Baseball is Back in Charm City

The Orioles gave their best last night, and they looked better than they have since 1996, but it still wasn't enough to get past the Yankee's head games. The home team started strong, with a 3-0 lead, which was quickly reversed into a 3-7 score by Satan's Servants before an extended and unexpected rain delay shut down play for nearly an hour. Although I have no definitive proof of any foul play with the weather, I wouldn't put it past Hell's Minions to have sacrificed a few virgins to the rain gods as part of their Operation Exhaustion. The Yankees didn't outplay the Orioles; they just outlasted them.

But a little rain wasn't enough to dampen the O's spirits, and they came back roaring in the sixth to run through the line up and rack up 6 more runs, bringing the score to 9-7. The visitors still have a few tricks up their sleeves, though, and, well, the Yankees have never let a little thing like sportsmanship get in the way of winning a game. They hemmed and hawed and stalled and switched pitchers four times in one inning in an effort to tire out the Orioles and the fans. As the clock ticked over to midnight, the stadium emptied and the O's energy waned, giving the Yankees, who are obviously dowsing their Gatorade with some illegal substance, just the advantage they needed to move ahead and end the game with a 9-12 win and a guilty conscience (if such evil beings even have a conscience).

Despite the loss, last night's game was one of the best we've had in Baltimore in a long time. The Orioles showed a can-do fighting spirit that's been missing for the past eight years, and the fans rallied 'round the home team with more vigor than I've seen in about as much time. The pitching staff needs some reinforcement (perhaps we can entice Mussina back from the Dark Side?) to support an outstanding batting and fielding team. Unfortunately, the Yankees terrorist psych ops worked, and the O's ran out of energy and pitches by the seventh inning.

It's only just May, though, and the Yankees better watch their backs. We’re coming.