Always the optimist, Orioles manager Dave Trembley said he arrived at Camden Yards on Sunday morning, hours before the Orioles routed the Atlanta Braves 11-2, before an announced 26,770, with the unequivocal feeling that his tortured offense had turned it around.
The only evidence in Trembley's favor was the slumbering Orioles' six-run seventh in Saturday night's win over the Braves.
Still, he had a good feeling - better than usual, he stressed.
"Because [Saturday] night gave me, and I think, gave the guys, a real feeling that the worst is behind us and let's focus on today and go forward," Trembley said.
"And I think everybody's been waiting for that. All of you have been waiting for that, fans have been waiting for that, the team did it. Let them take all the credit in the world for it."
Heading into Sunday, the Orioles were 3-17 in series finales, 4-13 in day games and 1-8 on Sundays. And they were facing Derek Lowe (7-4), who had made six consecutive quality starts.
Apparently, Lowe and the Braves didn't get the memo about the scuffling Orioles (27-36). Or failed to read the team's game notes.
After scoring just 19 runs in their first 10 June games, the Orioles scored 19 total on Saturday and Sunday.
"After you play baseball, you start to realize those kinds of [slumps] are going to happen every single year to every single team," said Orioles infielder Ty Wigginton, who homered twice and tied a career high with four runs scored.
"Obviously, it lasted a little longer than we wanted it to. Hopefully, we can continue swinging it for the rest of the year."
The Orioles didn't need such a barrage, not with rookie Brad Bergesen (4-2) allowing two runs - on solo homers by David Ross - and five hits in his first big league complete game.
The initial hint that things might get a little wacky for the Orioles on Sunday came courtesy of Wigginton, who was hitless in five career at-bats against Lowe before smashing a two-run homer in the first inning.
It was the first home run since May 20 for Wigginton, who was in the lineup to give starter Melvin Mora a breather.He waited three more at-bats for his next one, a solo shot against reliever Kris Medlen in the fifth.
"It definitely feels good," said Wigginton, who had three hits and improved his average from .220 to .235 on Sunday. "I think I have said all along I feel like if I get my at-bats I'll do what I have in the past."
