On Sunday afternoon at Camden Yards the Birds couldn't close the deal on a homefield interleague sweep losing 5-4 in extras.

Saturday night, the O's battled back after George Sherrill blew his third save of the season.  In the bottom of the ninth new Oriole Oscar Salazar hit his first Baltimore homerun, a solo shot.  Ramon Hernandez then finished off the Pirates with a walkoff single to take it 8-7.

After the game Salazar was caught up in the moment.  "It's unbelievable," he said.

Sunday was a different story.  The heroics weren't there to bail out Sherrill this time, despite Brian Roberts' best efforts which tied the game in the ninth on a 2-run shot. 

Sherrill then proceeded to give up a walk, single, and then the go-ahead run on a single to Adam LaRouche to finish the game off 5-4.

The Orioles had played most of the game from behind on Daniel Cabrera wildness.  He was looking like his old self, wondering where the next pitch might wind up.  Cabrera has now given up 16 runs in 16 innings over his last 3 starts.

In total Sunday, Cabrera walked 5 batters, gave up 6 hits, and earned 4 of the 5 Pittsburgh runs.

With the loss, the Orioles continue their bizzare inability to win on Sundays now bringing their streak to 10.

Finally, congrats to Dennis Sarfate whose wife gave birth Sunday morning. 

The Houston Astros come to town on Tuesday to continue interleague play.  The Astros are coming off a 13-0 thumping at the hands of the Yankees Sunday.

Score: 4-5 Pirates, (Box Score)

Next Game: Astros 7:05pm Tuesday, Olson (5-2) vs. Backe (4-8)

Record: 34-34, 8GB

(AP Photo)

First, I want to express my genuine gratitude to Dave Trembley, Rick Kranitz, Andy MacPhail, and anyone else involved in the decision to designate Steve Trachsel.  The over-the-hill righty was in a downward spiral that everyone could see and I’m relieved that the Orioles brass could see it too. 

To fill Trachsel slot on the roster, the Orioles have called-up 29 year old right-handed first baseman Oscar Salazar. 

Said Trembley, “He impressed me in Spring Training.  He swung the bat and could play more than one position. He's a contact hitter -- went down to Triple-A and kept our interest." 

Salazar batted .311 with seven home runs, 23 doubles and 44 RBIs in 63 games with Norfolk this season.

On to Tuesday night’s game…

Despite Daniel Cabrera’s rocky start in which he gave up 6 runs on 5 innings, the Orioles offense battled back with 15 hits to beat the Red Sox 10-6 in Fenway.  It’s not easy to beat the Sox in Boston. They had previously only lost 1 game in 16 at home; but, the O’s bats came through in a big way.

Melvin Mora was the only hitter, starter or otherwise, not to record a hit on the night.

Aubrey Huff highlighted the barrage of offense going 4 for 5 including a 2-run single in the 7th to tie the game off of Hideki Okajima, who the Orioles have seemed to dominate this season.  Millar followed Huff to bring in the go-ahead run on a sac fly to center.

Three more runs in the ninth were welcomed icing on the cake.  While Red Sox fans were busy chanting “Beat LA”, they forgot that they still had the Orioles to worry about.

Score: 10-6 Orioles, (Box Score)

Next Game: @Red Sox Wed 7:05PM Olson (5-1) v. Colon (3-1)
Current Record: 32-31, 7 GB 

Thanks to back-to-back solo homeruns in the first inning from Melvin Mora and Kevin Millar, the Orioles jumped out to a quick lead on the Twins in Minnesota Wednesday night. 

What was a 2-0 lead after the first should have been 3-0 had Nick Markakis not been picked off of first, but it still wouldn’t have been enough as Daniel Cabrera’s confidence plummeted on the mound and the Orioles went on to lose 7-5.

Cabrera’s demeanor went from the deliberate stride and steady gaze that we’ve become used to this season to the rushed and cursing at himself young pitcher we try to forget from years past.

The key to Daniel’s maturity is not winning every game and not sitting down every batter, but how he deals with it when he gives up a couple runs in the second and then comes out for the third or how he rebounds from a 6 run and 8 hit on 6 inning outing as we will see when facing Josh Beckett on Tuesday.

