Garrett Olson looked like a reliable big league pitcher again in his second start of the year for the O’s.  He was bested in a pitcher’s duel by Dana Eveland in this 2-1 Orioles loss, but not by much.

Losses behind this much strong starting pitching are hard to swallow.  Each 1, 2, or 3 run start is a little pleasant surprise that’s not to be wasted and I get the feeling we don’t know just how many of them we can count on getting.

Ramon Hernandez had the team’s only RBI, driving in Melvin Mora on a grounder in the ninth to ruin Hudson Street’s save chance.  Trembley had given Ramon a stern talking to about his little homerun trot from Monday night- let’s hope the skip can keep the ship afloat.

While the Orioles have lost 7 of their last 9 games, they’ve only scored 14 runs in their last 6 outings.  Huff leads the team with a .278 and it’s all downhill from there, but even Huff is searching for excuses: 

“You're going to go through dry spells. We'll bounce back. We've had a pretty killer road trip; we haven't had much time off. Hopefully, that's it. I'm just trying to make an excuse somewhere.”

This loss parks the Birds at .500 with a record of 16-16, 4 full games behind the Red Sox.  The season’s honeymoon April may be over and reality looms.

(Monday Box Score)

Loewen Non-Information

Adam Loewen’s surgeon can’t find anything wrong with his elbow either so the recommendation is to rub some dirt on it and get out there.  He’ll start throwing forthwith and I’d say he’ll be back up and struggling in 3-4 weeks.

It is hard to tell if no diagnosis is better than a moderate diagnosis.  Something is obviously wrong, so saying ‘get back out there’ shouldn’t offer us much comfort.  This could be the nagging injury that wears out Loewen’s welcome.

(Photo: AP/Ben Margot)

First year reliever Bierd is going to be out of commission for 45 days with shoulder soreness.  In fact, he’ll take a couple weeks without throwing a pitch and will then rehab from there.  Bierd was one of the more solid options out of the Oriole bullpen.  The call-up to replace him has not been announced, but I would assume it will be another right handed reliever from Norfolk.

Greg Aquino Clears Waivers

Following his release and time on the waiver wire, reliever Greg Aquino went unclaimed so winds up in Norfolk.  Aquino needs some time to work out the kinks and regain his command, but no one else in the league jumped at the chance to claim him.

No Loewen News

Updates on Loewen have been vague and few.  I know I keep saying the same thing, but it’s all I’ve got:  bone scan was clean and no one knows exactly what’s wrong so he’s visiting with his surgeons again.

Yankees Minor Leaguer Suspended 50 Games (No Oriole Content/NOC)

In non-Oriole but AL East news, 20 year old Yankee pitching farmhand Angel Reyes was suspended 50 games for violating the minor league banned substances policy by testing positive for stanozolol metabolites.  Angel has been touted as one of the Yankees top long-term left handed starter prospect with a high ceiling and has elicited comparisons to Bedard.  A quick Google search also revealed that Angel Reyes, III (presumably no relation) is also a lawyer specializing in Complex Pharmaceutical Litigation.  Highlight this for a potential Angel Reyes crossover opportunity.

Bob McCrory made his major league debut last night in the worst fashion possible.  Handed the ball down 3-1 going into the seventh inning, with Matt Albers, reliever turned spot-starter giving us all we could ask for, McCrory turned self-destructive on the way to an 8-1 Oriole loss.

Maybe it was the hot lights, the cold air, or just an off night, but Baltimore is less likely to greet McCrory with open arms the next time he walks out of the bullpen.  The recent call-up recorded only 1 out but was credited with 4 runs on 2 walks and 2 hits.

Sarfate had come on to try and stop McCrory’s bleeding, but not only surrendered McCrory’s runs but earned 1 of his own – all in the seventh inning.

