Rapid Reaction: O's 4 Indians 0

In the first game of their double header, the Orioles displayed their dominant versatility in terms of pitching and hitting. Ubaldo Jimenez (W 7-3, 8 IP, 4 H, 7 K) easily pitched his best game of the year against a woeful Indians team that has lost six out of their last ten games. Offensively, the O's didn't score a multitude of runs, but they had big home run hits from Jimmy Paredes who hit a two run shit in the third (ninth homer of the year) and a clutch solo shot from the red hot Manny Machado (15th homer of the year).

What I liked:
Ubaldo seems to reaffirm that this is his year with every start he makes. While he may not be an ace (yet), he has clearly come into his own as a low strike zone assassin who can now throw strikes seemingly on command. Manny Machado continues to be a monster at the plate, and Jimmy Paredes continues to inflate his hitting and on base percentage with one well timed hit after another.

What I didn't like:
Bauer appeared to start off strong with two strong innings, especially during the second inning where he struck out the side. Although Bauer only gave up four runs through seven innings, it was four too many for a team that has struggled to manufacture runs this year. Worse still, Cleveland catcher Yan Gomes struggled to corral several wild albeit manageable pitches. It gave the O's easy scoring opportunities and ultimately shifted the momentum towards a Baltimore offense that has been relentless at the plate.

MVP: Ubaldo Jimenez, Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles

LVP: Yan Gomes, Catcher, Cleveland Indians