Matt Wieters (center) receives congratulations from Nick Markakis and Robert Andino (right) after hitting a three-run homer in the eighth inning. Wieters went 3-for-4 with a career-high five RBIs, and the Orioles rallied from a five-run deficit to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays, 10-5. (Baltimore Sun photo by Kenneth K. Lam / September 15, 2009) |
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His every move is no longer scrutinized as it was 3 1/2 months ago when Orioles catcher Matt Wieters made his much-anticipated big league debut before a packed house and enormous expectations. But there remains plenty of attention on Wieters, and there are a slew of questions that his rookie season has left unanswered.
Wieters fueled a five-run comeback Tuesday with a go-ahead two-run single in the fifth, and he eliminated any lingering drama with a three-run homer in the eighth as the Orioles secured a 10-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in front of an announced 11,575 at Camden Yards.
"It always feels good to drive in runs, and anytime you can get some two-out hits," Wieters said after the Orioles roughed up American League Rookie of the Year candidate Jeff Niemann for six earned runs and 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings. "We saw one get away from us when we got up early [Monday], so we wanted to come back and get one tonight."
The Orioles, who trailed 4-0 after the first inning and 5-0 after the top of the third, scored the game's final 10 runs in their largest comeback since they erased a nine-run deficit to beat the Boston Red Sox on June 30, the biggest in-game turnaround in franchise history.
While this one wasn't nearly as dramatic, it had its moments, from starter Jason Berken stabilizing after he allowed four runs before throwing his 15th pitch, to Brian Roberts setting a franchise record with his 52nd double.
But as it has been all year, the focus was on Wieters, who went 3-for-4 and drove in a career-high five runs. It marked the second time all season the rookie catcher had had two extra-base hits in a game; the first was May 30, his second major league game. He had only seven extra-base hits in his previous 36 games.
Batting left-handed in the eighth inning, Wieters launched former Oriole Chad Bradford's 1-1 pitch onto the right-field flag court for his sixth home run and the first that didn't go to the opposite field. The three-run shot put an exclamation point on the most productive game of his young career.
"Certainly, he's the most hyped rookie I've ever been around," Roberts said. "I think that just wore on him. There's a lot of pressure, and it's hard enough up here without having to deal with that when you're the new guy, you're trying to learn the league, you're trying to catch. I think it was a little unfair, the expectations early on, and now he's finally started to get comfortable. He's seen a lot of the pitchers before now, and that helps. He's really starting to play well."
Roberts also downplayed his latest achievements. His third-inning double also gave him 74 RBIs for the season, his career high.
"It's something that when it's all said and done and I'm old and I have my grandkids sitting on my knee, I might look back and enjoy it," Roberts said of his doubles mark. "But right now, it's just kind of try to play games and help these young guys along and get us ready for next year."
Berken, one of the young guys who Roberts referenced, turned in a gritty outing after looking like he was headed for an early shower. Berken allowed an RBI double to Ben Zobrist in the first inning, the seventh straight game in which an Orioles starter has surrendered a first-inning run. Pat Burrell followed Zobrist's hit with a three-run homer that hit off the grounds crew shed and bounced into the right-field seats.
"For whatever reason, all year it's been the first inning that's killed me," Berken said. "I've tried a lot of things to try to fix that, but struggling in the first and being able to pitch deep into the game is something that's good. The offense had a great night tonight and was able to pick me up."
Berken gave up another run in the third inning, but then allowed just one more hit until he was taken out in the seventh after a one-out walk to Dioner Navarro. Berken (5-11) won his third straight decision and is undefeated in his past four starts, no small feat for a pitcher who lost nine stra ight decisions after winning his major league debut.
"Berken has a lot of grit to him," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "He doesn't go the other way. I think the tougher the challenges for him, the better he meets them."
The challenge was also a difficult one for the Orioles' offense against Niemann, who hadn't lost since June 26. But trailing by five runs, the Orioles chipped away with two runs in the third, one in the fourth and three in the decisive fifth.
Luke Scott hit a solo homer in the seventh, and Wieters had the three-run shot in the eighth. The Orioles totaled 16 hits, with every starter notching at least one and seven of their nine starters scoring.
"I think progress should be duly noted, for what the guys did tonight," Trembley said. "That could have been very easily … maybe give some at-bats away and say, 'Hey, we'll get them tomorrow.' But there was a sense of, 'Hey, let's get back in this thing,
Wieters fueled a five-run comeback Tuesday with a go-ahead two-run single in the fifth, and he eliminated any lingering drama with a three-run homer in the eighth as the Orioles secured a 10-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in front of an announced 11,575 at Camden Yards.
