Chris Davis lifts Baltimore with three
Originally published June 23, 2014 at 9:44 PM | Page modified June 23, 2014 at 9:47 PM
Mitchell Layton / Getty Images
BALTIMORE - Hours after reaching the low point of a disappointing and frustrating season, Chris Davis conjured memories of last year with one mighty swing of the bat.
Davis interrupted a rare stint on the bench with a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the ninth inning to give the Baltimore Orioles a 6-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night.
With the win, the Orioles (40-35) have won three straight and are five games above .500 for the first time since May 11.
Davis was excluded from the starting lineup after batting just .130 in his previous 14 starts. Called upon by manager Buck Showalter with runners on first and second and one out in the ninth, Davis launched a 3-2 pitch from Ronald Belisario (3-4) into the seats in right field.
'Any time you're able to deliver and come through for your team, it's big,' Davis said. 'Like I said earlier today, I'm working as hard as I can to get back on track.'
Davis, who led the majors in home runs and RBI last year, started the game in the dugout with a .216 batting average and 78 strikeouts in 218 at-bats. When it came time to deliver, though, he was ready.
'There's no woe is me,' Showalter said. 'He knows at some point the club's going to need a good at-bat from him, and he prepared himself for it from about the fifth inning on.'
Davis ended his night with a celebration at the plate, followed by a pie to the face from teammate Adam Jones during the postgame TV interview.
'It was chocolate,' Davis said. 'He told me he was going to pie me before he even came out there, and (I said), 'Make sure it's something tasty.' I appreciate him letting me taste it before he smashed it in my face.'
Tulowitzki, Bautista captain HR Derby
Troy Tulowitzki just hopes no one will hold any grudges when he picks the National League participants for the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game.
The Colorado Rockies shortstop will serve as captain of the NL side and select the four other members for the derby. Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays is in charge of the American League.
'To be the captain, I don't know if that's something I'm looking forward to because of how tough the decisions are going to be,' Tulowitzki said Monday before the Rockies played the St. Louis Cardinals. 'You can't put everybody that wants to participate on your team. So with that, you open yourself up.
'But, at the same time, I'm honored to be the National League captain.'
The event will be held July 14 at Target Field, the night before the showcase game in Minneapolis.
Notes
* Washington outfielder Bryce Harper (left thumb) began a rehab stint at Class A Potomac, where he started in left field and played three innings, as planned. Harper was 1 for 1 with a single, walk and run scored.
* The San Diego Padres put right-hander Andrew Cashner on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right shoulder and purchased the contract of right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne from Class AAA El-Paso. Despaigne allowed four hits in seven shutout innings in the Padres' victory over San Francisco.
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