The Orioles lost the fourth game of the series against the Royals 10-7, and ended up splitting the series with them.
Down 3-0 in the second, the O's battled back and took a commanding 7-3 lead in the fifth. Aubrey Huff had a huge night for the Birds, going 3 for 4 with a double and two home runs. Adam Jones and Brandon Fahey hit back-to-back triples in a five run fifth inning. It looked as if the O's were going to take the series easily...
Then it all fell apart in the sixth. The Royals sent 11 batters to the plate and scored seven times off starter Garrett Olson and relievers Adam Loewen and Chad Bradford. It was the most runs any opponent had scored in a single inning against the Birds all season, and was extremely painful to watch. Kevin Millar bobbled and booted away a ball that would have been the second out and perhaps kept the game close...instead the Royals ended up scoring three unearned runs.
The Orioles wrap up the home stand this weekend against the Texas Rangers...I'm heading to Ocean City, and will try my best to update the blog this weekend...
I'll return Sunday, so you'll definitely hear from me by then...if you're feeling optimistic and want to catch the game on Sunday, why not head to the Yard? It's a "Win-Win"...
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Cabrera Cruises in Complete Game Win (Part II)
Daniel Cabrera (6-4) shut down the Royals for nine innings last night, and the O's beat Kansas City 5-2.
Cabrera gave up a lead-off home run to start the game, and it looked like the Birds might have been in some trouble early. He settled down after that, and needed just 105 pitches to finish off the Royals. Cabrera allowed just seven hits, walked none and struck out two. Cabrera's always had success against KC (he's 5-0 against them), but this season he's been incredible. This post is labeled "Part II" due to the fact that he already went the distance once this year... against the Royals.
Down 1-0 in the first, Aubrey Huff connected for a two-run blast to give the O's the lead. Both Cabrera and Huff have really turned things around this season; Cabrera doesn't look like the same guy who led the league in losses and walks in 2007, and Huff's 15th home run equals his total from all of last season.
Cabrera gave up just one more run, but the offense backed him up and the O's won two straight. They have a chance to win the series later tonight; Garrett Olson (6-3) takes the mound for the Birds...
(photos courtesy of MLB.com)
Cabrera gave up a lead-off home run to start the game, and it looked like the Birds might have been in some trouble early. He settled down after that, and needed just 105 pitches to finish off the Royals. Cabrera allowed just seven hits, walked none and struck out two. Cabrera's always had success against KC (he's 5-0 against them), but this season he's been incredible. This post is labeled "Part II" due to the fact that he already went the distance once this year... against the Royals.Down 1-0 in the first, Aubrey Huff connected for a two-run blast to give the O's the lead. Both Cabrera and Huff have really turned things around this season; Cabrera doesn't look like the same guy who led the league in losses and walks in 2007, and Huff's 15th home run equals his total from all of last season.
Cabrera gave up just one more run, but the offense backed him up and the O's won two straight. They have a chance to win the series later tonight; Garrett Olson (6-3) takes the mound for the Birds...
(photos courtesy of MLB.com)
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Third Time a Charm for Sherrill
Closer George Sherrill came on in the ninth inning for the third straight game, but this time the O's came out on top, defeating the Royals 7-5.
The O's scored a run in the first off an RBI double from Brandon Fahey. They took the lead in the second with an RBI single from Aubrey Huff.The Bird's bats awakened in the third inning, when they tacked on four runs and took a commanding 6-2 lead. All four runs came with two outs, with Ramon Hernandez and Adam Jones each driving in two runs in the inning. Brian Roberts led off the seventh with a solo shot to give the O's an insurance run.
The Orioles (42-40) got a strong performance from starter Radhames Liz (3-0). Liz went six innings, allowing just three runs off seven hits, walking one and striking out four. Two of the runs came off solo shots.
The O's scored a run in the first off an RBI double from Brandon Fahey. They took the lead in the second with an RBI single from Aubrey Huff.The Bird's bats awakened in the third inning, when they tacked on four runs and took a commanding 6-2 lead. All four runs came with two outs, with Ramon Hernandez and Adam Jones each driving in two runs in the inning. Brian Roberts led off the seventh with a solo shot to give the O's an insurance run. Adam Loewen returned from the disabled list and pitched two scoreless innings in relief, and Dennis Sarfate came in to start the ninth. Sarfate sandwiched an out in-between two walks, and Dave Trembley summoned George Sherrill from the bullpen.
The fans around me were chanting, "Bring-In-Sher-rill" since the start of the ninth, and the stadium erupted as he took the field. Fans were waving their Sherrill T-shirts as he warmed-up (I arrived early, but not in time to receive the coveted tee).
