WATERCOOLER CHAT: ORIOLES AND NATIONALS NOT DEAD YET, A’S SEASON COMES TO END
BASEBALL
It was do or die for the Orioles. Either they force a game 5 by beating the Yankees in New York, or they go home and kiss a miraculous season goodbye.  This game was easily a pitcher’s duel between the Orioles Joe Saunders (experienced in pressure situations as he won the one game bout against the Rangers) and the Yankees Phil Hughes. Thing is, the bats for both sides were practically dead. It was a 1-1 tie for most of the second half, and would require 13 innings to decide a winner. Then, in the top of the 13th, the Orioles Manny Machado hit a beautiful double, then J.J. Hardy knocked in the RBI to give the O’s the lead. The Yankees couldn’t do anything in their half of the inning, and the Orioles held on for an exciting Game 5. Baltimore 2, NY Yankees 1.
Elsewhere in baseball, the Washington Nationals were in the same position against the St. Louis Cardinals. Do or die. Thing is, the Nationals had the advantage of a home game. This one was a pitcher’s duel as well. Each side only gave up 3 hits, but then, in the bottom of the ninth, the Nationals got a home run from Jayson Werth to give the Nationals a win and tie up the series. Even though the Nats will have a Game 5 at home, it’s no guarantee, as the Cards have been red hot lately, and, after all, they are the defending champions. So that gives us two Game 5’s to look forward to today. The Maryland/Washington D.C. area sure has a lot to root for. Washington 2, St. Louis 1.
And in Oakland, the Athletics actually had their chance to make a comeback against the Tigers (just as the Giants came back from a 2 game deficit to beat the Cincy Reds yesterday). The A’s had an amazing performance on Wednesday night to force the game 5, but when that actual game 5 came, they were non-existent. It’s as if they didn’t even show up. Then again, they had to face, arguably, the best pitcher in the league in Jason Verlander. He kept the A’s whisper quiet. Then, in the 7th inning, the Tigers went on a tear, turning their 2-run lead into a 6-run lead. That was too much of a deficit for the Athletics to overcome, and their awesome season comes to an end. Detroit 6, Oakland 0
