O's Swat Away Nats

The O's kicked-off Interleague play with their third straight win, defeating the visiting Washington Nationals 5-3.

It's becoming a recurring theme for the Birds: go down early, come back late, and hold on for the win. I'm certainly not complaining. The team has now won six of their last seven games, and are three games above .500.

Garrett Olson (3-0) wasn't exactly dominant, but he kept the team in the game and eventually got the win. After allowing two runs in the first, he settled down and allowed just one more run through five innings. He gave up nine hits, struck out three and walked none (he also hit a batter). He was lifted after just 70 pitches (51 for strikes).

The offense picked him up in the middle-innings, as the O's scored two in the 3rd, one in the 4th and another two in the 5th. With the bases loaded in the 3rd, Nick Markakis hit into a fielder's choice, but a throwing error allowed two runs to score, tying the game.

Olson gave up another run in the fourth, but a solo shot from Luke Scott tied the game at three. The O's went ahead for good in the fifth. Brian Roberts led-off with a triple, and Melvin Mora's double gave the O's a 4-3 lead. An RBI single from Kevin Millar made it 5-3, and that would prove to be the final score.

The O's bullpen was brilliant yet again. Matt Albers pitched two scoreless innings, striking out three. After a lead-off hit in the eighth, he was lifted for Jim Johnson. Any guesses as to what Johnson did? He struck out the side...I love this kid! George Sherrill started the ninth and recorded a 1-2-3 save, his 16th in 18 attempts.

Interleague games have always been tough for the O's...their overall record (now 80-114) is the worst among AL teams. But the players feel that this season is different...

"That's history," said third baseman Melvin Mora, referencing his team's record against NL opponents. "This is a new year. Anything can happen this year if we play good baseball..." (courtesy of MLB.com)

The O's are now in sole position of 3rd place...Brian Burres looks to extend the O's streak to four straight later today...I'll be at a wedding; please keep me posted my friends...

(photos courtesy of MLB.com)

O's Bats are Heating Up

Dave Trembley predicted that the warm weather would produce some big hits from the O's hitters.

So far, he looks like a psychic. After going all season without a 3-run-homer, the O's had three 3-run-shots in the past five games, and added their first grand slam yesterday. The only blemish was the shutout against Kansas City.

The O's still don't look like a big-hitting club; before the comeback yesterday they had recorded just two hits. The team is producing when they need to, and it has resulted in a 21-19 record and 3rd place in the AL East.

These stats may not seem that significant, but they're huge. It's not just one player that has been contributing; each game has had an unexpected hero (or heroes). The O's still can't be considered an offensive threat, but they've been clutch hitters over the past week (omitting the shutout).

The pitching has been incredible, as both the starters and the bullpen have vastly improved.
If the offense gets on track and starts hitting regularly, these O's may make believers out of everyone.

Payton's Slam Lifts O's Over Sox

The Sox went up early against Cabrera, but the O's came back yet again, winning the game 6-3.

The Sox scored one in the first, and added on with a Jason Varitek solo home run in the fifth and a Mike Lowell solo shot of his own in the sixth.

The O's had managed just two hits until the sixth inning, when they started to chip away at Boston's lead. Jay Payton and Nick Markakis each knocked in a run, and the O's were down by one.

O's magic reappeared in the seventh inning. With two out and none on, Freddie Bynum singled to start the rally. After Guillermo Quiroz singled and Brian Roberts walked to load the bases, Jay Payton stepped to the plate.

Payton hit the O's first grand slam of the season, and the O's went up 6-3. They scored four times with two outs in the inning. Payton's 5 RBIs on the game were one shy of his season total (he came into the game with 6).


Daniel Cabrera (4-1) got the win, and went seven strong innings, giving up 3 runs, striking out three, and walking none. What a turn-around for Cabrera this year; he's a completely different pitcher.

After a scoreless eighth from Matt Albers, George Sherrill came in to start the ninth and recorded his 15th save in 17 attempts.

This was the first time the O's won back-to-back games against the Sox at Camden Yards since 2005. The Birds are now 8-7 against the AL East this season.

