Baltimore Orioles Examiner

Orioles Squander A Four Run Lead

Early Lead for the Birds

Aubrey Huff hit yet another home run in the first, his nineteenth of the year.  Cabrera gave it back in the bottom of the inning on a pair of hits.  The game was tied at one after an inning. 

Adam Jones scored in the third after a Scott Rolen error, a Brandon Fahey sac bunt, and a wild pitch.  Brian Roberts worked a walk and stole second on a close play.  Announcer and spousal abuse funnyman Rick Dempsey said Roberts beat the tag by “milliliters” of a second.”  Interesting.  Markakis then reached base when the Jays’ 2B dropped to the ground and appeared to do the breaststroke in a flawed effort to grab a ground ball.  After an Aubrey Huff sac fly, the Orioles led 3-1.

Melvin Mora took off from first base and scored on an Adam Jones single in the fourth inning.  Mora then retreated to the dugout to grab his inhaler.

Brandon Fahey, Power Hitter

Cabrera allowed another run to score in the fourth, but pitched himself out of a one out bases loaded jam.  4-2 Orioles through four innings.

Rose’s brother Dustin McGowan was lifted as the Blue Jays pitcher after four innings.  The BJs relievers did a better job containing the O’s until the top of the seventh, when Brandon Fahey hit a double on a nine pitch at bat that sent Ramon Hernandez chug a lugging to third base.  The bases were loaded on an intentional walk to B Rob, bringing Nick Markakis to the plate.  Markakis scored Fahey and Hernandez on a single to left field.  The O’s led 6-2. 

New (Old):Pitcher, Same ‘Pen

Cabrera allowed a run in the seventh, and reliever Dennis Sarfate, the only uninjured middle reliever in the birds’ pen at this point, came on in the seventh to bail out D Cab.  Sarfate promptly gave up three runs. 

Alberto Castillo replaced Sarfate with a man on first.  Castillo made his major league debut tonight.  His unauthenticated birth certificate says that he is 33 years old.  Castillo looked shaky, giving up a single and hitting a batter to walk the bases.  When he saw the near disaster unfold, closer George Sherrill peaked his flat brim out of the bullpen and exclaimed, “hey, don’t tread on my territory, rookie!”

Kevin Millar moseyed over from first base to talk to Cuban defector Castillo.  Here’s what Millar sounded like to the RP:

“Blah, blah.  Blah, blah, blah. Blah.” 

When Millar’s best cowboy up was lost in translation, Trembley pulled the O’s newest RP.  Knuckle dragger Chad Bradford got the first batter he faced to groundout, but the Orioles had already blown their lead.  It was 6 all after seven innings.

Former O, Current BJ BJ Ryan came on for the Canadian birds in the ninth, retiring his former team in order.

Alex Rios walked in the ninth inning and advanced to third when Ramon Hernandez threw a pick off attempt that sailed wide right ala Scott Norwood.  The pro-Matt Weiters lobby grows stronger by the day.  Rios scored when an easy ground ball dribbled between Freddie Bynum’s spindly legs.  Wow, that’s a pretty awful way to lose a game.  I mean, two errors in the bottom of the ninth?  Tonight’s team looked an awful lot like the 98-07 Orioles. 

I hear that a certain retired legend is thinking about a comeback.  Local sports voices have been whispering that he’d be a good fit for Baltimore.  If you were Andy MacPhail, would you take a chance on Brett Favre?  I mean, the guy’s wild, but he still has a hell of an arm.

Score:  6-7 Blue Jays

Record: 44-44, 10.5 GB

Next Game:  Wed. 7:07 @Toronto.  Olson (6-3, 5.04 ERA) vs. Burnett (8-8, 4.92 ERA)

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