Payton's Bat Not Enough in O's Loss

The Orioles couldn't overcome an early deficit and fell to the Cubs tonight 7-4.

The O's went to their bullpen early...actually, before the game even began. Brian Burres, the scheduled starter, felt ill before the game, and the O's went with reliever Matt Albers. Albers was pulled in the first inning, and will most likely be placed on the DL. He took the loss, as the Cubs scored four runs in the first; it was too much for the O's to overcome.

Overall, the Orioles bullpen didn't do a bad job, but to expect them to pitch an entire game is a little much...

Meanwhile, the O's weren't doing much offensively to help the cause...Jay Payton provided all the offense, smacking two 2-run homers, one in the second and another in the fourth. That was all the O's could muster, and they went quietly in the ninth, with Kerry Wood striking out the side.

The Birds can still win the series tomorrow afternoon, but it will be tricky...Radhames Liz is the scheduled starter, and the bullpen is worn pretty thin...