The Orioles had June 30th off, their first off day in three weeks. They would head on the road for a two city six game road trip to Texas and Chicago.
The Orioles ended up going 11-16 for the month of June, a one game improvement over May. They were outscored by their opponents 141 to 103.
Saturday, June 30, 2018
Friday, June 29, 2018
Wednesday June 29 vs the Blue Jays
Opponent: Toronto Blue Jays
Outcome: L
Score: 2-4
Streak: L1
Record: 22-55
Rank: 7th
GB: 25
For the second time this season the Orioles had a chance to sweep an opponent in a three game series and for the second time this season they failed to get it done. Things looked promising for a little while - the Birds took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third on a Pete Stanicek RBI double and Orioles starter Jose Bautista kept the Blue Jays scoreless until the sixth. But a leadoff double in the sixth by Fred McGriff followed by a single by Kelly Gruber chased Bautista from the game and while relief pitcher Dave Schmidt got Ernie Whitt to ground into a double play, McGriff scored the tying run.
The Jays took the lead in the seventh. Manny Lee and Tony Fernandez hit back to back singles to start the frame and after Lloyd Moseby flew out Rance Mulliniks singled, bringing in Lee and moving Fernandez to third. Mulliniks stole second during McGriff's at bat but Schmidt struck out the slugging first baseman for the second out. It looked like the O's would get out of the inning without further damage when Gruber hit a ground ball to Bill Ripken at second but Ripken threw the ball away, allowing both Fernandez and Mulliniks to score. Gruber then got thrown out trying to steal second and the inning was mercifully over but the Jays now had a 4-1 lead.
Those two unearned runs would loom large as the Orioles rallied in the bottom of the ninth. With one out Rick Schu singled and two batters later Larry Sheets also singled, bringing the tying run to the plate in the person of Joe Orsulak. The Jays brought closer Tom Henke in and Orsulak greeted him with a single bringing Schu in with the Birds' second run. Cal Ripken now represented the winning run at the plate but Henke got him to ground out to end the game.
Outcome: L
Score: 2-4
Streak: L1
Record: 22-55
Rank: 7th
GB: 25
For the second time this season the Orioles had a chance to sweep an opponent in a three game series and for the second time this season they failed to get it done. Things looked promising for a little while - the Birds took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third on a Pete Stanicek RBI double and Orioles starter Jose Bautista kept the Blue Jays scoreless until the sixth. But a leadoff double in the sixth by Fred McGriff followed by a single by Kelly Gruber chased Bautista from the game and while relief pitcher Dave Schmidt got Ernie Whitt to ground into a double play, McGriff scored the tying run.
The Jays took the lead in the seventh. Manny Lee and Tony Fernandez hit back to back singles to start the frame and after Lloyd Moseby flew out Rance Mulliniks singled, bringing in Lee and moving Fernandez to third. Mulliniks stole second during McGriff's at bat but Schmidt struck out the slugging first baseman for the second out. It looked like the O's would get out of the inning without further damage when Gruber hit a ground ball to Bill Ripken at second but Ripken threw the ball away, allowing both Fernandez and Mulliniks to score. Gruber then got thrown out trying to steal second and the inning was mercifully over but the Jays now had a 4-1 lead.
Those two unearned runs would loom large as the Orioles rallied in the bottom of the ninth. With one out Rick Schu singled and two batters later Larry Sheets also singled, bringing the tying run to the plate in the person of Joe Orsulak. The Jays brought closer Tom Henke in and Orsulak greeted him with a single bringing Schu in with the Birds' second run. Cal Ripken now represented the winning run at the plate but Henke got him to ground out to end the game.
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Tuesday June 28 vs the Blue Jays
Opponent: Toronto Blue Jays
Outcome: W
Score: 7-0
Streak: W2
Record: 22-54
Rank: 7th
GB: 25
Outcome: W
Score: 7-0
Streak: W2
Record: 22-54
Rank: 7th
GB: 25
This game was maybe a little tighter than the final score would lead you to believe. The Orioles got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the third on a Fred Lynn solo home run and a Larry Sheets sacrifice fly. But for a while that was all the runs they had. Meanwhile Jay Tibbs was pitching for the Orioles and he was doing OK until he loaded the bases with two out in the top of the sixth with two walks and single. Mark Thurmond came on in relief to get the third out of the inning and end Toronto's most serious threat of the evening.
