Breezy's Back!: Orioles 7, Royals 5.

So I decided to go again. Just when I think I'm out, they drag me back in. Or something to that effect. Actually, it was fistbumps reader Chris that convinced me to go. He conned me with the ability to sit in Section 14. And a ride home. So yeah, I couldn't pass it up.

I'm glad I didn't. It was a fantastic game, great seats, and Breezy finally got the save he should've had the last two nights.

I wasn't expecting a lot out of Radhames Liz tonight, but he delivered. Except in the first inning. In the first, after swiftly recording the first two outs, he grooved a fastball to Alex Gordon, who hit a ball that might, in fact, be still traveling. It hit (according to a report I got) somewhere in the middle of Eutaw St., where it took a bounce, hit off of the awning over the Warehouse Bar, then bounced back onto Eutaw. I'm guessing it traveled somewhere between 415 and 430 feet. Ouch. The ball cried. I heard it.

The O's got it back in the next half inning, though. Roberts walked (the theme for the night, as Hochevar was erratic), stole second, advanced to third on a Markakis grounder, then scored on a Huffnpuff single. Liz would strike out two of the three hitters he faced in the next inning, and then the O's would strike again. This time, Jones was hit by a pitch, which brought Brandon Fahey up to the plate. Brandon Fahey, with the 2 RBIs, no home runs in ever, and a .200 batting average. Surely, the inning was over, since Fahey is even more of a sure out than Bynum and Cintron are.

Yeah, then Fahey doubled to score Jones. Seriously? I've seen Jeremy Guthrie and Brandon Fahey double in back-to-back games that I've attended. I'm scared.

The O's would "break it open" in the third. Kakes started it off with a single. Huffnpuff grounded out, moving Kakes to second. Millar grounded to Aviles, who had no idea what to do with the ball. He tried to double Kakes up at second, but couldn't get him. By the time he threw to first, Millar was safe. Scott grounded to force Millar out at second. So with two outs, Mora managed to do something productive by drawing a walk. And then Ramon came up.

Now, a little back story for you. Before this game, I'd been to five games this year. Ramon has played in four of them. He's collected an RBI in all four games, including a game-winning hit against Pittsburgh. So I have an unnatural belief in Ramon's ability. With the bases loaded in the third, even with two outs, I called it.

And Ramon followed through by doubling in two runs. Jones followed it with a single that scored two. That pushed four runs across in the third, making the score 6-1. Yes, I didn't feel safe. After last night's 5-1 lead that we blew? Yeah, I wasn't falling asleep at the game tonight. It would've been really difficult, seeing as how I was at the game. But regardless, I didn't.

No runs scored until the 5th, when Mark Teahen hit a homer to center. 6-2. I felt more uneasy.

In the 6th, Gordon started things off with a double that almost went out. Yeah, he's a scary human being. He moved over on a sac fly, then scored on a sac fly. Liz would work out of the inning, and end his night. Liz' line was 6 innings pitched, 7 hits, 3 earned runs, 4 strike outs, 1 walk. That's a great night for him. I've seen him pitch twice now in person, and he was far more impressive today. Really, tonight might have been his most impressive start period.

Adam Loewen came in from there, making his first appearance since going on the DL waaaaaaaay back in April. And I have to say... Loewen was impressive. He pitched two solid innings, walked 1, struck out 1, and gave up two hits. But he never really seemed like he was going to unravel and lose the strike zone. And he wasn't serving up gopher balls, either. Well done.

At this point, though, it's 6-3. I'm still nervous. It's the 7th inning, and I'm thinking we seriously need an insurance run. So what does Brian Roberts do? Well, he hits it out to deep left field to make it 7-3. That's what Brian Roberts does. He fucking does everything.

Things got interesting in the 9th (SURPRISE!!!!). Sarfarte came in to relieve Loewen, and didn't really do a fantastic job of that. He walked Russ Gload (after nearly hitting him, which caused a nice long stare down from Gload), got Olivo to fly out, then walked Gathright to put two runners on and one out. And then?! What's that?! IT'S GEORGE SHERRILL'S MUSIC!!!! HE'S GOT A CHAIR!!!! OH GOD!!!

Breezy got Aviles to ground out for out number two. Unfortunately, Mark Grudzielaniek grounded a ball just past Roberts' outstretched glove to drive in two runs. That made it 7-5. Thank God for Brian Roberts.

Unfortunately, it made Alex Gordon come to the plate. And he was the tying run. And Breezy was pitching. Scared? Me.

And even more frightening... Sherrill got the count to two strikes. Yeah... sounding familiar? The crowd was on its feet. J.D. was on his feet.

Gordon fouled off two balls... and then he flailed at a slider down to end the game.

So even though it was interesting, Flat Breezy got the save he desperately needed. The Orioles got a win they desperately needed. And they made me happy. After all, isn't that what's most important?

Liz improved to 3-0. Hochevar (who's name the PA announcer pronounced at least 4 different ways through the game) took the loss to fall to 5-6. And Flat Breezy recorded his 27th save. Which means that he's on pace for close to 60. THAT would be a record.

More importantly, Ramon now has an RBI in five of the six games I've attended this season. And they've improved to 4-2 in those same games.

Makes me even more ready to buy my season tickets.