Who stood out in the Orioles’ 9-7 win over the Boston Red Sox on Monday afternoon?
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 sixth game of the 2016 season.
1st — Chris Davis was the hero after clobbering a 97 mph fastball from Boston closer Craig Kimbrel over the center-field wall for a long three-run shot in the top of the ninth. According to ESPN, it was Davis’ eighth go-ahead homer in the ninth inning or later since 2013, the most in the majors over that time. That blast wasn’t his only contribution, however, as he muscled a 1-2 changeup from Red Sox starter David Price over the infield for a two-run single in the third to get the Orioles on the scoreboard in response to an early 3-0 deficit. Davis also made several fine defensive plays at first base, something that was mentioned by manager Buck Showalter after the game.
2nd — Mark Trumbo didn’t have an easy day defensively moving over to play left field in front of the Green Monster, but his long three-run homer to right-center off Price gave the Orioles the lead in the third and was his first hit of the year that wasn’t a single. Despite the Orioles being the 30-year-old’s fourth club in the last four years, there’s no disputing his power potential and he showed it on Monday.
3rd — Mychal Givens was strong in his 1 1/3 innings, striking out four batters and escaping trouble created by T.J. McFarland in the sixth. Making his performance more impressive was that he did it against the top of the Boston order, striking out the likes of Mookie Betts, Dustin Pedroia, and Xander Bogaerts. Givens has struck out six batters in 2 1/3 innings over the last two games.
Home — Manny Machado collected his third multi-hit game of the year and scored two runs in the victory. … Jonathan Schoop hit his club-leading fourth double of the season to temporarily give the Orioles a 6-5 lead in the sixth, but he was later doubled off second base to end the inning. … Joey Rickard singled and drew the first walk of his career and has now earned a hit in all six games on the season. … Despite striking out 15 times, the Baltimore lineup drew a combined four walks against Price and Kimbrel and scored eight runs against the All-Star pitchers. … Yovani Gallardo failed to go more than five innings for the second straight time. … The Orioles are off to the best start in club history with a 6-0 record. … Mike Wright will make his season debut on Tuesday night against Red Sox veteran Clay Buchholz.
