The 2014 Orioles season ended bitterly.
Getting swept in the ALCS was not the plan. It sucked. It took awhile
to shake off. But you know what, the 2014 season was awesome. The
team overcame many injuries to star players and ran away with the
division. There were so many great moments from the season. So to
feel good about what was a great season I am gonna make a list of my
10 favorite moments from this year ( and making it just 10 wasn't
easy,a lot of awesome stuff happened). This list will be in
chronological order,so from opening day till the end of the season.
So here we go,my ten favorite moments from 2014.
Opening Day.
Nelson Cruz welcome to Baltimore!!
Nelly would launch a homer that would help the Os to an 2-1 opening
day win over the hated RedSoxs. It was a sign of things to come from
the slugger, as Nelly had an all-star season, leading all of baseball
with 40 homers. The fun with Cruz started right away and would only
keep getting better all year long.
4/8/14 @ Yankees.
The Orioles would end their first
series vs the evil Yankees facing their prized pitcher in Masahiro
Tanaka in his home debut. Tanaka was off to a great start and it
seemed no one could hit him. In steps Johnathan Schoop. Launching a 3
run homer to give the Os the lead in the second inning. It was a
moment that had me yelling and pumping my fist (Schoop would take him
deep again latter in the year as well,another awesome moment that
didn't make my list) , Tanaka would get a no decision,but the Os
proved they could beat him.
5/1/14 vs Pitt
Thanks to tones of rain all week this
day would be a double header. The Os would take game one. Game two
was supposed to be a big moment for one reason,it was the first game
of the year for Manny Machado. While that was great to see the game
wouldn't be all about Manny. Chris Tillman threw what seemed like a
million pitches in the first inning. The Pirates took a first inning
2-0 lead. The Orioles would battle back and tie the game. The game
went into extras. Matt Wieters would lead off the tenth inning,and he
would do it with a bang. Wieters hit a ball out to right field for
the walk off homer,ending a long long day of baseball and sending me
and all of birdland off to sleep vary happy.
6/23/14 vs White Soxs
This went from one of the most
frustrating games to one of the most awesome wins of the season. The
Orioles were facing the Soxs left handed ace in Chris Sale. With
Chris Davis struggling, he would not be in the starting lineup. The
Orioles had several scoring chances against Sale and failed over and
over. All the while the Soxs managed to take a 4-2 lead. Caleb Joseph
would hit a homer in the 8th to make it a one run game. In
the 9th the Os would get two runners on. And then in
stepped Chris Davis to pinch hit. Since he had been struggling who
knew what to expect. When Davis made contact I was screaming at my
TV,yelling for the ball to get out,while jumping up and down. When
the ball left the park I went nuts. I don't think I yelled so much at
any other moment of the season.
8/8/14 vs Cards
The Orioles would wear throwback
uniforms this night. They would crush six homers in a 12-2 win. But
the real moment came after the game. This night was the 60th
year celebration. And it was Omazing. All the former players that
were there. The amazing video package. I won't even try to lie about
it, I cried,a lot. It was just one of those special nights, a great
win and and even better show after.
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| Gif credit: baltimorsportsreport.com |
8/18/14 @ White Soxs
The Os were up 3-0 and Bud Norris
seemed to be in complete control. Then came the 7th
inning. The Soxs got two runs. And had another runner on. Conor
Gillaspie stepped to the plate. He launched a ball into right field.
I had my head down thinking crud there goes the lead. Then Nick
Markakis leaped in the air, crashed into the wall. And yes!! he had
caught the ball to take away a go ahead homer and end the inning. The
Os would then score 5 in the 8th and win easy. Nick's
catch saved the day. It was one of the best catches I have ever seen.
If he doesn't win the gold glove this year, just stop giving them
out.
8/25/14 vs Rays
Orioles win big 9-1. The reason I will
remember this game always is for Adam Jones. Evan Longoria hit a ball
to center field. And Adam Jones made a great catch to rob a homer.
And then if that wasn't enough, he threw a bullet into second base to
nail the runner trying to tag from first. Adam turning a homer into a
double play was just so much fun. And seeing how pumped AJ was made
it even better.
9/16/14 vs Jays
This is a moment we will all remember.
It had only been 17 years since the last time we could say the
Orioles were AL East champs. But this night it would happen. What to
pick from this game? Ubaldo Jimenez after a year full of
inconsistency picking up the win by retiring the final 10 batters he
faced ? The Steve Pearce homer to give the Os the lead in the first?
Nick Markakis face after the game ? The post game celebration with
the fans on the field? All of the above. The post game stuff will
never be deleted from this guys drv. Nick's face makes me smile every
time. Adam Jones pieing fans was so cool. Tears flowed. Every part of
that game I will cherish forever.
10/3/14 vs Tigers ALDS
Chen had ten horrible pitches. But the
Orioles kept fighting and waiting for the chance to get another crack
at the horrible Tigers bullpen. Down 6-3 in the 8th here
came the Tigers pen. Loading the bases and having giving up one run
already. Leading to Delmon Young pinch hitting. First pitch, left
field corner. One run scores, two runs score, JJ Hardy heading home,
and sliding in just safe!! I have watched it too many times to count.
Seeing Nelson Cruz rolling on the ground as JJ scored gets me every
time. Camden Yards went insane. It was a moment I don't think any of
us will ever forget.
10/5/14 @ Tigers ALDS
I wanted a sweep. I didn't want to let
the Tigers back in this series. Cruz hits a homer to give the Os a
2-0 lead. We move to the 9th. Zach Britton who was lights
out in the regular season comes in to nail the series down. He
promptly gives up back to back doubles to make it a one run game. I
was beyond nervous. I was in fact ready to puke. Buck walks out to
the mound, the Os walk Nick Castellanos intentionally, putting the go
ahead run on. Then Zach with his tremendous ability to get ground
balls got one, hit to Ryan Flaherty, 5-4-3. Double Play!! Os advance.
And we could all breath again.
It was a great year. It didn't end how
we wanted. But there were these ten moments, with countless others,
that made this one hell of a fun year. I can't wait to see what 2015
brings.
Matt Baggette @ mlb930
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