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Bob Haynie: The Orioles Need To Start Winning At Home

Orioles' Magic has been alive and well this week at Camden Yards. The Baltimore Orioles posted two dramatic wins over the Chicago White Sox to move to within 1.5 games of the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East.

On Tuesday night, struggling 1B Chris Davis hit a walk-off blast to lead the Birds to a 6-4 victory. Then, on Thursday night, Nelson Cruz's eighth-inning grand slam tied the game at 4-4 to bail out RHP Ubaldo Jimenez. The Orioles would win 5-4 on a wild pitch in the 12th inning to send Chicago out of town a disappointed club.

Taking two of three is not a bad way to start an 11-game home stand.

However, if the Orioles want to make 2014 a playoff season, they need to start handling their business at home on a more consistent basis.

As the Birds hit Thursday's off-day, their record at Camden Yards stands at 18-18. That's mediocrity right there people.

On the road, Baltimore is 23-18. That is the best road record in the division. That's a good thing, obviously.

But the home record is a little puzzling.

Offensively, the Orioles struggle in Baltimore. They have scored the fewest runs at home in all of Major League Baseball. Their batting average at Camden Yards is .253. The home on base percentage is an anemic .305.

That's not good enough.

In 2012, the Orioles were 47-34 at home. Their record in 2013 was 46-35.

They need to get back to having a true home field advantage.

Maybe the series against the White Sox was the boost that they needed to start dominating at Camden Yards.
 


 

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