The Orioles blew the game open in the seventh. With one out Bill Ripken doubled and Pete Stanicek walked. Toronto manager Jimy Williams went to the bullpen and brought in David Wells to replace starter Jim Clancy. Lynn then doubled to clear the bases. Wells intentionally walked Cal Ripken to set up a force play on Eddie Murray. But Murray made Toronto pay by launching a three run home run, his eleventh homer of the year. That made the score 7-0 and that's how it ended.
This was only the second shutout victory the Orioles had had this season and the first one since their opening losing streak busting win against the White Sox almost two months to the day earlier.
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Monday June 27 vs the Blue Jays
Opponent: Toronto Blue Jays
Outcome: W
Score: 6-2
Streak: W1
Record: 21-54
Rank: 7th
GB: 25
Outcome: W
Score: 6-2
Streak: W1
Record: 21-54
Rank: 7th
GB: 25
The Orioles returned home on this day after a week on the road for a quick three game set against Toronto before heading back on the road to Texas and Chicago. For some reason this was not a "Three Buck Night" - it was the only Monday home game other than Opening Day and Labor Day that was not.
The Orioles had scored in the first inning of their previous five games but that streak came to end tonight. They did score early and somewhat often however. Jim Traber had a solo home run in the bottom of the second to kick off the scoring and Cal Ripken had a two RBI single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the third to put the Birds up 3-0. Another solo home run - this time by Rick Schu in the bottom of the fourth - made it 4-0.
Toronto finally got to Orioles starter Jeff Ballard in the seventh inning. With one out a single by Pat Borders and a walk to Fred McGriff set up an RBI single by Manny Lee. But the one run was all they got.
The Orioles got that run back along with one more in the bottom of the inning. With one out Bill Ripken doubled and Blue Jays pitcher Todd Stottlemeyer intentionally walked Cal Ripken to set up the force. David Wells then came in to pitch to Eddie Murray who hit a ground ball to first baseman Fred McGriff who couldn't handle the ball. Murray was safe on McGriff's error and Bill Ripken came in to score. Cal moved to third on the play and was able to score on Mickey Tettleton's sacrifice fly. The score was now 6-1.
A Kelly Gruber solo home run in the eighth cut the Bird's lead to 6-2 but Toronto couldn't get it any closer.
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Sunday June 26 at the Red Sox
Opponent: Boston Red Sox
Outcome: L
Score: 1-10
Streak: L2
Record: 20-54
Rank: 7th
GB: 25
On the plus side today the Orioles scored first for the fifth consecutive game. On the minus side was the whole rest of the game.
We'll get the good stuff out of the way quickly. Fred Lynn hit a one out solo home run in the top of the first to put the Orioles up 1-0 but the Red Sox got a pair of two run home runs by Mike Greenwell and Jim Rice in the bottom of the inning to make it 4-1 Red Sox.
Leading off the bottom of the second Red Sox catcher Rick Cerone reached base on an error by Orioles short stop Cal Ripken. Cerone moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Spike Owen and to third on a ground out by Wade Boggs. After Marty Barrett walked Dwight Evans doubled to knock in both Cerone and Barrett. After Greenwell walked Orioles manager Frank Robinson went to the bullpen and replaced started Oswaldo Peraza with Mark Williamson. A passed ball moved the runners up a base and then Ellis Burks hit a single to bring in Evans. 7-1 Red Sox.
The Sox scored three more in the bottom of the fifth on a pair of RBI doubles by Cerone and Owen and an RBI ground out by Barrett. Meanwhile Mike Smithson was holding the Orioles to only four hits (along with five walks) as he pitched a complete game for the victory.
Outcome: L
Score: 1-10
Streak: L2
Record: 20-54
Rank: 7th
GB: 25
On the plus side today the Orioles scored first for the fifth consecutive game. On the minus side was the whole rest of the game.
