BALTIMORE — The Orioles have a very simple goal for the 2014 season — they want to make the playoffs and show that they can play with the big boys like Boston and the Yankees.
Baltimore began the year with a tough 2-1 victory over the World Series champion Red Sox Monday afternoon, but manager Buck Showalter said the Orioles need to be used to these types of game — as it will probably be something they need to deal with often this season.
“One-run leads in the American League East home or away are hard to finish,” Showalter said.
“You know you’re going to get everybody’s best shot.”
The Orioles will need what they got in this first game on a regular basis — timely hitting, solid starting and relief pitching and the good defense that carried them in 2013.
These are things they need to have on a regular basis throughout the season. The Orioles should have the kind of depth that will keep them in most games against teams like the Red Sox and Yankees.
The question now is can they keep making the plays they made on Opening Day throughout the season. And only time will tell, starting with the second game of this series against the Red Sox on Wednesday.