The Orioles finally got to play their regional rivals, the Washington Nationals, in a split four game series. The matchup began in Baltimore for two games and finished up in Washington with the final two games.
Game One: Orioles: 4, Nationals: 3
Dylan Bundy started for the Orioles and got back on track following his last start not being a very good one. Bundy went six innings allowing two runs on three hits while striking out and walking four batters.
The O’s got their scoring started in the bottom of the third with a Jonathan Schoop home run, tying the game up at 1-1 at that point.
In the next inning, Chris Davis would get an RBI double, scoring Manny Machado, tying the game up at 2-2. That was immediately followed by a Mark Trumbo two run home run, giving the Orioles their first lead of the game at 4-2.
Danny Espinosa hit a solo home run off of Mychal Givens in the seventh inning to make it a one run game but that would be all the Nationals would get.
Game Two: Orioles: 8, Nationals: 1
Trying to follow up Bundy’s performance, Kevin Gausman took to the mound and pitched just as well. Gausman went six innings allowing no runs on six hits while striking out and walking two batters.
Surprisingly enough, the Orioles scored seven of their runs not with home runs. The lone homer on the night for the O’s came from Chris Davis in the bottom of the eighth while the O’s were already up 7-1.
Adam Jones had an impressive night at the plate going 4-5 with one RBI and scoring one time while Matt Wieters went 2-4 with two RBI’s.
Game Three: Orioles: 10, Nationals: 8
Wade Miley got the start in this game was not all that bad, which is exactly what the O’s need from him. Miley went five innings allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out six and walking only one.
In the top of the eighth, Matt Wieters hit, what ended up being, a very crucial three run home run to give the Orioles a 10-3 lead at the time.
The reason that would be a very crucial homer is because in the bottom of the ninth, the Nationals made an effort at a comeback.
Facing rookie Parker Bridwell, in his second career game in the Majors, Daniel Murphy hit a grand slam, making it a 10-7 game which would lead to the O’s closer, Zach Britton, to be called upon.
After letting up back to back doubles to Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon, ending Britton’s scoreless streak, he would get Ryan Zimmerman to ground into a double play to end one of the more nail biting games of the season.
Game Four: Nationals: 4, Orioles: 0
Max Scherzer was absolutely on his game for the Nats, shutting down the O’s offense for eight innings while allowing only two hits and striking out 10 hitters on the night. That must be nice to see every fifth day.
For the O’s, Ubaldo Jimenez got a spot start due to Chris Tillman going on the disabled list and made the most of his opportunity. Jimenez went six innings allowing one run on five hits while striking out four and walking nobody. Yes, zero walks!
This was easily the most conservative of the four games in the series just because the rest had enough offense for them to be more competitive.
The Orioles will now head to New York to face the Yankees in a three game series. Yovani Gallardo will get the series started against Luis Cessa. Game two will feature Dylan Bundy against Chad Green with Kevin Gausman set to start game three with the Yankees starter not yet announced.