We'll get the good stuff out of the way quickly. Fred Lynn hit a one out solo home run in the top of the first to put the Orioles up 1-0 but the Red Sox got a pair of two run home runs by Mike Greenwell and Jim Rice in the bottom of the inning to make it 4-1 Red Sox.
Leading off the bottom of the second Red Sox catcher Rick Cerone reached base on an error by Orioles short stop Cal Ripken. Cerone moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Spike Owen and to third on a ground out by Wade Boggs. After Marty Barrett walked Dwight Evans doubled to knock in both Cerone and Barrett. After Greenwell walked Orioles manager Frank Robinson went to the bullpen and replaced started Oswaldo Peraza with Mark Williamson. A passed ball moved the runners up a base and then Ellis Burks hit a single to bring in Evans. 7-1 Red Sox.
The Sox scored three more in the bottom of the fifth on a pair of RBI doubles by Cerone and Owen and an RBI ground out by Barrett. Meanwhile Mike Smithson was holding the Orioles to only four hits (along with five walks) as he pitched a complete game for the victory.
Monday, June 25, 2018
Saturday June 25 at the Red Sox
Opponent: Boston Red Sox
Outcome: L
Score: 3-10
Streak: L1
Record: 20-53
Rank: 7th
GB: 25
You wouldn't know it from the final score but this game was actually close until the bottom of the eighth. For the fourth game in row the Orioles got on the board in the top of the first. Pete Stanicek led off the game with a single and two batters later Cal Ripken hit a home run (his twelfth of the season) to put the Birds up 2-0.
The Red Sox came back in the bottom of the third. With one out Wade Boggs and Marty Barrett hit back to back singles and Dwight Evans followed with a ground rule double that scored Boggs. A Mike Greenwell sacrifice fly brought Barrett in to tie the game up and an Ellis Burks single brought Evans in with the go-ahead run.
But the lead was short lived as Eddie Murray led off the fourth inning with a solo home run, his tenth of the year. The score remained tied 3-3 through the next four innings.
It all fell apart for the Orioles in the bottom of the eighth. Mark Williamson came on in relief of Orioles starter Mike Boddicker and promptly loaded the bases by giving up back-to-back singles to Evans and Greenwell and a walk to Burks. Orioles manager Frank Robinson went back to the bullpen and brought Doug Sisk in to relieve Williamson. Jim Rice greeted Sisk with a single that scored Evans and Greenwell. After Todd Benzinger popped out for the first out of the inning, Rich Gedman singled to score Burks and move Kevin Romine (who had pinch run for Rice) to third. Spike Owen then walked to load the bases again. Boggs then singled to score Romine and Gedman but the Orioles got a break when Ken Gerhart threw out Owen trying to advance to third. Marty Barrett, the ninth man to bat in the inning, then hit a single. It looked like the Orioles were going to get out of the inning when Evans hit a grounder to Cal Ripken at short stop but Ripken booted the ball, allowing Evans to reach and reloading the bases for the third time in the inning. Greenwell hit his second single of the inning that knocked in Boggs and Barrett with two unearned runs. Finally Sisk got Burks to hit a ground ball to short stop that Cal fielded and threw to first in time to get the third out. But the Sox sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs on seven hits, two walks and an error. The score was now 10-3 in favor of the Red Sox and after the Orioles went quietly in the ninth that became the final score.
Outcome: L
Score: 3-10
Streak: L1
Record: 20-53
Rank: 7th
GB: 25
You wouldn't know it from the final score but this game was actually close until the bottom of the eighth. For the fourth game in row the Orioles got on the board in the top of the first. Pete Stanicek led off the game with a single and two batters later Cal Ripken hit a home run (his twelfth of the season) to put the Birds up 2-0.
The Red Sox came back in the bottom of the third. With one out Wade Boggs and Marty Barrett hit back to back singles and Dwight Evans followed with a ground rule double that scored Boggs. A Mike Greenwell sacrifice fly brought Barrett in to tie the game up and an Ellis Burks single brought Evans in with the go-ahead run.
But the lead was short lived as Eddie Murray led off the fourth inning with a solo home run, his tenth of the year. The score remained tied 3-3 through the next four innings.
