Waters, Bierd bury birds’ bid for sweep

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August 10, 5:07 PM

by Jay Trucker, Baltimore Orioles Examiner

 

 

The Orioles scored 25 runs to Texas’s 16 in this weekend’s three game series at Camden Yards.  On Sunday afternoon, Texas scored 15 of those 16 runs, running away with a victory as the Orioles failed to sweep the series and inch closer to five hundred. 

Insert Water Related Pun Here

Chris Waters disappointed fans who were looking for another one hitter after the newbie’s impressive performance in LA.  The SP in his second game as an Oriole gave up four runs in the first inning, including a three run shot from Josh Hamilton. 

Waters struggled, giving up five hits and running his pitch count to around 30.  Of course, he’s not the only pitcher to give up a dinger to Hamilton this year.  The Rangers outfielder had 28 homers and 111 RBIs following the first inning blast.

More RBIs for Mora

The Orioles picked up two runs of their own in the bottom of the 1^st.  Melvin Mora hit his 17^th homer of the year after Brian Roberts reached on a double. 

Jay Payton led off the second with a double and Lou Montanez pushed a low ball into shallow left for a single and his second major league RBI.  The O’s were down 3-4 after two innings.

Huff Carries a Big Stick

The birds took the lead briefly in the bottom of the third inning, when Aubrey Huff hit a two RBI home run.  Has anyone else noticed that Huff takes a half a step while putting his bat down, making it look like the bat is a walking stick?  No matter, he didn’t need a push to trot around the bases for his 23^rd home run of the year.  Anyone who predicted Huff would have a .304 batting average this season is either a genius or a moron. 

Ian Kinsler put the Rangers back on top with his own two run homer.  There goes Waters’ bid for rookie of the year.

Melvin Mora tied the game when he singled in Brian Roberts.  The series-ending contest was tied at 6 after four innings. 

Ugly Bierd

Replacing Waters, O’s RP Randor Bierd did little to inspire confidence, loading the bases with no outs in the fifth inning.  Alex Cintron leapt for a line drive, but it bounced off of his glove and into the outfield.  Two runs scored when Cintron let a ball dribble past him.  After giving up three, Bierd was replaced without recording an out.  Lance Cormier allowed three more runs to score, Cormier finally ended the inning with a pair of ground outs and a pop up.  The Rangers doubled their score, leading the O’s 6-12.

Kevin Millar looped a single that was erased on a double play and Lou Montanez got his second hit of the game, but the O’s failed to answer in the bottom of the fifth.

Cormier pitched into another bases loaded jam in the 9^th when Ian Kinsler recorded his fourth hit of the game.  The O’s escaped without allowing a run, despite another ball hit towards today’s fielding goat, Alex Cintron. 

Poetic Performance

In the seventh inning, amorous lyrical poem Warner Madrigal replaced Rangers starter Matt Harrison, who was in line for the win despite giving up 6 runs on 10 hits. Yet more evidence that “wins” is a meaningless statistic.  Madrigal put the Orioles down without allowing any runs.  

Lou Montanez hit his third single of the day to lead off the eighth, but the O's couldn't capitalize. 

Piling On 

Closer George Sherrill came on for some work in the ninth.  With nothing on the line, he definitely didn’t bring his A game, giving up a three run homer to Marlon Byrd before ending the inning on back to back strike outs. 

Roberts picked up his fourth hit of the day in the ninth.  He was 1.000 for the day.  Roberts scored on a Mora double, but that was all she wrote for the O’s.  They’ll fly to Cleveland for a four game series starting tomorrow night.    

Does anyone think I’ll be running the headline “Bierd Cut” sometime in the near future?

Score: 7-15 Texas

Record: 56-60, 14 GB

Next Game: @ Cleveland.  Mon. 7:05pm  Sarfate (4-2, 4.48 ERA) vs Carmona (5-4, 4.46 ERA)

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