Snatching Defeat form the Jaws of Victory--but then Winning

A famous 1960's phrase about sports was the ability of a team to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Great teams could stage come-from-behind wins when the game appeared all but over. 

Steve Pearce hits Grand Slam
May 21, 2015

The tale of this season's Orioles, so far, has been just the opposite.

Yesterday's game--which saw two rain delays totaling 2 hours and 17 minutes, got off to a great start with an Orioles grand slam by Steve Pearce in the first inning. From there the Orioles proceed to spend the next 7 innings losing the lead and falling into a tie game which appeared headed for an extra innings loss.

That was the snatching defeat from the jaws of victory part.

But the Orioles persisted. 

On this day, the offense managed to create a timely run in the eighth inning and the closer successfully closed out the game for a win--but it was way too exciting and should not have required heroics to finally win the game and manufacture a much need run to gain a series win.

The Orioles are still two games below .500 ball and need to find pitching and hitting consistency along with reliable defense to begin to move ahead of the other contenders for the AL East crown.

It was a win--of that I'm happy, especially after being at the park for the uninspiring loss the night before. Hopefully, yesterday's win will inspire the team to begin playing better.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD