O's Use Big Sixth to Sink Yanks

Daniel Cabrera had his best start of the season, and the O's broke the game wide open with a seven-run sixth inning to defeat the New York Yankees, 8-2, in front of a crowd of over 40,000 last night at Camden Yards.

With the game tied at one, the O's batted around for the first time this season, and used seven singles and a throwing error to score seven times in one inning, another season high.

Cabrera came out to start the seventh, but after he gave up a lead-off home run, was pulled with a six run cushion. The O's bullpen was tremendous yet again, giving up just two hits and not allowing a run in the final three frames.

Strangely enough, it appeared that the majority of the crowd were actually Oriole fans. The stadium erupted in cheers throughout the sixth inning, and the crowd was on their feet in the ninth with an 0-2 count on Derek Jeter (Jeter ended up striking out looking on a 1-2 count).

With the win, the O's held onto second-place in the A.L. East, just a half-game behind the surging Red Sox.

(photos courtesy of MLB.com)

NOTHING Beats Watching the O's from the Press Booth...

...EXCEPT a come-from-behind victory in extra innings!


On Thursday, I had the privilege to experience what most fans can only dream about. Thanks to my professor, Mr. John Eisenberg, my classmates and I were able to embark on a VIP tour of Camden Yards.
We arrived early, and were able to stand on the field during batting practice, take a tour of the clubhouse, and watch the entire game from the press booth. The view was absolutely amazing!




I brought my camera along, just in case. The gamble paid off, as I was permitted to take photos before and after the game. I'll include a slide show in a few days, for now, here's a picture of Jones signing autogaphs before the game.

The actual game was intense. I was determined to go 1-0 lifetime in the press box, and had a feeling the O's would help make that happen.

Jeremy Guthrie started the game, and had a decent outing. He gave up two runs in the second, but shut the White Sox down until the seventh. Meanwhile, the O's couldn't get anything going against Gavin Floyd until a 2-run shot from Markakis evened the score. Guthrie came back out to start the seventh, and was pulled after giving up back-to-back solo shots.

Down 5-3 in the ninth, the O's tied the game with RBIs from Brian Roberts and Melvin Mora. O's closer George Sherrill pitched a scoreless tenth, and then things got interesting.

After Bobby Jenks had blown the save in the ninth, the Sox decided to bring in Boone Logan. After Mllar walked to start the inning, Luke Scott was able to draw a walk, giving D.H. Aubrey Huff a chance to collect his first hit of the game. Huff connected, but came just shy of driving the ball out of the park.

Adam Jones was up next, and minutes later the O's were celebrating their come-from-behind victory, courtesy of Jones' game-winning single down the left-field line.



In their first extra inning game of the season, the O's were victorious, and are now 5-1 in one run games. They also hold the best home record (7-3) in the American League.

The team needed this win, as the Yankees arrive in Baltimore today. I'll personally be in attendance for Sunday's game, and will keep you posted on the first two games of the series.

(photos by Jon Parr)

Blue Jays are the Dominant Birds

The O's managed just six hits against the Jays last night, three of them leaving the Yard. Nick Markakis and Melvin Mora both homered for the O's, and Adam Jones hit his first home run as an Oriole. Jones, wearing number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson, couldn't have picked a better night to unleash the long ball. Last night was 'T-shirt Tuesday' at Camden Yards, and as Adam jogged the bases, throngs of O's fans draped in Jones' jerseys cheered him on.

Unfortunately, the Jays were having a celebration of their own. They crushed the Orioles 11-3. The game was pretty much over in the third, when Steve Trachsel was pulled from the game after one of his worst starts in recent memory. The bullpen didn't fare much better, but that happens when your starter can't make it through three.

A day after the O's collected 13 hits (12 singles and Millar's home run), the O's were able to connect for extra-bases off the Jay's pitching. All three homers were solo shots, and Luke Scott added a double. It just wasn't enough, as the O's and Jays now hold identical records, and now both teams are behind the Red Sox in the battle for first in the A.L.East.

It gets worse. The hard-hitting White Sox are in town for the next two days, and then the Yankees come to town for a three game set. I'll keep you posted...

(photos courtesy of MLB.com)

O's Take Back Sole Possession of First...

In a game between two teams tied for first in their division, the O's came out on top, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 in what turned into a ninth inning nail-biter.

It appears Kevin Millar is happy to be back home. Since his two RBIs on Opening day, he had driven in only two more over the next 11 games. Millar tied the game at one a piece in the first with an RBI single, and later added a 2-run shot in the fifth to give the O's the lead. Welcome home, Kevin.


Spot starter Matt Albers pitched beautifully, allowing only one run through five innings. Slumping Ramon Hernandez added a sacrifice fly in the eighth, which would prove to be the game winner. And Adam Jones, after striking out four times on Sunday, went 3 for 3 at the plate, with a walk and a stolen base.

The bullpen was once again solid, though things got scary in the ninth. After getting the first out, closer George Sherrill, who leads the league in saves, gave up his first hit this season. It got worse: Alex Rios, who had the night off, came in to pinch-hit and slapped a 2-run homer. Sherrill went right back to work though, recording the final two outs and notching his sixth save in six appearances.

Overall, it was a great game. The O's set a new season record with 13 hits. Strangely, 12 were singles; the only extra-base was Millar's blast. Keep it up boys, we play again tomorrow night.

(photos courtesy of MLB.com)

O's Head Home After a Tough Trip...

The O's were hoping to head home with a .500 record on the road. For the first four innings, they had a shot.

After Ramon Hernandez won last night's game with a solo homer in the ninth, anything seemed possible.

Today, Brian Burres held the Rays hitless for the first four innings. His stats tell a different story, as Burres gave up six runs in the fifth inning.

The Orioles lost 6-2. The bullpen was magnificent, and gave the team a chance to come back. The O's bats were quiet when it mattered most.Nick Markakis was responsible for all the offense in the loss. He blasted his first home run of the season in the sixth, and drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh to give the O's their only runs. The team that had been so efficient in clutch hits went 1-11 with runners in scoring position (and that was a walk, not a hit!). Both Millar and Huff (the Ray killer) struck out to end the threat in the seventh. After that, the game was essentially over.

With Toronto's win over Texas in extra innings, the O's are tied for first in the A.L. East. The Blue Jays come to Camden Yards tomorrow in an early battle for supremacy...it's only a two game series, but with B.J. Ryan activated today (he earned a save after giving up a lead-off triple), it should be an exciting series. Here's hoping the O's continue their red-hot (or orange-hot?) play at home. Stay tuned.

(photo by Jon Parr) (photo courtesy of MLB.com)