[July 08, 2014]WASHINGTON -- Chris Davis had
watched his average dip below .200 and he struck out for the 97th time
this season when he fanned in the ninth inning of a tie game.
But with one big swing of the bat, the Baltimore first baseman
opened the floodgates for the Orioles. His two-run homer broke a 2-2
tie in the top of the 11th and teammates J.J. Hardy and Manny
Machado, who had a career-high five hits, followed with homers as
the Orioles beat the Washington Nationals 8-2 in 11 innings Monday.
"I have to keep a good mindset. All you can (do) is work hard and
trust the results," said Davis, who entered the game with an average
of .201 but was hitless in four at-bats before he went deep. "I have
been doing everything I can to get here early and hit off the tee."
Davis was hitless in his last 12 at-bats before the home run against
Craig Stammen (0-4).
"I am really happy for Chris. He has been beating himself up pretty
good," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said of Davis' struggles at
the plate. "Tonight he had a big blow for us. I think he had some
good at-bats leading up to that (homer). You pull so hard for him.
And Manny had a big night."
Baltimore starting pitcher Chris Tillman was not involved in the
decision but allowed just two runs in seven innings. He helped to
save the Orioles bullpen, which took part in a doubleheader on
Saturday and a 12-inning win on Sunday in a series in Boston.
"It was awesome. He works his butt off. He has been struggling. He
came up with a big hit. He has been grinding away and he put a good
swing on a good pitch," Tillman said of Davis.
Hardy followed with his third homer of the year, off an 0-2 pitch
from Stammen, to give the Orioles a 5-2 lead. Right fielder Nick
Markakis added an RBI double, his third hit from the eighth inning
on, to make it 6-2 and chase Stammen.
"I just think he made some really close pitches on Davis, got to 3-2
and had to throw a strike, and he took advantage of it. And then the
ball to Hardy, just a breaking ball that stayed up a little bit,"
Washington manager Matt Williams said of Stammen.
Aaron Barrett came out of the bullpen and gave up a two-run homer
Machado. Baltimore is now 8-3 in extra-inning games. Washington fell
to 2-8 in extra-inning contests.
"You have specialty pitchers at the back of bullpens," Williams said
of the extra-inning woes. "With the exception of our last inning,
you could arguably say the same thing with our guys who came in for
three. They're just specialty pitchers so you can match up. I'm not
concerned about that. We had (an) opportunity to get it done in the
ninth and it didn't happen for us. Got to be prepared for tomorrow."
The Orioles (49-40) won for the eighth time in 11 games, while the
Nationals (48-40) lost for just the second time in nine games before
35,126 fans, many of them wearing the orange and black of the
Orioles.
"If it was a weekend series, it'd probably be even bigger. Of
course, people have to work. But it's great. It's a nice rivalry,"
Williams said.
Washington second baseman Anthony Rendon (two hits), one of the five
finalists for the last spot on the National League All-Star team,
smashed a two-run homer in the sixth against Tillman to tie the
score at 2.
Tillman was not involved in the decision. He yielded two runs and
five hits in seven innings. Reliever T.J. McFarland (2-2) pitched
two scoreless innings to earn the win.
Washington starter Stephen Strasburg, who also did not figure in the
decision, gave up two runs and four hits with nine strikeouts in
seven innings.
Baltimore left fielder Nelson Cruz had three hits, including a
two-run homer in the fourth. Cruz took over the major league lead
with his 28th homer of the season.
Washington catcher Wilson Ramos finished with two hits, extending
his hitting streak to 11 games.
NOTES: Washington OF Jayson Werth was named National League Player
of the Week after making a minor adjustment in his stance about a
week ago. He hit .450 in 20 at-bats with five doubles, two homers
and nine RBIs. ... Orioles OF Adam Jones and DH/1B Steve Pearce were
named co-American League Players of the Week. Jones hit .423 with
two homers in 26 at-bats while Pearce hit .333 with three homers.
... The scheduled starters for Tuesday are Baltimore RHP Bud Norris
(7-5, 3.62 ERA) and Washington RHP Doug Fister (7-2, 2.93). ...
Orioles RHP Kevin Gausman was sent to Triple-A Norfolk after he
started at Boston on Sunday against the Red Sox. The Orioles called
up RHP Julio DePaula, 31, who had a 0.00 ERA in three games for
Double-A Bowie. ... Washington first-year manager Matt Williams
played for Baltimore manager Buck Showalter for the Arizona
Diamondbacks from 1998-2000. "He was the most prepared manager I
ever played for," Williams said Monday. Said Showalter: "He has a
great sense of humor. I am excited for him. He has done it the right
way."
But with one big swing of the bat, the Baltimore first baseman
opened the floodgates for the Orioles. His two-run homer broke a 2-2
tie in the top of the 11th and teammates J.J. Hardy and Manny
Machado, who had a career-high five hits, followed with homers as
the Orioles beat the Washington Nationals 8-2 in 11 innings Monday.
