I only caught bits of this game, but the bits I caught were fun. In essence, here are the details:
First of all, kudos to Rich Hill, who turned in a gem of a game. Once or twice he let some guys get on, but he invariably came back to get outs without too much damage.
Former Oriole draftee Jayson Werth fulfilled a lifelong ambition to "get back at those bastards for trading me." Ahh, who are we kidding, we're probably just a blip on his radar. Anyway, Werth doubled in two runs in the first inning and after that Hill, Jim Johnson, and George Sherrill combined to keep the crooked numbers off the Phillies board for the rest of the night.
The Orioles took the lead for good in the top of the second, by stringing together a Melvin Mora HBP, a Nolan Reimold double, a 2 RBI double by The Son of God Matt Wieters, and an RBI single by Hill, helping his own cause.
Much of the rest of the game was, if not a pitcher's duel, uneventful, as both Hill and the hilariously named Antonio Bastardo traded empty frames for a few innings. Huff 'n' Stuff doubled home MarKICKASS in the 6th after the latter had singled to make it 4-2. Reimold proved that the pressure doesn't get to him in the 7 spot by homering in the 9th, and Nicky followed by doubling in two more runs just to tell the Phillies where they can stick it.
The Phillies are now 13-20 at home, whereas the O's have won three straight and can make it 4 for 4 in interleague series by winning either of the next two games.
Last notes:
- Adam Jones really looks awful at the plate. Maybe he needs a little rest.
- Every starter had a hit except, um, the entire left side of the infield. Even Oscar Salazar got in on the fun.
- Wieters fell into the Orioles' dugout chasing a pop foul in the eighth. He made the catch, and everyone in the Orioles' front office suffered a near heart-attack.