Orioles win 9-4 as Jimmy Paredes continues to dominate

The Orioles put together a nice win tonight beating the Seattle Mariners 9-4. This win also brings my personal recap record to 1-3. I just kept going out there, giving it a 110%, and kept my nose to the grindstone. I knew eventually I would start winning games. Anyways, back to the people who play the game.

Miguel Gonzalez started tonight for the Orioles and started off shaky enough that I thought my record was going quickly to 0-4. Seth Smith led off the game with a laser home run on to the flag court, 1-0 Mariners. Gonzalez managed to get out of the inning after that striking out two and getting Kyle Seager to line out to right field after a Nelson Cruz single. Speaking of Mr. Cruz he received a nice ovation from the Orioles crowd which was nice to see. He did a lot for the Orioles in a 2014 season and then went to make some money. Booing that would be stupid.

The Orioles followed up with a run of their own in the bottom of the first inning. Manny Machado led off the inning with a walk. Then, Adam Jones put a drive into the ball only to be robbed at the wall by Smith. Thanks again Seth, don't come back anytime soon. With two down Chris Davis walked after Machado stole second base. Steve Pearce then singled to left field and scored Machado, 1-1.

The second inning was uneventful for both teams, but then came the third. Gonzalez walked the lead off hitter on 11 pitches, never a good thing. Especially when it is the light hitting shortstop nine hole hitter Chris Taylor. Then Gonzalez recorded two quick outs, but Cano blooped a single into left field. Inevitably, with two on and two out in stepped Nelson Cruz. Well, Gonzalez eventually hung a two strike curve ball to Cruz who destroyed it into the bullpen, 4-1 Mariners. Game over right? I mean these Orioles don't score and they don't win games when the other team scores first, so game over.

Well, Jimmy Paredes will not abide your negativity. In the bottom of the 4th inning the Orioles led off with a walk to Travis Snider. Then J.J. Hardy singled on a fly ball to right field that dropped out of the reach of Nelson Cruz, oh yeah he is bad at something. Alejandro De Aza then singled to load the bases and Caleb Joseph singled again to bring in another run, 4-2 bases still loaded. Manny Machado managed to ground out to the pitcher, the old 1-2-3 devastating double play. However, Paredes was up with two runners in scoring position and he singled a soft grounder to the left side that snuck through, two runs score, 4-4. We're all tied and we all owe Jimmy a hug. This would kick Mariners starter Taijuan Walker out of the game. He was only after to muster three and two thirds innings pitched giving up seven hits, four runs, four walks, and striking out only three.

Thankfully, after that the Mariners offense laid down and died. Gonzalez was able to pitch seven innings, giving up only the four runs on five hits, two walks, and eight strike outs. Maybe not a quality start by definition, but one by results anyways.

The Orioles would eventually take the lead in bottom of the sixth innings after back to back doubles by Joseph and De Aza, 5-4 Orioles. Then, with one out, in stepped that man again. Jimmy Paredes hit an opposite field two run shot, 7-4 Orioles. The Orioles would add another run in each of the the seventh and eight innings on miscues by the Mariners. Nelson Cruz let a ball slip under his glove which turned into a two base error, yeah he is really not good in the field, and Mike Zunino let a passed ball by allowing Machado to score from third. He reached third base after singling, stealing second, and advancing to third  on a wild pitch, 9-4 Orioles and that would be the final score. Machado now has seven stole bases on the young season which is already a career high.

Brian Matusz and Darren O'Day would finish out the game for the Orioles. A nice comeback win that the team iced with some insurance runs late. A solid win all around. The team now stands at 17-19 as it works it's way back to .500. The game is at 7:05 pm tomorrow as Wei-Yin Chen faces off against Roenis Elias. Vote for the MBP, I think you know who I am voting for.