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)