Buoyed by 7 scoreless innings from veteran Kevin Millwood, the Baltimore Orioles beat the Rays 2-0 in Tampa.
With the win, the O’s moved to 4-1 against Tampa for the month. Since the All-Star break, the Orioles are now 34 and 36 overall. If Baltimore can take 3 of 4 against Detroit, the O’s will have played .500 baseball for the last 46% of the season.
I felt good for Millwood tonight. The odds are pretty strong that he was making his last appearance as an Oriole. Tampa takes a lot of pitches, and they also have hitters that expand the zone. Millwood exploited the high strike-zone being called by home-plate Umpire Angel Hernandez. In the bottom of the 7th, Millwood took the mound being staked to the 2-run lead. When he walked Zobrist to start the inning, I had images of the game coming apart. Of course it progressed to a two-out bases loaded situation, with B.J. Upton at the plate. Consciously you know Millwood had to be aware this was going to be the last hitter he faced (and would face in an Oriole uniform) and he was able to get the strike-out.
I would think that if Millwood wants to continue playing in 2011, someone will give him a look. If he decides to call it a career, he should feel good about how he earned his fourth 2010 win, and the professionalism he showed this season.
Two other Oriole players who should feel good tonight are Felix Pie, and Koji Uehara. Pie knocked in the O’s two runs, with his triple in the 7th. He fell behind in count against Niemann, but was able to battle before getting a pitch to hit.
For the second-time in the series, Uehara was just outstanding in the 9th. Uehara earned his 11th save on the year, striking out Crawford swinging, and Johnson looking to end the game.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.