ORIOLES REPORT CARD

IT WAS OVER WHEN …

Catcher Ramon Hernandez took a Mike Mussina offering over the right-center field fence. The home run was Hernandez’s 1,000th career hit, and gave the Orioles a 4-0 lead in an eventual 13-4 win.

O’S FANS CHEERED …

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When Mike Mussina was yanked from the game trailing 6-0 after five innings. The former Oriole, who fled Baltimore as a free agent for big bucks and the probability of a World Series ring, is now 10-8 with a 4.79 ERA in 25 starts against his old club.

O’S FANS JEERED …

When latest Yankee purchase Xavier Nady threw out Brian Roberts at home plate in the first inning. The Orioles, for a short spurt, gave Yankees fans something to cheer about in Nady’s first game in the Bronx Zoo. It happened again in the seventh when Nady hit a solo home run.

FANTASY STUD …

Adam Jones hit his first career grand slam, and drove in five runs on a 3-for-5 night. Jones also tripled, and saw his average climb to .280. Just over halfway into his first full season, Jones is becoming a legitimate fantasy prospect in the outfield.

GOOD CALL …

By manager Dave Trembley to find some work for left-hander Jamie Walker, who came off the disabled list Sunday after nearly a month of nursing elbow inflammation. The reliever threw 1.1 innings Monday after the game had been decided, making his first appearance since June 25.

BAD CALL …

By the Yankees to let so many Orioles reach base. The Orioles have struggled to convert baserunners into runs lately, but the Monday’s 17 hits and three walks contributed to an offensive outburst that even the mighty Yankees couldn’t overcome.

IF ONLY …

Some of those 13 runs carried over, or were used at an earlier date. The Orioles offense is used to having to score a boat load of runs. But Monday, Jeremy Guthrie’s quality start meant the Orioles bats could have held back. The fireworks simply made a win in Yankee Stadium that much sweeter for O’s fans.

swelsh@baltimoreexaminer.com