Game 7: Orioles 5, Rangers 0
The Good:
- Zach Britton once again looked very good. He brought the sinker out more today (I think), throwing it more 88-90 than the 92-95 that his other fastball sits at (it looks like he might actually have three fastballs - a "four-seamer" that rides more, a "two-seamer" that tails more, and the "sinker" that drops more). It really fell off a table though. The slider and change both looked good - he threw a particularly nice back-door breaking-ball for a strike - though he used them only sparingly. While his control wasn't excellent, but three double plays helped him out and he generally cruised through the game. 14 groundballs to 3 flyballs is great to see as well. Final line; 7.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 K.
- Nick Markakis hit his first home run of the season, turning on a pitch ad sending it over the scoreboard. He can hit for more power if he does that a little more often.
- Mark Renolds also hit his first home run of the seaon, and later added a single.
- Luke Scott reached base all four times to the dish, singiling, walking twice, and getting hit by a pitch.
- More than two walks from the offense would have been nice. And Mark Reynolds bobbled a ball that would have been Britton's fourth double play of the day, getting only one out. Nit picks though.
The O's scored early, and Zach Britton made the lead feel safe all game. The win pulls the Birds into a tie for the best record in the majors (with Texas) at 6-1. Even though I don't think bringing Britton up this early was the right move - we could theoretically have an extra year watching this later, if we gave up three weeks now - but I'm certainly enjoying it.
