Reflection: The Orioles' sweep of the Salt Lake Bees was marked by dominant pitching in all the contests. Tyler Boykin and Victor Cervantes both pitched back-to-back complete game shutouts, the first time ever accomplished in the MLB. The Orioles used no relievers in the entire series against the Bees, also a first-time accomplishment. Orioles starters compiled a collective ERA of 1.00 during the sweep. The Orioles improved to 30-1, setting a record for fewest number of games to reach 30 wins.
Game 1: BAL 4 - SLB 3
WP: Cesar Ramos (6-0)
LP: Danny Vargas (1-4)
BAL Player of the Game: Cesar Ramos (9.0 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K)
SLB Player of the Game: Sergio Osornio (5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K)
Homers:
BAL: None
SLB: Jose Heredia (2), Johnny Farler (6)
Recap- Cesar Ramos's fine performance carried the Orioles to a win today, going the distance for a complete game to help out the Orioles' depleted bullpen. His only blip was the top of the 8th inning where he allowed back-to-back home runs to give Salt Lake the lead 3-2. Otherwise, he scattered 9 hits across nine innings, and his stuff looked sharp early on. The beginning of the game was rather quiet as both teams traded 0s in the first three innings. The first scoring occurred in the bottom of the fourth, where a Joe Miller triple sparked the offense for two runs. Fast forward to the bottom of the ninth, where the Orioles are down 3-4. A double and a single from Bobby Carmona and Tom Reinhardt put men on corners with no one out. The Jonathan Allen sacrifice fly in the next at bat tied the score at 3-3. Tom Reinhardt then got a rare steal of second base (just the 26th of his career), setting up the winning run as Chris Throne served up a bloop single for the walk-off. This was Chris Throne's second career walk-off hit.
Defensive Gem: Scott Kinsey preserved the ballgame for the O's, throwing out Bees CF Terry Dorantes at home in the 8th inning.
Game 2: BAL 11 - SLB 0
WP: Tyler Boykin (7-0)
LP: Nelson Quintero (2-5)
BAL Player of the Game: Tyler Boykin (9.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K)
SLB Player of the Game: Terry Dorantes (2-4)
Homers:
BAL: Buster Bigs 2 (9), Marcus Ferrell (6), Joe Miller (8), Scott Kinsey (3)
SLB: None
Recap- The Orioles had many highlights in today's thrashing of the Salt Lake Bees, winning 11-0. Tyler Boykin gave the Orioles their second consecutive complete game, giving up five hits and striking out four in the process. Buster Bigs, Marcus Ferrell, Joe Miller, and Scott Kinsey chipped in with homers. Eight Orioles reached base. Buster Bigs swiped two bags to complement his two-homer performance.
Game 3: BAL 5 - SLB 0
WP: Victor Cervantes (3-0)
LP: Jeff Gabardi (0-1)
BAL Player of the Game: Victor Cervantes (9.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K)
SLB Player of the Game: Frank Gunter (1-3, 2B)
Homers:
BAL: None
SLB: None
Recap- Victor Cervantes was stellar today as the Orioles won this contest against the Salt Lake Bees 5-0. Cervantes pitched a complete game shutout, allowing four hits and striking out five. However, it wasn't just Cervantes that gave the Orioles the win. A balanced attack by the hitters paved the way towards the Orioles' 30th win, led by Marcus Ferrell and Preston Ballard, who each had two hits apiece. All of the game's scoring occurred within the first three innings, with the highlight being Edgar Melendez's 2-run double in the bottom of the third. The Salt Lake Bees have not scored in 19 innings.
Transactions: No major transactions
Injury Report: Orioles usual starter at center field,
Miguel Cervantes was recently placed on the 60-day injured list with a severe hip strain. He is anticipated to return sometime in August or September. Orioles bullpen mainstay
John Pavel just began his rehab assignment for Triple A Irving, pitching one scoreless inning. He had been sidelined for the past 12 months with a torn flexor tendon. Here's to a hopefully smooth transition back into major league pitching!
Up next: The Orioles travel to Houston to play the Astros in Minute Maid Park. Houston has not been playing well recently, currently on a six game losing streak. They have a record of 13-20 and currently sit 4th in the AL West.
Miguel Cervantes
John Pavel