Joe Saunders take Baltimore Orioles to playoffs – MLB News
Joe Saunders displayed some top quality throwing skills to help Baltimore Orioles outclass the Texas Rangers 5-1 at Rangers ballpark in Arlington, Texas in the American League Wild Card game.
Credit should be given to Saunders for executing his game plan to perfection under pressure. Using his fastballs and slider efficiently, Orioles’ starting pitchers created all sorts of problems for the Rangers’ batting line-up.
With home conditions working in their favour, Rangers were the favourites to emerge victorious but that did not turn out to be the case as Orioles’ pitching rotation proved too hot to handle for them.
Saunders led from the front, giving up just six hits and one run in five plus innings to grab his first win of the postseason. Relief pitchers Darren O’Day took over from Saunders to toss up two scoreless innings. Brian Matusz and Jim Johnson combined to
pitch 1.1 shut-out innings to help Orioles hold on to their four run lead.
"Real proud of everybody. Tacking on runs were big, knew they were going to run at you," Showalter said. "But just a real proud moment for us.”
Showalter added, "Our guys approached it and we talked about it being sudden life instead of sudden death, and we played that way. You've got to seize the opportunity. We don't get many."
"Our main job tonight was be as calm as we could and not try to do too much," Saunders said. "I think we did that to the best. We just clawed and scratched our way to a couple runs, and played great defense."
For the Rangers, Yu Darvish paid the ultimate price for his errors on the mound as he allowed five hits and three runs in 6.2 innings to take the loss. Relief pitcher Joe Nathan was also hit hard, conceding two runs in the ninth.
J.J. Hardy and Adam Jones made the most of available opportunities early on to put Orioles 2-1 ahead. Nat McLouth had an excellent game with the bat as he drove in crucial runs in the seventh and ninth to help Orioles secure a comfortable victory.
The Orioles will be very excited as they proved the critics wrong and are now in the playoffs possibly heading for a World Series title.
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