BALTIMORE -- On the same day the Chicago Cubs sold the farm to reel in Aroldis Chapman, the Baltimore Orioles sat back and relaxed as Zach Britton went out there and did his job. Again.
Actually, if we’re being nitpicky, Britton didn’t necessarily do his job. He didn’t close the game. He didn’t get the save. He didn’t even get the win. But pitching in the top of the ninth inning of a tie game at home, which is unofficially part of the closer’s gig, he did retire Nolan Arenado, Carlos Gonzalez and Trevor Story in order. Perhaps you’ve heard of them.
In the process of mowing down Colorado’s murderer’s row, Britton a) gave the first-place Orioles a chance to win, which they ultimately did 3-2 in the 10th inning for their fifth straight W, b) made it look easy, and c) reminded O’s fans how lucky they are that, although their team does have its shortcomings (hint: starting rotation), the bullpen certainly isn’t one of them.
Working for the fifth time in six days, Britton needed just 10 pitches to arrest the heart of the Rockies’ lineup. He got Arenado on a weak chopper to third, then fanned Gonzalez and Story back-to-back. Given how hot Colorado’s big three have been lately -- they entered the ninth inning on Monday hitting a combined .346 since the All-Star break with 10 home runs in 104 at-bats -- and given that one swing of the bat could’ve turned the game, the outing was especially impressive.
“You just don't come in and get all three of them out very often with the game on the line late in the game,” manager Buck Showalter said. “That's a real tribute to Zach.”
Truth is, nobody has come in and gotten all three of them out with the game on the line -- at least not that easily. According to Elias Sports Bureau research, no reliever in baseball this season has retired Arenado, Gonzalez and Story 1-2-3 in the same inning with fewer pitches than Britton used Monday night.
Ho-hum.
It was just another day at the office for the O’s All-Star, who has been as dependable as any closer in baseball since taking over the job early in the 2014 season. This season, Britton is 32-for-32 in save opportunities (33-for-33 if you count the Midsummer Classic) and now sports a microscopic 0.63 ERA that leads all relievers (minimum 30 innings). Meanwhile, as the trade deadline approaches, contenders around the league are scrambling to shore up their back ends.
The Washington Nationals, Cleveland Indians and San Francisco Giants, who represent half of the current division leaders, are all in the hunt for endgame assistance. All three teams have been linked to rumors involving Chapman. But all three of them lost out to the Cubs, another division leader who earlier on Monday finalized a deal to acquire the New York Yankees closer in exchange for four players, including 19-year old shortstop Gleyber Torres, Chicago’s top prospect.
Presumably, the Nats, Tribe and Giants will now all fight over sloppy seconds in an effort to add Andrew Miller, the Yanks’ other stud lefty who's likely for sale. And if they can’t get him, they’ll likely duke it out over some other rent-a-reliever. Meanwhile, the Orioles -- whose relief core is a big reason they are where they are -- can sit back, relax and enjoy the show. (At least the reliever show. As for the starter show, that's another story.)
“The Chapman deal,” Britton said, “it shows that this plays. That this type of baseball, leaning on your bullpen, works. It worked for the Royals for a few years, and it’s worked for us since 2012.”
The Orioles are hoping that it’ll keep working all the way through October.