Tuesday, June 10, 2008

The 'Comeback Kings' are at it again...

The O's battled back yet again and defeated the Boston Red Sox tonight at Fenway Park 10-6.

The Birds are now tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for most come-from-behind victories when down by two runs; both teams have done it 14 times this season.

Daniel Cabrera was shaky, and didn't look like himself (well, he did, but not his 2008 self). He lasted only five innings, giving up six runs and the lead. He looked like Houdini early on, escaping a bases-loaded, none-out jam in the first with only one run crossing the plate. The O's answered right back with a four-run second, but Cabrera couldn't hold on. Cabrera continuously was in trouble, he walked four in five innings and gave up seven hits, and it finally caught up with him in the sixth. After Cabrera hit a batter, he gave up a two-run shot to J.D. Drew to give the Sox a 5-4 lead. Manny Ramirez followed with a solo shot of his own, and the Sox led 6-4.

The O's offense wasn't finished though, and the bullpen held the Sox to just one hit through the final four frames. The bats could only manage four runs off starter Josh Beckett, but the O's love to see relief pitcher Hideki Okajima on the mound (see: Payton's slam and Jones' 3-run double). Okajima was charged with both a loss and a blown save as the O's scored three runs in the seventh to take a 7-6 lead. The Birds added on three more in the ninth, and closer George Sherrill finished the game in a non-save situation, striking out the last batter he faced to end the game.

The O's offense was amazing, racking up 10 runs off 15 hits against Boston. None of the hits went out of the park, but the Birds racked up five doubles on the night. Melvin Mora was the only Oriole without a hit, but still came around to score twice.

With the win, the Orioles are guaranteed a winning road trip, which is all you can really ask for. If the Birds can win just one more of the next two games in Boston, they'll have won each road series on the nine-game trip. The O's are now a game above .500 and are still tied for third with the Yankees and Blue Jays. Garrett Olson (5-1) takes on Bartolo Colon (3-1) tomorrow night.

(photos courtesy of MLB.com)

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