned on MASN that she’d like to come back to a game this season. I think it’s important for the Orioles to highlight and lift up the fans during the push in the playoffs come October. Joan Jett, being a member of the Orioles’ fan base, is representative of the fans. Who better to sing the National Anthem on national television before a playoff game?!
The series continues tomorrow night at Camden Yards. Dean Kremer gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Chicago’s Jesse Scholtens. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
Birdland Crush 