The Baltimore Orioles are atop the American League East Division with their best start in 46 years at 5-0. That 1970’s team went on to win 108 regular season games and finished as the World Series Champs.
On Sunday, the O’s continued their early season dominance as they swept the Tampa Rays 5-3, while extending their lead over the second place Boston Red Sox (3-2) and Yankees (3-2) to two games.
On Sunday the O’s Manny Machado finished 4 for 4, with a home run and two RBI’s. Their starter Vance Worley didn’t fare too well as he lasted only 4.2 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, with one walk and five strikeouts.
But Baltimore’s bullpen stepped up and shut down the Rays the rest of the game and Zach Britton, who saved 36 games in 2015, earned his second save on the season.
Their offense has gotten a major boost from the hot hitting Machado, with a .429 clip (9 for 21), with three home runs and a .455 OBP, to newcomer Mark Trumbo, batting .474 (9 for 19), with a .500 OBP, and rookie Joey Rickard, who is batting lead-off and hitting .444 (8 for 18), with a home run and a .400 OBP. Yet to get going is Chris Davis, as he is batting just .176 (3 for 17), with two home runs.
On the mound, their starters haven’t been lights out, but the bullpen has stepped in when needed to keep the offense off the board as all but two pitchers on the staff, have an ERA below 2.00. It’s still early but the signs look good to build on.
Baltimore has yet to hit the road, having won all their games at home, and now will face the biggest test as they travel on Monday to Boston to take on starter David Price, who won his first outing as a Red Sox, tossing six innings, allowing two runs on five hits, with two walks and 10 strike outs.
The battle for the AL East truly begins.
Side note:
The O’s could be 6-0 now, but their Saturday game with the Rays was postponed due to snow.
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