Adam Jones crushed a 1st pitch fastball from Fernando Rodney into the left field seats to propel the Orioles to a 3-2 11th inning win on Opening Day.
The Orioles initially took the lead when Caleb Joseph lined a two-out two-run triple in the 7th inning to give the Orioles a 2-0 lead. Starter Dylan Bundy tossed seven shutout innings in a masterful performance and Darren O’Day pitched a perfect 8th but, Brad Brach came on and blew the save allowing the Twins to score two runs in top of 9th before being replaced by Mychal Givens.
Richard Bleier gets the win with a scoreless top of the 11th.
Co-Players of Game:
Caleb Joseph and Dylan Bundy
Starting Pitching:
– Dylan Bundy needed just 88 pitches (64 strikes) to get through seven innings, striking out seven and allowing just five hits and a walk. He used a 91-94 MPH fastball, a plus slider, and solid change along with a few curveballs. His slider was a go to out pitch.
Highlighted hitting moments:
– Batting second, Manny Machado roped the first pitch he saw of the season for a line drive double for the first Orioles hit of the season.
– After working count to 3-0, Jonathan Schoop swung through three straight up and in fastballs to strike out with Machado on 2nd.
– In 7th, Tim Beckham couldn’t move runner to 3rd with no outs when he struck out trying to pull outside pitches. Not a good approach or good team baseball.
– In 7th, after two batters failed to move the runner from 2nd to 3rd, Caleb Joseph lined a first pitch fastball to right center for a two-run triple to put O’s up 2-0. It was Joseph’s third triple of his career.
– In 10th inning with one out and base loaded, with the Twins playing without a left fielder, Schoop grounded into an inning ending 6-2-3 double play to end the threat.
– Obviously Jones walk off bomb in the bottom of 11th!
Highlighted pitching moments:
– In the 5th, Bundy struck out Brian Dozier with a runner on second on an 0-2 82 MPH hammer slider to end inning (5th K).
– In a strange side note, Twins reliever Zach Duke tied a major league record with four K’s in an inning, but is in line for the loss after allowing two runs.
– On his 34th pitch, Brad Brach allowed a two-run pinch single to blow the save. Brach threw just 18 strikes, walked two, and was hurt by a Chris Davis bobble that was horribly ruled a hit by the official scorer.
Highlighted defensive plays
– Craig Gentry made a nice long running catch in the first inning to keep Bundy’s first inning perfect.
– In 2nd inning Gentry robbed Eddie Rosario of a home run by racing back and reaching over the right-center wall for an amazing catch. He’s making Buck look a genius by starting him in right field.
– Machado first put out of the season as a SS was catching pop up in the shirt at 3B.
– Tim Beckham boots his first chance at 3B after the ball hits off the heal of his glove. Would have been tough play to make behind the bag so it was ruled a hit. This is his 6th major league start at 3B.
– Joe Mauer robbed Chris Davis of a hit in the 3rd inning with a diving play to his right on a rocket line drive.
– In 6th inning Beckam fielded a ball to his glove side, fired a rocket to Schoop who made a quick transition and fired a rocket to Davis at first for a 5-4-3 double play. Nice play by both.
– In 6th, Davis missed a ball under his glove but Schoop playing in the shift, fielded the ball by sliding, then fired a rocket to get the runner at first on a bang bang play. Bundy did a great job in covering.
– In 10th inning, Givens dove to his right and robbed Mauer of a potential base hit up the middle. Guess those days as a shortstop come in handy sometimes.
– In the top of the 11th, with the tie run on 3rd, Beckam came running in on a slow hopper to third and tossed a cross body strike to first to end the threat.
