O's Take First Game, First Place...

Brian Burres pitched an incredible game, going eight scoreless innings, allowing only three hits, walking none and striking out four.

Backup catcher Quiroz slapped a 2-run shot to put the O's on the board, 2-0. The O's piled on three more runs in the ninth, and took a 5-0 lead.

For some reason, Burres was denied the chance to complete the game, as the O's went to the bullpen in the bottom of the ninth. Albers was able to get two outs, but after loading the bases, Sherrill was brought in. He hit a batter, giving the White Sox their first run. He still recorded his ninth save in as many attempts.

The second game of this doubleheader begins in a few hours. The bullpen could have been completely rested...

The Birds are now tied with Boston for 1st...I have to head to work, but I'll be back later for Game 2...

Loewen Placed on the DL; Game Postponed due to Rain...

The big news today is that Adam Loewen was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Loewen struggled last night, allowing 5 runs in less than 3 innings. He admitted after the game that he had been experiencing pain while throwing.

"It's starting to get worse in the general area of my forearm. It just starts off as a dull pain and gets sharper as I go on," he said. "Hopefully it's nothing serious, and I don't think it is. There's two guys in the bullpen that are deserving to get the ball every fifth day. They deserve a shot, so it's not like a huge blow right now. We've got guys who can step in, " he said. (courtesy of MLB.com)

In other news, it's 10:40 pm here in Baltimore, and the O's game is still in a rain delay. The game started on time, but was delayed in the bottom of the first. There was no score at that time. I'll keep you updated if the game resumes; they're saying it may start back up at 11:30...

As I was writing this, the game was cancelled! The teams will play a doubleheader tomorrow. Game 1 starts at 1pm; game 2 will start at 7pm.

Here's hoping that rain won't continue to dampen the O's performance...

O! By the way, the Yankees, Red Sox, and Blue Jays all lost today! The O's are just a half game out of first...

(photos courtesy of MLB.com)

O's Win a Wild One in Seattle

I really don't know where to begin...this game had it all (even drunk fans on the field in the ninth)!

First, a struggling starting pitcher...Adam Loewen stunk. He couldn't make it through three innings, and he left with the O's trailing 5-0. Looks like Trembley's 'tough love' isn't working on him...

Next, no clutch hits from the O's...the bats were silent until the fourth, when a solo-shot off the bat of Jay Payton gave the O's their first run. The team had continuously stranded runners, but started to slowly chip away at the Mariner's lead.

Then, a change in momentum... down 5-3 in the seventh, the O's scored four times off the M's bullpen, the biggest hit a 2-out, 2-strike, 2-run double by former Mariner Adam Jones, giving the O's a 7-5 lead.

Add in some drama... Trembley elected to go to Jamie Walker with one on and no outs in the bottom of the seventh. Big mistake. Walker gave up a 2-run shot to Ichiro Suzuki, and just like that, the game was tied.



Finally, an incredible ending...leading-off the eighth, Brian Roberts knocked a solo home run to right, and the O's took the lead for good. Sherrill came in to close it out, and again gave up a lead-off single. He was able to get Ichiro to ground into a double-play, and ended up recording his eighth save in as many attempts, five of them coming against Seattle.

All-in-all, this was the most inspiring comeback I've seen from the O's this season, and they've had a couple. The team kept battling, never giving up. They're now 7-1 in one run games...read that again; let that sink in. Last season the O's were 13-31 in that situation. The bullpen has won seven games this season, leading the American League. What a difference a year can make.

Boston and New York lost, and the O's are in second place, just a game behind the Red Sox!

(photos courtesy of MLB.com)

Markakis' Solo Shot Proves to be Game-winner

Daniel Cabrera was dominant, and an eighth-inning home run from Markakis gave the O's a 3-2 lead, and an eventual win. The O's are now 6-1 in one-run games this season, and 12-9 overall.

Cabrera pitched eight innings, allowing two runs off five hits, while striking out five...and walking none! When was the last time you saw that stat? He was lifted after throwing 95 pitches (65 for strikes), though it looked as if he could have finished the game.

Seattle went up 2-0 early on, and a base running blunder by Huff kept the O's scoreless until the sixth. After Huff and Jones singled to start the inning, R. Hernandez powered what should have been a double to the left field wall. Huff misread the ball, and with Jones right behind him, ignored the red light and tried for home. He was easily thrown out, and the inning ended with a double play.

But Roberts singled to start off the sixth, and a Mora triple cut the lead to one. Markakis grounded into a fielders choice, and the O's had tied the game. With one out in the eighth and Markakis coming to the plate, Seattle elected to bring in Ryan Rowland-Smith. The move backfired, as Markakis knocked his first pitch over the right field wall. (I love this guy!)

