O's From the Booth

Good evening Oriole fans and what a happy Friday it is.  The Orioles are now in sole possession of first place in the American League East.  I am going to give a lot of credit to Buck Showalter tonight and Dana Eveland. Buck Showalter decided to stick with Eveland as he battled his way through 6 innings.  If this would have been the Texas Rangers he may have given up 20 runs but the Rays do not hit like them.  Eveland got through 6 innings allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and 6 walks!!!   He was able to pitch around that along with some help from his defense!!!   The O's pulled off a great relay throw to nail Sean Rodriguez at the plate after a Eliot Johnson single with the bases loaded.  Markakis to Andino and to Weiter who took a pretty good shot at home and held on to the baseball.  This allowed Buck Showalter to preserve his bullpen until the late innings. O'Day and Strop threw the 7th and 8th innings and got 6 outs on only 12 pitches!!!  I don't know if Nick Johnson will be here at the end of the year.  It is tough to tell.  Man was he big tonight.  He hit a 2 run bomb to give the O's the lead in the bottom of the 7th inning.  I hope he is able to catch fire as that would really help the O's off the bench.  The Orioles got all of their runs again tonight courtesy of the long ball.  Jason Johnson came in to save the 4-3 lead.  He has now saved 19 consecutive games dating back to 2011.  This was a great win for the Orioles after a tough Rangers series. The sound of sole possession of first place is music to my ears.  I know it is early but I don't care.  I am going to ride this pony as long as I can.  I am going to the ball game tomorrow night with my little one.  I can't wait.  O, what a great time this is.  Go O's!!!!!!!