Tuesday Bird Droppings: Where the Orioles sent the Yankees to the cellar

Good morning, Camden Chatters.

For an Orioles fan, any time that the O’s win is a good day. And any time that the Yankees lose is a good day. And when they happen in the same game? Well... <chef’s kiss>

The Orioles’ four-game series with the Bombers got off to an exhilarating start last night, with a tense, 4-2 victory that didn’t come easy. The two teams entered the game with identical records, and in game one of the series they looked pretty evenly matched — and being “evenly matched” with a rebuilding O’s team that is not even trying to contend this year is, um, probably not exactly what the Yankees were aiming for. Baseball fans everywhere are busting out the world’s tiniest violin for them.

For once in an Orioles-Yankees game, all the breaks went the Birds’ way. It was the O’s, not the Yanks, who were clubbing home runs, with leadoff man Cedric Mullins bashing two (including his first career lefty-on-lefty blast). It was the Orioles, not the Yankees, whose starting pitcher (Matt Harvey) shut down the opposing offense. It was the O’s who scored a run on a fluke play (on a balk), and the O’s who got the benefit of a possible blown call (when DJ LeMahieu was ruled not to have scored before Aaron Judge was thrown out on the basepaths in the eighth).

There’s a long way to go in this series, and this season. But maybe, just maybe, the Orioles are beginning to fight back against the Yankees’ years-long dominance over them. Who knows, the two clubs could reignite the fierce rivalry they once had when both were division behemoths — only this time they’re battling over which one will manage to keep the other in last place.

Links

Matt Harvey continues path to redemption in Orioles win over Yankees - Camden Chat
Stacey has all the details on last night’s fun in the Camden Chat game recap. Don’t forget to vote in the MBP poll! I voted for Cedric, not that I’m trying to influence you one way or the other. But I kind of am.

Freddy Galvis left adductor soreness - Orioles.com
The news wasn’t all good for the Orioles last night. Freddy Galvis, who’s been one of the Birds’ most reliable players so far, had to leave the game with an adductor injury. No word yet on how serious it is. Get well soon, Freddy.

Orioles add right-hander Jay Flaa to their bullpen, option Lowther to alternate site - BaltimoreBaseball.com
TIL that the new Orioles reliever’s name is pronounced flaw, not flay, which is how I always said it in my head when doing minor league recaps in past years. No wonder my Jay “Flavor” Flaa nickname never caught on. Anyway, congrats to the longtime O’s farmhand for getting his first big league callup at age 28.

Tate says O’s ’pen is keeping it light while getting outs - Steve Melewski
Dillon Tate seems to have found a home as a middle reliever in the Orioles’ bullpen. Are we feeling any better about the Zack Britton trade now, or no?

Orioles birthdays and history

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have one Orioles birthday buddy, Aaron Brooks (31), who pitched 14 games for the O’s in 2019 and posted a 6.18 ERA before signing with the Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization. He’s currently in his second year with Kia, with a 1-2 record and 3.42 ERA in four starts so far this season.

On this day in 1968, Baltimore-born right-hander Tom Phoebus threw the second individual no-hitter in Orioles history, blanking the Red Sox at Memorial Stadium, 6-0. Phoebus faced just two batters over the minimum and racked up nine strikeouts, and Brooks Robinson made a great diving catch on an eighth-inning liner to preserve Phoebus’s no-no.

And on this date in 2015, the Orioles postponed their scheduled game against the White Sox at Camden Yards due to civil unrest in the city following the death of Freddie Gray in police custody. The O’s would ultimately postpone the following night’s game, too, and then play the series finale in a game that was closed to the public (back when a game without fans was an unprecedented event).