NEW YORK - — NEW YORK - -With the bases loaded and one out in the second inning, Orioles leadoff man Brian Roberts' goal was to drive A.J. Burnett's two-seam fastball into the outfield and drive in a run. His past experiences against the New York Yankees right-hander told Roberts to keep his expectations low.
"He's struck me out on that [pitch] many times," said Roberts, who entered the at-bat with 10 hits against Burnett in 39 at-bats (.256). "It was one of those where you kind of swing and you don't even realize what happened."
What happened was Roberts' fifth career grand slam and his second in a span of less than four weeks. It capped a six-run second inning off Burnett and was more than enough run support for rookie left-hander Brian Matusz in the Orioles' 7-3 victory Sunday.
It was just Burnett's second loss in 13 career starts against the Orioles.
"I've faced A.J. quite a bit with him being in Toronto for several years and him now being in New York. At times, it is a guessing game, what he's going to try to do," said Roberts, who has seven RBIs over the past two games and 73 for the season, tying his career high. "It's not like he's going to show you something [that] he's never shown you before. It's just a matter of which one it's going to be. I didn't necessarily want to get to 1-2 with the bases loaded and to be behind in the count with his kind of stuff, but I was fortunate enough to get a pitch that I could get a barrel on it."
Roberts' drive soared over the right-center-field wall for his 15th homer of the season. It was part of a 3-for-4 day for Roberts, who also hit his league-leading 51st double of the season in the fifth inning. That ties his career high and the Orioles' franchise high, which Roberts set last year.
On second thought
The uncertainty surrounding Felix Pie's back has the Orioles pondering reinstating outfielder Lou Montanez from the 60-day disabled list. To make room for Montanez on the 40-man roster, the Orioles could transfer Koji Uehara, who won't pitch again this season, from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL.
"I did talk to [president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail] about that last night," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said Saturday. "We probably will discuss that now that we know Pie is not available today and is iffy [for Sunday]. The possibility does exist that we could add an outfielder."
