Orioles’ Craig Kimbrel — ‘Positively heard’ Phils followers at Camden

BALTIMORE — Philadelphia followers had their likelihood to indicate Craig Kimbrel how they really feel.

For the previous two days, the Baltimore reliever has had a solution.

Kimbrel struck out the ultimate three batters Saturday to shut out the Orioles’ 6-2 victory over the Phillies. It wasn’t a save state of affairs, nevertheless it was actually a charged environment. The primary two video games of this sequence have been sellouts at Camden Yards, with loads of Baltimore and Philadelphia followers on the ballpark.

“I used to be in Philadelphia all final yr, so I knew that the followers would journey, particularly with it being so shut,” Kimbrel mentioned. “I figured I might get a pleasant reception.”

The greeting, in fact, was something however good. Kimbrel misplaced Video games 3 and 4 of the NL Championship Sequence final yr, and the Phillies went on to lose the sequence in seven video games to Arizona.

So the Philadelphia followers gave him a decidedly unbrotherly welcome when he got here on within the ninth Friday. Kimbrel pitched a scoreless inning, however the Phillies went on to win in 11. On Saturday, he took the mound with a four-run lead. He walked the primary hitter earlier than breezing via the following three.

“It is not one thing you often get in your house stadium, however Phillies followers, they journey deep they usually have been right here at this time,” Kimbrel mentioned. “I positively heard them.”

Orioles starter Grayson Rodriguez additionally heard the gang. He went seven innings and acquired the win Saturday.

“It felt like a playoff sport. It was a fairly hostile setting,” Rodriguez mentioned. “Having a number of the Phillies followers there, that helped me rather a lot. Clearly you wish to see the stadium packed out in orange, however there was some animosity in there, and man it made pitching enjoyable at this time.”