If anyone doesn't understand the good feelings the Orioles have about the close games they played so far this season, they only need to look back to the results of the American League high 44 one-run games they played in 2007.
The Orioles were a dismal 13-31 in those games that were close enough to go either way. And, if they could have reversed 15 of the 31 losses they would have had their first .500 record since 1997. But they didn't get the run or two needed to do that. On Friday, they were engaged in a 1-1 tie through five innings against the Yankees before erupting for their highest scoring inning of the season. The seven runs they scored were more typical of how the team has responded to close games this season.
In six one-run games this season, the Orioles are 5-1 and, just as amazing, that they have come from behind to win two games in the ninth or 10th innings.
"It shows we're not going to give up and we're not going to give in. You can't let anybody tell you that you can't do it," manager Dave Trembley said after Thursday's come-from-behind 6-5 win." You've got to find a way to do it and find a way to get it done. It takes an effort from everybody on the ball club.
"We're going to do whatever we can to put our guys in position. I've got confidence in them. We may be outmanned from the standpoint of position players, but we're certainly not going to back down," the skipper added. "It's pitching, defense and timely hitting in that order and we got it."
ORIOLES 8, YANKEES 2: Seven runs in the sixth inning broke open a 1-1 deadlock Friday as Nick Markakis had two hits in the uprising, while Luke Scott, Adam Jones, Jay Payton and Melvin Mora also had hits in the inning that sent Yankees' starter Phillip Hughes to the shower. Daniel Cabrera enjoyed his best outing and first win after three no-decisions in the young season, as he allowed one run before the game-breaking rally and another on a home run to the first batter after the long inning.