The offense wasn’t helping the cause with a missed hit and run sign while Mora was at bat and Roberts was moving off of first.  Millar trying to take second on a liner to left-center wasn’t supporting the pitchers either.  Sure, he was safe and called out on an inept tag, but he had no business being anywhere off of first with that hit.

My heart did jump when Luis Hernandez slid awkwardly into third and appeared to have sprained his knee, but no such luck.  I really thought we might be getting our first look at Cintron in an Oriole uniform this weekend – or at least getting Fahey back.

Trembley said Cintron isn’t quite ready yet, but his line is looking pretty ready:  2 homeruns and 13 hits in 47 at bats (that’s .277 if you don’t have a calculator handy).  Not all-star numbers from Norfolk, but at least he isn’t Luis.

The only late-game reward for waiting out the final pitch was a little scuffle between Sarfate and Pena.  The slugger was lingering outside the batter’s box, looking a little too comfortable when Sarfate did a little barking.  I thought I heard, “Get back in there,” while others thought is was more like, “I’m going to bean you.”

Nice to see some fire- you sure don’t want to let any one get to comfortable, especially in your own house when you’re down by so much.  Nothing came of it, but the message was sent and the Rays bench had a reason to get some late game stretching in at the top of the dugout. 

That finishes off a better than expected April for the Birds, leaving them tied with Tampa Bay for second behind the Red Sox.  This was the hottest April on record for the Rays, and adds another strong start to the Oriole books.  Let’s hope the seasonal decline can stay at bay.

Loewen Update

The bone scan was clear (not sure what they were looking for, exactly) so they’re not sure what the problem is still.  Adam’s going back to the surgeon so he can check things out.  I think we can look forward to Olson’s next few starts.

 (Wednesday's Box Score)

(Photo of Alex Cintron: Minor League Baseball)

For the second night in a row, the Orioles took a one run win from the Mariners in Seattle.  Wednesday night it was good pitching and timely hitting that did the job, and Thursday night it was timely hitting and ample hitting.

Daniel Cabrera proved this naysayer wrong by pitching eight full innings on Wednesday night; more than any other Oriole pitcher this season.  Not only did he go long, but he looked good doing it giving up only two earned runs and having his way with Mariner batters.  He mixed speeds and hit his spots with all pitches; something Cabrera hasn’t done in back to back starts since I can remember.   

You couldn’t draw it much better as Nick Markakis gave the Orioles the lead, 2-1, with his go-ahead solo home run in the eighth followed by George Sherrill wrapping up the ninth.

Thursday night, on the other hand, was an old fashioned 8-7 slugfest.  All the Oriole bats contributed, except for Ramon Hernandez who gave us an 0-4 and watched his average drop to .188.  Jones nearly bashed a grand slam, turned two-run double, in the seventh.  Jones finish 3-4 with three RBI, and Brian Roberts put the Birds ahead for good with a solo shot in the eighth.

You have to worry about Adam Loewen who lasted 2 2/3 and gave up 5 of the Mariners’ 7 runs.  Loewen now carries a 7.85 ERA and has given up 16 runs in 18 innings.  In the first three innings of his starts Adam has a 9.00 ERA.  Not a good way to start ballgames.

Loewen missed most of last season with an elbow injury and it doesn’t look like he’s regained his form.  Hayden Penn isn’t exactly waiting in the wings at Norfolk with his 1-1 and 4.88 ERA even if he does have 24 innings under his belt. 

Garrett Olson, on the other hand, is 1-1 with a 1.61 ERA in his last three starts and has compiled 20 Ks and one walk.  Don’t forget, Matt Albers also has shown that he can make a start so maybe it’s time Loewen ironed out the kinks in triple A.

Loewen gets a close eye in triple A, Albers gets to start, and Olson gets to work out of the bullpen.  Could work.

(Wednesday Box Score)  (Thursday Box Score)

And, for anyone keeping track, Frank Thomas wound up with the A's again and went 0-3 with 2 walks in an 11-3 victory over the Twins.

(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)