He couldn’t shake things off mid-game; let’s hope he can do it before Boston.

Score: 5-7 Twins, Box Score

Highlights: Back-to-back 1st in. homers, 10 Orioles hits in game 

Next Game: Twins Th 1:10PM Olson (4-1) v. Baker (2-0)

Current Record: 28-30, 7GB

 (AP Photo)

The deciding run came on an Evan Longoria double scoring Orioles killer Carlos Pena who went 5 for 8 with 4 walks in the series.

Daniel Cabrera gave up the first 4 runs keeping it close through 5 and 2/3 in the mediocre outing. 

Trembley was visibly frustrated in the dugout often shaking his head and staring at the cement wall.  He was especially perturbed at Hernandez and Cabrera’s inability to hold Rays runners on base early.

In a string of tough Orioles losses, this is one that you can almost live with. 

The offense put together a few scoring plays and Cabrera kept things close against a very potent run scoring team, but this is no way to start a tough divisional home stand.

The loss brings the Orioles losing streak to 5 games, a game below .500, and with a Yankee win, puts the O’s in sole possession of last place again by half a game.

(Sunday Box Score)

(Photo: AP)

Fifteen days of rest did not rejuvenate the 37 year old veteran as hoped resulting in an 11-4 loss Saturday night at Tampa Bay. 

The struggling workhorse couldn’t get out of the second inning before surrendering 9 runs and giving up 2 home runs, both to Evan Longoria.

Give the Rays credit, they brought their A game, but apparently Trachsel brought his golf game and that’s exactly where Trax looks like he belongs – on the golf course. 

In better times this would be the last we see of Steve Trachsel in an Orioles uniform, but without a choice of viable options, he’ll likely be a throwaway fifth starter at least until the all-star break. 

Trachsel and Albers will combine to be something of a fifth starter by committee and hope that the O’s can score in bunches when it’s their turn.

Oriole bats were relatively subdued again, though Luke Scott has been quietly finding his power swing.  Scott hit his fifth homer of the season and his fourth in the month of May.

The O’s are back to .500 and only a half game ahead of the last place Yankees who are rallying in a 4 game winning streak of their own and take on Seattle Sunday.

(Saturday Box Score)

Cabrera the Stopper

Hopes of breaking this 4-game losing streak are pinned to Daniel Cabrera (5-1) who will start Sunday against James Shields (4-3) in the final game of the road trip.

Cabrera is on a 3-game winning streak, holds a 2.23 ERA on the road this season, and is 6-0 lifetime against the Rays – all signs pointing to a streak-stopping situation.

After Saturday’s lineup shakeup that featured Freddie Bynum (0 for 4) leading off, Millar (0 for 1, 3 walks) back at DH behind Huff (0 for 4), Markakis sitting, and Cintron (1 for 4) at second base, Sunday is back to normal.

The lineup for Sunday afternoon will have Brian Roberts back leading off and playing second, Markakis back in right, Huff cleaning up, and Ramon Hernandez, for better or worse, behind the plate.

The Birds will have the Yankees waiting for them when they return to the yard for a Memorial Day afternoon home stand kickoff and the Red Sox starting Friday. 

Sure would be nice to have a win going into those series.

 (Photo: A/P)

The Baltimore offense scored early and scored often in the series opener in New York giving Daniel Cabrera his fifth win, 12-2, on Tuesday night.

The Yankee defense suffered a complete collapse giving up 12 runs, only 4 of them actually earned by New York pitchers. 

A Jeter throwing error to first and a blooper reel Damon fielding error on a misjudged popup had the Bummers on their heals early giving up 7 runs in the first inning alone.

Young star Adam Jones had an Orioles career night recording 4 hits for the first time as a Bird on 5 at bats and 4 RBIs. 

Luke Scott and Kevin Millar chimed in with big homeruns of their own, among 7 different Orioles starting players with RBIs. 

Daniel Cabrera, the new Mr. Automatic, made the Yankees look as bad as they have on their recent slide. 

One pitch did get away from the fireballer and hit Jeter square on the left hand.  Initial reports showed a bruise, but watching the replay over and over sure had the looks of a break.

