Zach Britton saves American League’s All-Star win.
Though we really shouldn’t be surprised, our very own Zach Britton closed out a 4-2 American League victory with a scoreless ninth inning in Tuesday’s All-Star Game. Britton is a perfect 27-for-27 in save opportunities this year and go to show off his skills for the last three at-bats of the game, ending with a double-play grounder that sealed the AL’s victory. In doing so, he became the second O’s pitcher to earn a save in the All-Star Game since Don Aese in 1986. More disappointing, however, were the Orioles position players, who combined for an 0-for-6 performance at the plate. One silver lining? Mark Trumbo reached on an error and had an impressive showing at the Home Run Derby the night before, clocking 30 dingers and making it to the semi-finals. Regardless, the moral of the story is that, with the American League’s win, the Orioles will have home-field advantage when they (inevitably) make it to the World Series this year.
Athletes + dogs = cute.
This formula is a no-brainer and one that we recently tested out when we visited two Orioles and their dogs at Camden Yards. (Check out the photos in the current July issue of Baltimore magazine.) And, as if we needed further proof, there were two news items relating to athletes and their pets this week. The first was that Ravens center Jeremy Zuttah and wife Heran included their dog Ace as a groomsman when they got married last month. Ace, donning a black-and-white doggie tux, put in some extra training at the Downtown Dog before walking down the aisle with Jeremy’s brother. “He’s awesome,” Heran told BaltimoreRavens.com. “I just could not imagine getting married without him.”
Plus, the Orioles announced this week that they’ll be giving away a bobblehead featuring Chris Davis and his English bulldog, Samson on August 20. The bobblehead—with Davis’s alter ego Crush and Samson with a bobbly head himself—will be given out to the first 25,000 fans ages 15 and older. That same night, the beloved Orioles pet calendar will go on sale at the park, with proceeds benefiting the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS).
Pokémon Go takes over everywhere.
I’m extremely hesitant to classify this as a sport. In fact, I’m hesitant to write about Pokémon Go at all. Age-wise, I completely missed this boat and I’ve heard far too many weird stories about people nearly getting hit by a car due to Pokémon overindulgence. But, alas, it’s a thing. And these creatures(?) are seemingly everywhere in Baltimore. They’ve been hanging out with the Kooper’s Chowhound Food Truck. Patterson Park is apparently crawling with them. There have been some lurking on the water in Harbor East. Local app Loople is hosting a Pokémon bar crawl this Saturday. I am honestly afraid to think which ones could be near me right now.
Good luck catching them or whatever, but just remember to look up every once in a while.