The O's now have 12 come-from-behind victories this season, tied for the most in the league. They also are 15-0 when leading after 8 innings.

The team has Thursday off, and then begin a 3-game series against the Nationals Friday night. Garrett Olson is slated to start, followed by Brian Burres and Jeremy Guthrie.



(photos courtesy of MLB.com)

O's Take Down Sox

What an incredible game...the O's overcame a 2-error, 3-run first inning to defeat the visiting Red Sox 5-4. As promised, I have a final picture from the scoreboard...enjoy!

Jeremy Guthrie looked rough in the first inning, allowing three runs off three hits. Errors from Aubrey Huff and Kevin Millar didn't help his cause, and the Sox fans in the stadium were going wild. Things looked bleak as the O's went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning.

Guthrie settled down, and the O's bats came to life against Josh Beckett.

The Birds scored once in the second inning, and had a four-run third,

highlighted by a 3-run-blast off the bat of Luke Scott that put the O's up 5-3.

Guthrie pitched six solid innings, and was pulled in the seventh after allowing two singles . Jamie Walker came in to relieve, and walked David Ortiz to load the bases with none out. THIS was the turning point of the game. Jim Johnson was brought in to relieve Walker...

Boston fans behind me were giddy with excitement..."Manny's up with the bases loaded and none out!" I told my girlfriend that it didn't matter who was up; we had Johnson on the mound. After what seemed like an eternity (I think it was a 10-pitch at-bat), Johnson coaxed a come- backer to the mound, and got the double-play. Johnson got the next batter to fly-out and escaped the jam with the lead still intact.

The game is never over when you're playing the Red Sox, and after Johnson recorded one out in the eighth, he walked the next two batters. After giving up a run-scoring single, George Sherrill was brought in to save the game. Sherrill got the O's out of the inning, and saved the game in the ninth, recording two strikeouts (including one against Ortiz, who argued it and was ejected).

This had to be one of the best games I've seen at Camden Yards. Boston fans were EVERYWHERE, but O's fans held their own and got LOUD when they needed to. My girlfriend lost her voice, and my hands are raw from clapping, but we wouldn't have it any other way!

I must say I was impressed with the fan turn-out; usually Camden Yards transforms into Fenway Park when the Sox come to town. The fans were loud and into the game until the final pitch (a strikeout). It's time to take back the Yard!

Guthrie won the rematch; Beckett lost. Guthrie finished with just one walk and seven strikeouts. The O's conclude the two-game series this afternoon. Daniel Cabrera will start against Jon Lester. The Birds are now in third place, and Boston fell to second place last night, as the Rays defeated the Yankees in extra-innings and took sole possession of first.

(photos by Jon Parr)

Get Ready for the Rematch...Guthrie v. Beckett

The O's had a rare day off, and that's probably for the best, as the first place Red Sox are in town. Jeremy Guthrie is slated to start against Josh Beckett tomorrow evening.

The last time these two went head-to-head, Guthrie was a rookie, starting his third game in place of Jaret Wright, who was on the DL. Boston's Josh Beckett was invincible, holding a perfect 7-0 record.

I predicted the O's would hand Beckett his first loss of the season. My prediction almost came true...

For anyone who doesn't remember, the O's were beating the Sox 5-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth at Fenway. Beckett was pulled after four innings due to a "skin irratation." Beckett had struck out seven batters, and was charged with two runs. Meanwhile, Guthrie was pitching the game of his life, allowing just three hits and no runs, while striking out two and walking two. After recording the first out in the ninth, an error by Ramon Hernandez allowed a runner to reach first, and Guthrie was pulled after just 91 pitches.

The fans at Fenway gave Guthrie a standing ovation. I'm not sure whether it was because he pitched such a great game or because they were just happy to see him go. I'm almost positive that they had no realistic ideas that the Red Sox, down to their final two outs and losing 5-0, could ever win the game.