It all fell apart for the Orioles in the bottom of the eighth. Mark Williamson came on in relief of Orioles starter Mike Boddicker and promptly loaded the bases by giving up back-to-back singles to Evans and Greenwell and a walk to Burks. Orioles manager Frank Robinson went back to the bullpen and brought Doug Sisk in to relieve Williamson. Jim Rice greeted Sisk with a single that scored Evans and Greenwell. After Todd Benzinger popped out for the first out of the inning, Rich Gedman singled to score Burks and move Kevin Romine (who had pinch run for Rice) to third. Spike Owen then walked to load the bases again. Boggs then singled to score Romine and Gedman but the Orioles got a break when Ken Gerhart threw out Owen trying to advance to third. Marty Barrett, the ninth man to bat in the inning, then hit a single. It looked like the Orioles were going to get out of the inning when Evans hit a grounder to Cal Ripken at short stop but Ripken booted the ball, allowing Evans to reach and reloading the bases for the third time in the inning. Greenwell hit his second single of the inning that knocked in Boggs and Barrett with two unearned runs. Finally Sisk got Burks to hit a ground ball to short stop that Cal fielded and threw to first in time to get the third out. But the Sox sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs on seven hits, two walks and an error. The score was now 10-3 in favor of the Red Sox and after the Orioles went quietly in the ninth that became the final score.
Sunday, June 24, 2018
Friday June 24 at the Red Sox
Opponent: Boston Red Sox
Outcome: W
Score: 6-2
Streak: W1
Record: 20-52
Rank: 7th
GB: 24
Five days after getting shutout by Roger Clemens and the Red Sox in Baltimore, the Orioles faced him again in the first game of a three game series at Fenway Park in Boston. This time however he wasn't effective at all.
He started out strong by striking out the first two Orioles he faced - Ken Gerhart and Fred Lynn. But then he walked Cal Ripken and gave up an RBI double to Eddie Murray. Jim Traber followed with single but Mike Greenwell threw out Murray at the plate from left field to get the Red Sox out of the inning.
Two innings later though the Orioles got to Clemens. He struck out Gerhart to start the inning but a double by Lynn, a walk to Cal Ripken and a single by Murray loaded up the bases. Traber and Larry Sheets then hit back-to-back two RBI doubles to knock Clemens out of the game, his earliest exit of the season. Relief pitcher Wes Gardner's first pitch to Terry Kennedy got by catcher Rich Gedman and Sheets moved to third on the passed ball. He (Sheets) then scored on a sacrifice fly by Kennedy to make the score 6-0.
Meanwhile the Red Sox weren't able to get much going against Orioles starter Jose Bautista. A two run home run by Mike Greenwell in the bottom of the fourth got the Red Sox on the board but that was all the runs they got. Bautista combined with Dave Schmidt and Tom Neidenfuer to hold Boston to only seven hits and two walks.
Outcome: W
Score: 6-2
Streak: W1
Record: 20-52
Rank: 7th
GB: 24
Five days after getting shutout by Roger Clemens and the Red Sox in Baltimore, the Orioles faced him again in the first game of a three game series at Fenway Park in Boston. This time however he wasn't effective at all.
He started out strong by striking out the first two Orioles he faced - Ken Gerhart and Fred Lynn. But then he walked Cal Ripken and gave up an RBI double to Eddie Murray. Jim Traber followed with single but Mike Greenwell threw out Murray at the plate from left field to get the Red Sox out of the inning.
Two innings later though the Orioles got to Clemens. He struck out Gerhart to start the inning but a double by Lynn, a walk to Cal Ripken and a single by Murray loaded up the bases. Traber and Larry Sheets then hit back-to-back two RBI doubles to knock Clemens out of the game, his earliest exit of the season. Relief pitcher Wes Gardner's first pitch to Terry Kennedy got by catcher Rich Gedman and Sheets moved to third on the passed ball. He (Sheets) then scored on a sacrifice fly by Kennedy to make the score 6-0.
Meanwhile the Red Sox weren't able to get much going against Orioles starter Jose Bautista. A two run home run by Mike Greenwell in the bottom of the fourth got the Red Sox on the board but that was all the runs they got. Bautista combined with Dave Schmidt and Tom Neidenfuer to hold Boston to only seven hits and two walks.
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