Sherrill got the second out, but a single allowed both men on to cross the plate. The score was now 7-5, with a man on and the tying run at the plate...the red-hot Alex Gordon, who had doubled and homered earlier in the game. Sherrill struck him out swinging...
The Birds look for two straight tomorrow night; Daniel Cabrera takes the mound...
(photos courtesy of MLB.com)
Sherrill Blows it Again as O's Fall in Extras
The O's were again just one strike away from a win, but couldn't hold on as they lost 6-5 to the Kansas City Royals last night in 11 innings.
The O's were down 1-0 early but went ahead 5-1 after scoring four runs in the fifth inning. Ahead 5-4 in the ninth, closer George Sherrill blew his second save in as many days. Once again, Sherrill was able to get two outs and was just one strike away from ending the game. Again, the payoff pitch left the stadium, though this time it only tied the game at five. The O's were unable to score in the bottom of the inning, and eventually dropped the first game of the series.
The Birds (41-40) are now just a game over .500, and are still in fourth place in the division. There IS a silver lining here: after half a season the O's are a WINNING team...let's hope they can keep it up over the second half. I'll be at the game later tonight...coincidentally, it's George Sherrill 'T-Shirt Tuesday.' Maybe that will settle him down...
(photos courtesy of MLB.com)
The O's were down 1-0 early but went ahead 5-1 after scoring four runs in the fifth inning. Ahead 5-4 in the ninth, closer George Sherrill blew his second save in as many days. Once again, Sherrill was able to get two outs and was just one strike away from ending the game. Again, the payoff pitch left the stadium, though this time it only tied the game at five. The O's were unable to score in the bottom of the inning, and eventually dropped the first game of the series.The Birds (41-40) are now just a game over .500, and are still in fourth place in the division. There IS a silver lining here: after half a season the O's are a WINNING team...let's hope they can keep it up over the second half. I'll be at the game later tonight...coincidentally, it's George Sherrill 'T-Shirt Tuesday.' Maybe that will settle him down...
(photos courtesy of MLB.com)
Sunday, June 29, 2008
O's Drop Series against Nationals
The Orioles were one strike away from a Sunday win, but lost in the twelfth inning 3-2 to the Washington Nationals.
After losing the first game of the series (4-2 on Friday), the O's used a barrage of offense to crush the Nationals, 9-1, on Saturday night. A win today would have snapped an 11-game Sunday losing streak and given the Birds a winning road trip. With the loss, the O's return home with a 4-5 record on the trip and remain in fourth place in the AL East.
On Friday, Daniel Cabrera started out rocky but settled down until allowing two runs in the seventh. The bats couldn't help him out, and the O's lost.
The Orioles broke through on Saturday, and even a late rain delay couldn't stop them this time. Luke Scott and Ramon Hernandez homered, and the Orioles came back from a 1-0 deficit to win big.
Unfortunately for the Birds, Sunday comes once a week, and the O's weren't able to stop the bleeding. Jeremy Guthrie was strong (as usual), allowing just one run through seven innings. Luke Scott's solo shot in the seventh tied the game at one, and the O's took the lead in the top of the twelfth after Adam Jones' RBI single.
George Sherrill came on for the save, and after two quick outs, walked the next batter. O's fans were standing after Sherrill worked an 0-2 count to the next batter, but they were quieted after the next pitch sailed over the fence, giving the Nationals the win.
The Birds take on the Kansas City Royals tomorrow night. The Royals beat-up on National League teams, but haven't fared well against the American League so far this season...
After losing the first game of the series (4-2 on Friday), the O's used a barrage of offense to crush the Nationals, 9-1, on Saturday night. A win today would have snapped an 11-game Sunday losing streak and given the Birds a winning road trip. With the loss, the O's return home with a 4-5 record on the trip and remain in fourth place in the AL East.
On Friday, Daniel Cabrera started out rocky but settled down until allowing two runs in the seventh. The bats couldn't help him out, and the O's lost.
The Orioles broke through on Saturday, and even a late rain delay couldn't stop them this time. Luke Scott and Ramon Hernandez homered, and the Orioles came back from a 1-0 deficit to win big.
Unfortunately for the Birds, Sunday comes once a week, and the O's weren't able to stop the bleeding. Jeremy Guthrie was strong (as usual), allowing just one run through seven innings. Luke Scott's solo shot in the seventh tied the game at one, and the O's took the lead in the top of the twelfth after Adam Jones' RBI single.
George Sherrill came on for the save, and after two quick outs, walked the next batter. O's fans were standing after Sherrill worked an 0-2 count to the next batter, but they were quieted after the next pitch sailed over the fence, giving the Nationals the win.
The Birds take on the Kansas City Royals tomorrow night. The Royals beat-up on National League teams, but haven't fared well against the American League so far this season...
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