O's From the Booth - Bitter Sweet Series Victory Today For O's

Good Evening O's fans, the greatest day of the baseball year is upon us as we welcome home the O's tomorrow after taking 2 of 3 from the Rays in Tampa.  We all know they could have easily swept this series. The O's or should I say Chris Davis continued the hot hitting today.  He is just sizzling right now and it is a great thing to watch.  His swing looks great especially taking the ball the other way using the whole field.  If he continues to swing the bat like he is we could be in for something special. 
Chris Davis started the Orioles scoring again today after a very hot Adam Jones as well singled before him, Chris launched one to right center field giving the O's a 2-0 lead.  The Rays battled back in the bottom of the 5th inning with two of their own to tie the game at two.  That did not last long as the O's scored two more in the top of the 6th on a Markakis walk, Jones single, and you know who, Chris Davis sizzled a double to left field on a beautiful Harold Baines looking swing.   In the top of the 8th Chris Davis grounded out to make the 2nd out of the inning after Adam Jones grounded out and the Tampa crowd gave a huge mock cheer for one of their pitchers finally getting him out.   What an incredible start, 7 for 11 batting .636 with 3 home runs, 3 doubles and 11 RBI, wow.   J.J. Hardy topped off the O's scoring in the 8th with a 2 run bomb of his own. In the top of the 9th the bitter part happened for the O's. Brian Roberts singled to start the 9th inning.  He then stole 2nd  but in doing so came up grabbing the back of his knee after diving head first into 2nd. He had to be helped off the field and is scheduled for an MRI tomorrow in Baltimore instead of being able to run out on the orange carpet at home tomorrow.  We can only hope for Brian that it is nothing serious and he can come back soon.  We will get to see what Alexi Casilla can do.  I think he is just as good as a defender as Brian just not that great a hitter. We could see Flaherty start tomorrow as well. We will see. 
Miguel Gonzales gave the O's a solid outing pitching into the 7th inning and only giving up 2 earned runs.  The bull pen was better today only giving up 1 run in the final 2 2/3.  The Rays gave the O's some help in the 9th inning in a very rarely seen out.  The Rays had runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs and Evan Longoria hit a long fly ball to deep center which Adam Jones looked to almost track down but hit off the top of the wall.  Ben Zobrist who singled before hand started to turn and go back to 1st and then started to turn and run when the ball bounced off the wall.  Longoria who was watching the ball and not Zobrist seemed to have past him running to 2nd and the umpire called him out for doing so.  It was very close on the replays but is not a play that can be reviewed.   What an inning changer. Instead of 2nd and 3rd with nobody out and the tying run at the plate, it was now 1 out with a runner on 3rd and the O's up 6-3.  Jim Johnson was able to close the door on the Rays for his 2nd save of the year.  He did make it interesting walking Yunel Escobar with two outs to bring that tying run to the plate.  Jim got James Loney to pop up and end the game and secure the series for the O's. 
Wow, what a series to start the year.  Buckle up O's fans because this is a glance at the season to come in the AL East, a lot of exciting up and down games.   It is going to be a fun ride.  Lets welcome the boys home tomorrow and rock the Yard and have some fun.  Let's Go O's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!