Sunday, September 28, 2008

O's losing season ends...with a loss

It's finally over. The Orioles lost their final game of the 2008 season this afternoon, falling to the Toronto Blue Jays 10-1.

O's starter Jeremy Guthrie took the loss and lasted just four innings. Guthrie was charged with three runs off six hits (two were home runs). The bullpen added to the O's woes yet again, as Toronto tacked on seven more runs in the next four innings. There was one bright spot: George Sherrill pitched a scoreless ninth, allowing no hits while striking out two.

The offense? Nonexistent. The Birds couldn't get on the board until the sixth inning and managed just five hits all game. Melvin Mora's RBI double was the highlight of the afternoon. Nick Markakis went 3-for-4 and finished the season with a team-leading .306 batting average.

That's it. There is no next game, no tomorrow. The O's season is officially over. I'll be back later next week to talk about what went right and what went wrong this year..."The 2008 Season in Review."

Back-to-Back Rainy Days Produce Different Outcomes

Rain..you never know what the weather will bring you. For the Orioles, rain shortened their last two games: a 3-1 loss on Friday and a 2-1 victory Saturday night.

The O's had lost 10 straight before the rain worked in their favor last night...after heavy showers forced an early loss Friday, the precipitation allowed the Orioles to claim their first win in nearly two weeks on Saturday. Brian Bass pitched six strong innings, and the rain made sure that the O's bullpen couldn't allow any further damage...

In a few hours, the Birds will play their final game of the 2008 season. Jeremy Guthrie, who started the season off, will pitch for the final time this year...how fitting. I'll be there at Camden Yards for the final regular season game (no October series this year), and can only hope that the O's finish off the season with a bang!
I'll be back for the final game update shortly...GO ORIOLES!!!