Orioles slugger Chris Davis breaks out with career-high 6 RBI night
BALTIMORE — Chris Davis finally had the night he has been working for.
The Baltimore Orioles first baseman had gone just 1-for-14 since his return from the disabled list entering Tuesday night, but he finally turned that around against the Texas Rangers by going 2-for-4 with two homers and a career-high six RBI.
“I didn’t know (I had a career high) until I actually went up for my last at-bat, and the good people at the ball park let me know by putting it on the jumbotron,” Davis said. “As a hitter any time that you’ve been working hard for a feeling or just working with one thing in mind, you like to see the result obviously.
“That’s not always the case, but I’ve been taking a lot of swings in the last couple of days, just trying to get my rhythm and timing back. (I) was able to get some good results tonight.”
Davis’ performance highlighted a 12-run outburst by the Orioles, as they defeated the Rangers 12-1.
For a half inning, though, it appeared that the Orioles were going to be dealing with more of the same.
Right fielder Shin-Soo Choo homered off right-hander Dylan Bundy on the second pitch of the game, and the Orioles had yet another hole to climb out of thanks to a pitching staff that is one spot shy of being the worst in the majors.
But as it turned out, that would be the last run the Rangers would score at Orioles Park at Camden Yards on Tuesday night, and the last inning that the Orioles would trail.
Orioles center fielder Adam Jones reached first on an error by Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre. Then third baseman Manny Machado managed to draw a walk before Jonathan Schoop doubled to score both.
Things went from bad to worse for Rangers right-hander Tyson Ross from there.
Davis homered on the next at-bat with some help from center fielder Carlos Gomez’s failed attempt to rob him at the wall, and Mark Trumbo singled to right before left fielder Trey Mancini sent another ball into the left-field seats.
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The Orioles were retired in their next three at-bats, but the damage had still been done. In the span of a half inning, a 1-0 deficit had turned into a 6-1 lead.
And while the Rangers managed to hold the Orioles scoreless for the next two innings, Baltimore still wasn’t done putting runs on the board.
With the bases loaded in the fourth, Davis put the nail in Ross’ coffin, homering to right-center field to give the Orioles a 10-run cushion.
“It’s a lot more fun when you’ve got guys on base,” Davis said. “Like I said, I was really proud of the way one through nine hit tonight all throughout the lineup.”
And while they would eventually add on two more for good measure, the Orioles pitching staff put together an uncharacteristic performance that rendered the run production virtually unnecessary. The Rangers managed to notch just five hits in nine innings, the Orioles only walked one and Bundy pitched a full six innings.
And with the Rangers trying to claw themselves into the wild-card race, Davis and the Orioles sure are a thorn in their side right now.