Apparently, the players had different ideas. "Me and Tim Wakefield looked at each other on the bench in the ninth inning when they took Guthrie out," Beckett said. "We said, 'We're going to win this game.' We both believed it." (courtesy of MLB.com)

The O's bullpen imploded, and the Red Sox won the game 6-5. The city of Baltimore was speechless. I couldn't talk for hours, and it still doesn't make sense to me. Many fans, myself included, point to this one single game as the starting point of the collapse of the rest of the season. The team lost any and all confidence after this loss, and the bullpen went on to blow practically every game they pitched in. Both pitchers that came on to relieve Guthrie (Baez and Ray) ended-up having season-ending surgeries, and the O's were pretty much done in 2007.

But the O's are a different team this year. The starting pitching has improved, the bullpen is one of the best in the league, and the offense...well, it's still cold outside...the bats will heat up. I'll be in the stands cheering on Guthrie and the Birds, and hopefully this time, the ending will be sweet.

(photos courtesy of MLB.com)

Bannister Blanks O's

Every streak must eventually end, and the O's 12-game winning streak against Kansas City was snapped today, as they fell to the Royals 4-0.


Brian Burres (3-4) pitched well, and was able to escape jams throughout the game. He surrendered four straight singles to start the second inning, but only allowed one run, pitching his way out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam. He was lifted in the seventh with two on and none out, and was charged with all four runs. He gave up nine hits, walked two and struck out one.

His counterpart, Brian Bannister (4-4), was virtually un-hittable. He went eight innings,walking two, striking out five, and allowing just two base hits (both singles).

It was the lowest hit count for the O's this year, and the first time they were held scoreless this season. Still, after an exhaustive road trip, the Birds head home with a .500 record (19-19).

At least it wasn't the Mother's Day Massacre of last season, when the O's took a 5-0 lead into the ninth inning and wound-up losing the game 6-5. Today's loss was upsetting, but not unexplainable.

The O's are tied with the Yankees for third place in the A.L. East, and have Monday off before hosting the first-place Red Sox Tuesday night. Jeremy Guthrie takes the mound, opposing Boston's Josh Beckett. I'll be at the game, and will have some original pictures to post...hopefully of the scoreboard afterward showing the O's on top...

(photos courtesy of MLB.com)

Rain and Wind Can't Stop O's Streak

The O's started off hot, as they went up 3-0 in the first, courtesy of a Kevin Millar 3-run blast. It was the third time in as many games that the team connected for a 3-run home run, after going the entire beginning of the season without one.



The game was delayed in the middle of the first inning due to heavy rain, and didn't resume for nearly two hours. The O's were able to hang on and win their third straight game, 6-5.

It wasn't easy. The winds were reportedly swirling at nearly 50 mph, and the rain never really stopped. It was so bad that throughout the game, the televised screenshots came from behind the batter instead of from center field...you could barely see through the wet camera lens. It was a mess.

Garrett Olson continued to impress, leaving in the sixth inning with one out. He gave up three runs off eight hits, walking one and striking out two in the win.

Jamie Walker came in to start the seventh, and immediately got knocked around. He gave up three hits and a run without recording an out, and was pulled with runners on the corners and the O's up 6-4. Jim Johnson came on to relieve him, and was absolutely brilliant. He struck out the first two batters he faced and then induced a ground ball to end the threat. He ended up pitching two innings of no-hit ball. I've heard a lot of talk about Johnson moving into a starting role, but I like him right where he is. He really stabilizes the bullpen in a long-relief role.

Meanwhile, the O's had slowly added to their lead. Mora had an RBI single in the fifth, and the O's added two more runs in the sixth. Adam Jones RBI triple plated Millar, and Jones came home on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of backup catcher Guillermo Quiroz.

With a 6-4 lead, the O's sent closer George Sherrill to the mound to start the ninth. After a lead-off walk, Sherrill struck out the next two batters. Billy Butler stepped to the plate, and the game was tied...or so it seemed. Butler's blast into the wind ended up hitting the wall instead of clearing it, and the O's were still up by one. Kansas City actually had the fireworks going; it seemed as if everyone thought the ball was gone. The next batter grounded-out, and the O's won their 12th straight against the Royals. Sherrill picked up his 13th save in 15 attempts, though I swear he's going to send most hardcore O's fans to an early grave!

Brian Burres takes the mound this afternoon as the O's attempt their second four-game sweep of the season.

(photos courtesy of MLB.com)