"It always feels good to drive in runs, and anytime you can get some two-out hits," Wieters said after the Orioles roughed up American League Rookie of the Year candidate Jeff Niemann for six earned runs and 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings. "We saw one get away from us when we got up early [Monday], so we wanted to come back and get one tonight."
The Orioles, who trailed 4-0 after the first inning and 5-0 after the top of the third, scored the game's final 10 runs in their largest comeback since they erased a nine-run deficit to beat the Boston Red Sox on June 30, the biggest in-game turnaround in franchise history.
While this one wasn't nearly as dramatic, it had its moments, from starter Jason Berken stabilizing after he allowed four runs before throwing his 15th pitch, to Brian Roberts setting a franchise record with his 52nd double.
But as it has been all year, the focus was on Wieters, who went 3-for-4 and drove in a career-high five runs. It marked the second time all season the rookie catcher had had two extra-base hits in a game; the first was May 30, his second major league game. He had only seven extra-base hits in his previous 36 games.
Batting left-handed in the eighth inning, Wieters launched former Oriole Chad Bradford's 1-1 pitch onto the right-field flag court for his sixth home run and the first that didn't go to the opposite field. The three-run shot put an exclamation point on the most productive game of his young career.
"Certainly, he's the most hyped rookie I've ever been around," Roberts said. "I think that just wore on him. There's a lot of pressure, and it's hard enough up here without having to deal with that when you're the new guy, you're trying to learn the league, you're trying to catch. I think it was a little unfair, the expectations early on, and now he's finally started to get comfortable. He's seen a lot of the pitchers before now, and that helps. He's really starting to play well."
Roberts also downplayed his latest achievements. His third-inning double also gave him 74 RBIs for the season, his career high.
"It's something that when it's all said and done and I'm old and I have my grandkids sitting on my knee, I might look back and enjoy it," Roberts said of his doubles mark. "But right now, it's just kind of try to play games and help these young guys along and get us ready for next year."
Berken, one of the young guys who Roberts referenced, turned in a gritty outing after looking like he was headed for an early shower. Berken allowed an RBI double to Ben Zobrist in the first inning, the seventh straight game in which an Orioles starter has surrendered a first-inning run. Pat Burrell followed Zobrist's hit with a three-run homer that hit off the grounds crew shed and bounced into the right-field seats.
"For whatever reason, all year it's been the first inning that's killed me," Berken said. "I've tried a lot of things to try to fix that, but struggling in the first and being able to pitch deep into the game is something that's good. The offense had a great night tonight and was able to pick me up."
Berken gave up another run in the third inning, but then allowed just one more hit until he was taken out in the seventh after a one-out walk to Dioner Navarro. Berken (5-11) won his third straight decision and is undefeated in his past four starts, no small feat for a pitcher who lost nine stra ight decisions after winning his major league debut.
"Berken has a lot of grit to him," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "He doesn't go the other way. I think the tougher the challenges for him, the better he meets them."
The challenge was also a difficult one for the Orioles' offense against Niemann, who hadn't lost since June 26. But trailing by five runs, the Orioles chipped away with two runs in the third, one in the fourth and three in the decisive fifth.
Luke Scott hit a solo homer in the seventh, and Wieters had the three-run shot in the eighth. The Orioles totaled 16 hits, with every starter notching at least one and seven of their nine starters scoring.
"I think progress should be duly noted, for what the guys did tonight," Trembley said. "That could have been very easily … maybe give some at-bats away and say, 'Hey, we'll get them tomorrow.' But there was a sense of, 'Hey, let's get back in this thing,
On the double
Brian Roberts broke his club record for doubles in a season Tuesday night against the Rays. Here are the Orioles' single-season doubles leaders:| Player | Doubles | Year |
| Brian Roberts | 52 | 2009 |
| Brian Roberts | 51 | 2008 |
| Brian Roberts | 50 | 2005 |
| Miguel Tejada | 50 | 2005 |
| Aubrey Huff | 48 | 2008 |
| Nick Markakis | 48 | 2008 |
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I think this game should end any speculation regarding Dave Trembley's job. This late in the season and for a team this far out of it, almost all such teams would have written the game off; but the O's worked at it, never gave in, and came out on top with a good win. I credit Trembley for instilling that attitude.
There's no question in my mind he's doing a good job with the talent he has, bringing it along as well as he can. Sure, people can and will complain about moves he makes that don't work out, but name one manager who isn't in that boat. I think Trembley naysayers will fade into the woodwork when the O's get more help as MacPhail is in the process of doing, let the young talent mature, and start winning. Then, Trembley will be as regarded as highly as Joe Maddon was last year - and I don't think anyone is calling Joe a genius this year, are they? A manager's record is only as good as his players play; but if he keeps the team playing hard, he's doing his job well.
Gekabee (09/16/2009, 11:19 AM )