O's Bats Back Guthrie as Birds Crush Rangers

The Orioles returned home and quickly got on the right track, spanking the Texas Rangers 9-1.

Jeremy Guthrie pitched seven innings, allowing just one run off a solo homer in the fifth. Guthrie (9-8) now leads the team in wins and has a winning record for the first time this season...

The offense backed him up, scoring five runs in the first three innings Kevin Millar homered twice in the game, and finished 2 for 5 with three RBIs. Brian Roberts, Ramon Hernandez and Juan Castro each had two RBIs...

The Birds (55-59) look to Daniel Cabrera (7-7) to continue the winning streak tonight...

Olson Struggles as O's Drop Series in Anaheim

Starter Garrett Olson couldn't make it through three innings, and the Orioles were crushed 9-4.

Olson allowed six runs off seven hits, and reliever Lance Cormier allowed another three runs to score in the fourth, giving the Angels a 9-1 advantage. The O's never made it close; a 3-run shot from Nick Markakis in the fifth accounted for the Bird's final runs.

There were a few bright spots in the game...Luis Montanez went 2 for 4 and homered in his first Major League at-bat...Jay Payton, playing center field for injured Adam Jones, made two highlight reel catches; one robbed a home run and another stopped a sure double...

The best part is that after a horrendous home stand, the Birds went on the road and return home with a winning record on the trip...they went 5-4 and took series against both the Yankees and the Mariners. While they lost the series in Anaheim, they still shut-out the best team in baseball with a rookie pitcher on the mound...

The O's are off today, but have no fear Baltimore sports fans...the Ravens take on the Patriots tonight in their first preseason game...

The Birds are home for a weekend series against the Texas Rangers before heading out to Cleveland...

Waters Drowns Angels in MLB Debut

Rookie Chris Waters made a splash in his first Major League performance, 1-hitting the Angels through eight innings and leading the Orioles to a 3-0 victory.

The O's handed Waters an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, and it turned out to be all the support he would need. Waters needed just 104 pitches to shut down the Angels' potent lineup; a single by Vladimir Guerrero in the second was the Angels only hit of the game until the ninth...

Waters walked three, struck out three and hit a batter...he was replaced for closer George Sherrill in the ninth, who promptly gave up the Angels second hit of the game before retiring the next three batters and recording his 31st save.

So...will Waters start again? Check out this quote from manager Dave Trembley...

"That's like asking if on Halloween they're going to have trick-or-treating. That's about it, that correlation right there. Are they going to trick-or-treat on Halloween?" (courtesy of Orioles.com).

Luke Scott added an insurance run in the seventh with a solo shot to right field, his 19th of the season ( a career high). Nick Markakis and Melvin Mora each drove in a run in the first...

With the win, the O's are guaranteed a winning road trip and have a chance to win all three series later tonight. The Birds send Garrett Olson (8-5) to the mound. Olson is coming off his longest start of his career; he pitched into the ninth inning against Seattle last week...

It wasn't all good news though...the Orioles announced that Adam Jones broke his foot and was placed on the DL...he may be out for the season...

(photos courtesy of MLB.com)

Sherrill can't hold on after O's Rally in ninth

The O's used a little magic in the ninth to tie the game, but closer George Sherrill couldn't get the game into extras, and the O's fell to the Angels 6-5.

While this game certainly can't be labeled a "heart breaker," it was definitely disappointing. The Birds seemed destined to lose early on; starter Dennis Sarfate went just three innings and was tagged for five runs. He was pulled in the fourth after he hit a batter and walked the next...both runners came around to score...Sarfate hasn't made a strong case to stay in the starting rotation; if anything he's pitching his way back to Triple A...

The Birds couldn't get anything going offensively until the ninth inning, when they scored four times with two out to tie the game at five. They handed Francisco Rodriguez , the Angels' closer, just his fourth blown save in 49 opportunities, and had the go-ahead run at second base before Aubrey Huff struck out to end the rally. Nick Markakis and Melvin Mora each drove in two runs in the inning (Markakis had three RBIs in the game).

Sherrill, who had pitched the eighth just to get some work in, was brought out to start the ninth and immediately gave up a double. With two outs, Sherrill loaded the bases with a walk, and then walked in the winning run...

Regardless of the outcome, you have to take some solace in the fact that the O's battled back against the best team, and the best closer, in baseball. In a game that they seemed destined to lose, the O's showed once again that they'll fight until the final out...I'm certainly proud of the team; it was just not the way you want to lose a game...

The Birds send rookie Chris Waters to the mound later tonight...Go O's!

(photos courtesy of MLB.com)

O's Can't Complete the Sunday Sweep

The Orioles couldn't hold on to two early leads and eventually lost to Seattle 8-4.

But what could you expect...it is Sunday! Daniel Cabrera looked rusty early before settling down in the middle innings. It all unraveled in the seventh, as Cabrera loaded the bases without recording an out. Cabrera had struck out six and walked none until that point; he walked two and allowed a hit in the seventh; all three runners scored and Cabrera was charged with seven runs off seven hits...

Nothing new here...the O's haven't swept a road series all season, and to expect the Birds to pull it off on a Sunday is asking a little much...

The O's are now 4-2 on the road trip, winning series against both the Yankees and Mariners. Next up: the LA Angels, the best team in baseball...the Birds need just one victory to come home with a winning road trip...

Guthrie Goes the Distance

Jeremy Guthrie threw the first complete game of his young career as the O's went on to beat Seattle 3-1.

I actually missed the entire game...my girlfriend and I had a graduation party and I popped the question...she said yes!

While we were celebrating, the O's were dominating. Guthrie allowed a run in the first before completely shutting down Seattle's offense. He allowed just four hits, struck out two and walked one...the ace is back!