Who stood out in the Orioles’ 8-6 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in the nightcap of Saturday’s doubleheader?
In the spirit of hockey’s “three stars” system with the addition of home plate for honorable mentions and other notes, we go around the bases after the 74th game of the 2016 season.
1st — Adam Jones provided more than his share offensively with a solo homer in the fifth, the game-tying RBI single in the seventh, and a walk, but the center fielder made arguably the biggest play of the night with a diving catch in right-center to leave the bases loaded in the third. With Chris Tillman and the Orioles already trailing 4-0, Jones’ defensive gem prevented the game from getting out of hand and allowed manager Buck Showalter to squeeze two more innings out of Tillman and keep his bullpen in better shape. Jones has now hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games to raise his average to .254. He is now one homer shy of tying Brady Anderson (209) for sixth place on Baltimore’s all-time homer list.
2nd — Matt Wieters recorded his first multi-homer game since Sept. 16, 2012 as his two-run shot in the fourth shrank the deficit to one and his solo blast in the eighth provided some breathing room in the final inning. His first long ball was the third of the 2016 season to land on Eutaw Street and the second of his career to land there. Wieters is now sporting an .803 on-base plus slugging percentage in 2016.
3rd — Chris Davis homered into the Orioles bullpen in the sixth and provided the go-ahead RBI single to right in the seventh inning as Baltimore completed its 24th comeback victory of the season. The first baseman is now one homer shy of tying Frank Robinson (179) for ninth place on the Orioles’ all-time home run list.
Home — T.J. McFarland allowed three of the first four hitters to reach in the sixth inning, but the left-hander tossed two scoreless frames to record his second win of the season after being recalled to serve as the 26th player for the doubleheader on Saturday. He induced two of the three double plays turned by the Orioles defense, matching a season high. … Joey Rickard drove in the first Orioles run of the night and hit a leadoff double and scored the tying run in the seventh inning. … Zach Britton recorded his 23rd save in as many tries to begin the season. … Tillman matched a season high by allowing six earned runs and gave up a season-high 10 hits while registering a game score of 23, his lowest of the season. … The Orioles improved to a season-best 14 games above .500 and opened up a three-game lead in the American League East, their biggest since April 23. … Tyler Wilson takes the hill on Sunday with the Orioles aiming for their first ever four-game sweep against Tampa Bay, who will start left-hander Drew Smyly.
