Has the Magic Vanished?

The Orioles dropped their fourth straight game last night, falling 6-5 to the Angels.

Now THESE are the Orioles I remember! They've won just four of their last 17 games, and are in dead last in the division. What a great time for the best team in baseball to arrive at Camden Yards!

Brian Burres was rocked early, and didn't even make it through the second inning; he left with the Birds down 5-o. The bullpen held the Angels to just one run through the last seven innings, and the O's offense almost pulled out a win. Kevin Millar scored the O's first run in the third when he blasted a solo shot, and scored the last run in the ninth via another solo home run. The Birds were down 6-5, and Brandon Fahey smacked a two out double to make things interesting...a hit could tie the game...Luke Scott grounded out and the O's lost again.

The Orioles (48-54) are now 18-20 in one-run games and are a season low six games under .500. It looks like the O's will be seeing some action before the trade deadline...as sellers, not buyers. The 2010 season can't come soon enough...

(photos courtesy of MLB.com)

O's Drop Series to Jays, Fall to Season-Worst Record

The Birds dropped the conclusion of Wednesday's game 5-1, and then lost again 7-1 to Toronto.

With the loss, the O's are now a season-worst five games under .500, and host the best team in baseball this weekend (the Angels). The Orioles are 3-5 on the home stand, and would need to sweep the Angels to have a winning trip (worse yet, they'd need to win on a Sunday).

Jeremy Guthrie was tagged with Wednesday's loss, although he gave up just two runs in 5 2/3 innings. Daniel Cabrera looked terrible on Thursday, and was charged with seven runs (a season high). The O's offense was invisible, as the Birds mustered just two runs in the past two games.

Things are finally as they were supposed to be...the O's are in last place, have won just four of their last 16 games, and will probably look to trade before the deadline...

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

Just got back from a wet trip to Camden Yards...the O's were down 2-1 in the top of the sixth when thunderstorms forced players and spectators alike to flee to safety.

Jeremy Guthrie and A.J. Burnett were both locked in a pitching duel before the clouds moved in. Burnett allowed just one run while striking out seven; Guthrie allowed two runs with four Ks.

Aubrey Huff stayed hot; he singled and tripled, and Melvin Mora knocked in the O's only run (he now leads the Birds with 63 RBIs).

After nearly a two hour delay, the game was called...in all the confusion we left with seven 1983 pennants, though most were soaked and covered in peanut shells...and none were signed.

The game will resume today at 12:05, and the final game of the series, scheduled to begin at 12:35, will begin 20 minutes after the final out. Fans with tickets from Wednesday's game will be able to redeem them for a September home game (upper or lower reserve levels only)...

(photos courtesy of MLB.com)

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.

Orioles Soar Over Blue Jays and Out of Last Place

The O's rebounded from another Sunday loss and defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 8-3 last night.

Radhames Liz lasted almost six full innings, and was pulled with the score knotted at three. Adam Jones smacked a 2-run shot in the third to give the Birds a brief lead, and Melvin Mora had a two out, bases-loaded single in the sixth to give the O's a 5-3 lead and position Liz for the win. The bullpen handled the rest, and Ramon Hernandez sealed the deal with a 2-run shot of his own in the eighth. Randor Bierd returned from the DL and pitched a scoreless ninth, allowing a hit while striking out two.

With the win, the O's (48-50) moved ahead of Toronto(48-51) and into fourth place. With six more home games in the series (three more v. Toronto and then three v. the Angels) the Birds could gain some ground if they get hot and stay hot. Garrett Olson (6-5) takes the mound for the Birds...

Nothing much to say...

The O's lost their 15th straight Sunday game, 5-1. Justin Verlander nearly threw a complete game, and once again, O's fans couldn't catch a break.

Thankfully, I was busy and missed the game...caught the highlights though, and that was a blast! I attended the second game of a doubleheader at Ripken Stadium; the Iron Birds won 11-1.

I'll be there next Sunday...haven't checked yet but there's bound to be free seats and maybe even a few thousand dollars thrown around if the Birds can actually win...

P.S. They'll have to do it against the best team in baseball: the Angels.

O's Rally to Beat Tigers in Extras

The Orioles used a bit more magic last night as they defeated Detroit 11-10 in the tenth inning.

The victory seemed improbable after the Tigers roughed-up O's starter Daniel Cabrera for six runs in the first inning. Cabrera regained his command and lasted five innings; when he left the Birds had a 9-7 lead...

Melvin Mora got things started for the O's in the first, smacking a 2-run shot, his third homer in as many games. The Birds sent 12 men to the plate in the fourth and scored six times to take an 8-7 lead. The bullpen couldn't hold it though, and the O's were trailing by a run heading into the bottom of the ninth...

The Orioles gave out 'Oriole Magic DVDs' as a promotion last night, and the Birds didn't disappoint...Ramon Hernandez led-off the ninth with a game-tying home run. With the score knotted in the top of the tenth, Adam Jones threw out the runner at home for the final out of the inning (though he looked safe to me...). In the bottom of the inning, Luke Scott launched a pitch onto Eutaw Street and the comeback was complete. Though the Birds have had a fair share of walk-off heroics, this was the first time this season that it came via the home run.

In less then 12 hours the Birds attempt to win on a Sunday for the first time in April. I've tried to stop the streak myself, refusing to blog about a Sunday game until the O's win one again (that hasn't worked). The Orioles held a "We Win, You Win" promotion to no avail, so for today's game they've sweetened the deal. If the Birds win, fans in attendance will receive tickets to not one, but two future O's games...here's hoping!

(photos courtesy of MLB.com)