Battle of the Beltways: O's Take Game One

Nationals 1, Orioles 2 (in the 11th inning)

What a way to start out this series.  Did I say this was going to be a high scoring affair?  Well what I actually meant was a pitching dual.  Here's the recap:

Edwin Jackson and Jake Arrieta were both sharp tonight.  Jackson went pitched 8 and Arrieta went 7, each only gave up a run.  Matt Wieters has been struggling at the plate and that continued tonight, but he showed why he got a gold glove last year by throwing out 2 Nationals trying to steal, one of which was Harper.  So maybe don't try and steal next game guys cause its not going to work.

The big guns for the O's were responsible for the damage tonight with Jones driving in the first run and Markakis hitting the game winning homerun in the 11th inning.  Harper and Desmond had a nice nights at the plate, with Desmond scoring the only run for the Nats tonight with a homerun.  Zimmerman hasn't quite broken out of his slump, but he made a handful of ridiculous plays in the field to make up for his lack of offense.  Wish the rest of the team would hit.

The O's decided not to go with Jim Johnson in the bottom of the 11th for because he was "tired".  You know what else he is...perfect in save opportunities this season.  Instead Pedro Stroop came in to close and I'm being kind when I say he struggled his way to a save tonight.  The Nats had a real chance to steal a comeback win against him tonight.

The difference tonight was the bullpens.  The O's pen kept runs off the scoreboard and the Nat's relievers did not.  It was really that simple.  Tomorrow the Nats will try to even this series up behind Ross Detwiler.

Question:  In the post game presser with Davy Johnson he said Arrieta seemed to imply he might of been throwing spit balls (aka cheating).  He also sounded like he was going to cry for most of it.  Having not seen a Johnson press conference until now is that par for the course with him?