Sherrill came in to pitch the ninth, and gave up a lead-off single. This is where things started to get scary. This was the first time Sherrill had been back to Safeco Field since being traded to the O's; could he be nervous with only a one run lead? He retired the next three batters, striking out one, to record his seventh save in as many attempts.

With an earlier Boston loss, the O's are in second place and only two games back.

(photos courtesy of MLB.com)

Guthrie Impressive, but O's Fall to Mariners

Jeremy Guthrie pitched into the eighth, the longest outing by an O's starter so far this season. After giving up a lead-off triple to Ichiro Suzuki (who scored), Guthrie settled down. He looked like the Guthrie of 2007: he pitched a magnificent game. The Mariners scored their second run in the fifth, an unearned run due to a throwing error by Ramon Hernandez. Guthrie was cruising, unfortunately, so was Seattle's ace Felix Hernandez.


Hernandez had a rough first two innings, throwing over fifty pitches, but the O's managed only one run until the sixth, when Huff went deep against the starter. Kevin Millar had an RBI single in the first, but in the second, Nick Markakis struck out looking with the bases jammed and two outs to end the threat. Hernandez and Guthrie both settled into a groove, and it was a pitcher's duel for the remainder of the game.



Guthrie finally tired in the eighth, giving up a bases loaded two-out single to give Seattle a 2-run lead, one that they'd never relinquish. Huff led-off the ninth with a double, but Seattle's closer, fresh off the DL, struck out the next two batters and got the final out, stranding Huff at second.


Seattle won their first game against the O's this season, 4-2. Cabrera takes the mound Wednesday night, opposed by Carlos Silva (3-0).


This was a great game; unfortunately it went the other way. Guthrie looked great, and the bullpen only had to get one out ( a Sarfate strikeout). One thing that hurt the team last year was extended losing streaks; hopefully the O's can snap this one at two!

(photos courtesy of MLB.com)

Yankees Rain on O's Parade

I woke up just before noon and immediately guaranteed a rain-out at Camden Yards. The sound of thunder, the presence of lightning, and the sight of pouring rain, even hail at one point, led me to believe that the final game against the Yankees would be made-up later this season.

At 1:15, 20 minutes before the scheduled first pitch, I was driving like a maniac in an attempt to make the first inning. The skies had cleared, which turned out to be unfortunate for the O's, as they were unable to sweep the Yanks at home for the first time in three years, losing 7-1.

O's starter Steve Trachsel pitched well, but the Yankees' Andy Pettitte pitched better. Pettitte had a no-hitter through four innings, and left after seven with a 4-0 lead.

Joba Chamberlain came in to start the eighth, and the momentum changed in favor of the birds. Back-up catcher Guillermo Quiroz led-off with a double, and Luis Hernandez followed with a single. With runners on the corners and none out, Brian Roberts stepped to the plate. Suddenly, the faint drizzle transformed abruptly to a soaking downpour, and the game was delayed.

About 40 minutes later, Roberts was back at the plate, but Chamberlain had been replaced by Brian Bruney. Roberts' sacrifice fly accounted for the O's first, and only, run of the game. The O's seemed primed to score a few runs...rain killed the rally.

Derek Jeter had a clutch 3-run-double in the ninth, virtually ensuring the road team's victory. After Mariano Rivera took the mound, another burst of rain hit Baltimore, and it would be another 37 minutes until the players took the field. The weather had no effect on Rivera, and the O's were unable to rally.

Notes: Nick Markakis, a Yankee-killer, went 0/3 with a walk and 3 strikeouts...
The O's don't play tomorrow, their first day off this month since April 1
The team visits Seattle next...MAYBE we'll see Bedard...

(photos courtesy of MLB.com)

O's Blank Yanks

Brian Burres, in his first start since taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays, pitched into the sixth against New York, allowing five hits and no runs.

Jim Johnson came in to pitch the final 3 1/3 frames, allowing just one hit and no runs, as the Orioles shut-out the Yankees, 6-0, in front of a crowd of nearly 42,000 last night at Camden Yards.

With the O's leading 1-0, Kevin Millar drilled a solo shot to give the team a 2-0 lead in the third. Later that inning, Ramon Hernandez added a two-run double (his second double of the game), and Aubrey Huff virtually ensured a win with a two-run double of his own in the seventh.

The O's have now won three straight and hold the best home record in the A.L. (to be fair, they've played the most home games).

Barring a rain-out, the O's face Andy Pettitte this afternoon. The Yankees need a strong performance from their starter, as they went to the bullpen in the third inning last night. The O's bullpen should be well-rested, and ready to go if Steve Trachsel has to leave early.

I'll be at the game, broom-in-hand, anticipating an early sweep...I'll keep you posted...

(photos courtesy of MLB.com)