LaTroy Hawkins then struggled to take out the Yankee frustrations on Luke Scott, failing to hit Scott twice.  The second obvious attempt came in too high for Scott’s liking who started a bench-clearing conversation between the two teams. 

One part Jeter retaliation, one part homerun fodder, and two parts frustration yielded one failed attempt to break the Yankees' desperation.

It isn’t often that the Orioles get to kick the Yankees while they’re down, but mark Tuesday night on your calendars.

(Tuesday Box Score) 

(Photo: AP)

In a 6-3 Orioles win over the Red Sox at Camden Yards Wednesday, Jay Payton was the difference-maker with a 7^th inning 2 out grand slam off Hideki Okajima.

Payton was responsible for driving in 5 of the 6 Oriole runs providing plenty of one-man support for Daniel Cabrera who is now 4-1. 

I’m not sure if my standards for him are rising given his recent success, but giving up 10 hits makes me nervous.  He was able to scatter the hits and limit the Sox to only 3 runs (2 on solo homeruns), so, on the traditional Cabrera scale I suppose it was a good to very good outing.

The big righty never looked dominant, as he has in his strongest outings this season, but he seemed to work his way out of trouble when he needed to.  In the most impressive stat for Cabrera, he did not walk one batter.

Cabrera even chipped in to assist Payton by taking the post-grand slam curtain call at the incessant fan cheers. 

Red Sox fan presence Tuesday and Wednesday seemed to be a bit less pronounced than I remember it from last year.  Perhaps the Boston kids are still in school and it will be different come summer, but it was nice to hear the Orioles faithful roar.

Soon after Payton’s big shot, Manny threw a hissy fit when we was called out at first on a strong Huff throw from behind third base.  I couldn’t get to the monitor fast enough, and I was still high on the previous inning, but it did look like a close bang-bang play.

Manny’s frustration exploded as he slammed his helmet to the ground causing it to bounce just past the first base ump and nearly half way to second base. 

Inexplicably, Ramirez was not ejected for the helmet incident or the yelling, screaming, whining, and crying thereafter. 

His first base coach held him back pretty effectively, and the first base umpire’s back was to the slugger, but every other ump on the field got a perfect view of the whole incident.  It was, however, a nice little cherry on top of the Boston-beating sundae.

(Tuesday Box Score) 

The Orioles also issued a press release this evening that RHP Jim Hoey (not to be confused with Paul Shuey) underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder on May 4.  I'm not sure why it took 10 days to announce or how many people remember Jim Hoey, but he's done for the season with a torn labrum.  Thought I'd pass that gem along.

(Photo: AP/Nick Wass)

The Orioles snapped their five-game losing streak Thursday night with a 4-1 win behind a sparkling performance by Daniel Cabrera. 

Allowing only 1 run on 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 7 in a full 9 innings of work, the new and improved Cabrera’s record goes to 3 wins and 1 loss. 

This is the fifth complete game in the young hurlers five year career; a career that has seen domination of the Kansas City Royals with a 2.25 ERA and 4-0 record. 

Nick Markakis was the offensive spark in the third with his seventh homerun of the season; this one a three run shot off of rookie Luke Hochevar. 

The first run came in the first on a Hochevar wild pitch with Millar at the plate, allowing Markakis to score. 

The Orioles made the most of their offensive spots only needing six hits for their four runs, something they have struggled with as they lost eight of their last eleven games.

(Thursday Box Score)

(AP Photo: Charlie Riedel)

Bynum In, L. Hernandez Out, Torres Down, Cintron Who

Dave Trembley started the newly rehabbed Freddy Bynum at shortstop last night, where he promptly went 2 for 4 with a run scored.  The Coach confirmed that Bynum is now the everyday shortstop and Luis Hernandez has been relegated to the bench utility role.

It’s no surprise that this move sends Eider Torres back to the minors with his line of two hits in nine major league at-bats and three errors on thirteen chances still intact. 

Alex Cintron, veteran shortstop who singed a minor league deal after the beginning of the season, now seems to be left out of the party.  His .302 BA and ten RBI with the Tides weren’t enough to earn this 2000 post-season all-star a major league contract. 

Cintron can opt-out of his minor league deal to test the free agent market as of 5/15.