Baltimore Orioles defeat Washington Nationals 2-1 to earn series sweep - MLB Update
The Baltimore Orioles romped to a 2-1 victory in the second straight game against the league rivals Washington Nationals at Oriole Park, Maryland on Sunday, May 22 to take a series sweep.
Washington, despite having an impressive performance from starter Jordan Zimmermann, could not gather a much needed win to balance the series at 1-1. Jordan held the Orioles to no-score in his first six innings and the club was enjoying a 1-0 lead.
However in the bottom of the seventh inning he gave away a costly two-run homer to the Oriole’s designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero that sent the Nationals down into a losing position.
"I tried to bounce a curveball and it just hung up a little bit. He got a big barrel on it," Zimmermann said. "He's a tough hitter to pitch to. You just have to mix it up. Throw balls in the dirt, throw high and in. You just have to pretty much mix it up
and hope for the best.”
After allowing a home run, the Nationals’ manager Jim Riggleman handed the ball to Tyler Clippard in place of Zimmermann, who threw six innings and allowed just four hits including a homer, walked just one and struck out five batters, but remained winless
for the fifth time in the season.
Guerrero, who launched his fifth homer of the season and has 19 RBIs with an average of .309 and a slugging average of .444, said through a translator, "I was looking for a good pitch to hit and just to make contact, and not for a home run. But I hit it
out."
The Orioles’ manager Buck Showalter appreciated Guerrero for taking the game back into their side.
Showalter said, "He walks through the door like he's playing his first game in Little League -- the zest he has. He doesn't give you that 'too cool to get excited about something.' He's genuinely excited about coming out and playing every day."
The Orioles’ starter, Chris Tillman also threw strong pitches to hold the Nationals scoreless in his first three innings. Tillman received his first run in the fourth inning when the Nationals’ Alex Cora scored an RBI single on the left side of the field
to take his club into a 1-0 lead.
After allowing this run, Tillman struck back in an impressive manner and tossed one more innings without allowing any run. He ended his spell after completing five innings in which he gave away six hits, two walks and took out four batters.
Relievers’ Jeremy Accardo, Jim Johnson, Koji Uehara and closer Kevin Gregg each tossed one scoreless inning to take their club to their 21st win of the season.
Tags: