The Baltimore Orioles scored at least two runs in each of the first five innings Monday and did not stop there. They scored again late to blow away the Philadelphia Phillies 16-4. The Orioles pounded out 21 hits with five of them leaving the yard.
Playing Home Run Derby today for the Orioles were Chris Davis (2), Jimmy Paredes (1), Nolan Reimold (1), Steve Pearce (3), and Dariel Alvarez (2). Davis started the party with a three-run first-inning shot off Phillies ace Cole Hamels, and Baltimore never looked back. Davis had four RBI on the day. Paredes's and Reimold's home runs were each multi-run jobs as well.
Baltimore's first five innings saw them score 3, 2, 4, 2, and 2 runs. They also tacked on one run in the seventh (Alvarez's blast) and two more in the ninth (Henry Urrutia two-run single). By then, the game was well out of hand. Jayson Nix also drove in a run with a single in the third.
The Phillies scored single runs on each of four RBI singles coming off the bats of Ryan Howard and Grady Sizemore in the fourth, Cord Phelps in the fifth, and Russ Canzler in the eighth.
Miguel Gonzalez (W: 1-1, 4.00 ERA) was the beneficiary of the offensive explosion, allowing two earned runs on four hits in four innings. He walked none and struck out four.
Hamels (L: 0-1, 9.00) did not endear himself to scouts on hand who were most likey looking to possibly acquire him for their employers via trade. In all, Hamels lasted two innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out two. Still, one bad outing, especially in Spring Training, will not scare away scouts, managers, or general managers from going after a well-proven #1 or #2 starter.
The next three Phillies relievers allowed the other four home runs.
On Tuesday, the Phillies will regroup and host the Tampa Bay Rays while Baltimore plays host to the Minnesota Twins.