O's Come Up Short v. Jays

It looked as if O's Magic was at it again, but the Orioles fell last night 10-8 to the visiting Toronto Blue Jays.

Starter Garrett Olson was erratic, exiting in the fifth with two out. He was charged with six earned runs, walked three and struck out one. He was in line for the win after the Birds offense took the lead in the bottom of the inning, but once again the bullpen couldn't hold it.

The O's took an early lead in the first after Nick Markakis belted a 2-run shot to right field, and added two more in the third when Melvin Mora doubled with the bases loaded. Toronto came storming back with a five run fifth, and the O' were down 6-4.

Mora stepped to the plate with a man on and tied it up with one swing; he's been on fire since the All-Star Break (after he singled in the ninth a commentator said he was...so hot you could fry bacon on him...he sizzles...). Well, he's certainly swinging a hot bat lately!

Ramon Hernandez's solo shot minutes later gave the O's a 7-6 lead; unfortunately, it would be the last time they led in the game. The O's bullpen allowed the Jays to take a 10-7 lead, and the Birds didn't threaten again until the bottom of the ninth. Mora knocked in another run (he had five RBIs on the night) and the Birds loaded the bases against B.J. Ryan.

Hernandez flied out to end the game, and the O's fell back to last place...the offense can't win them all; the starting pitching needs to go deeper into games and the bullpen needs to perform better. Last season, the Birds did well when scoring five runs or more; lately, it seems as if the offense needs 10 or more runs a game...

I'll be at the game later today...the Birds celebrate the 25th Anniversary of their last World Series win...Jeremy Guthrie takes the mound, opposing Jay's starter A.J. Burnett.