The O’s lost today’s matinee game after taking the first two from the Yankees. This series featured a game of every kind. Monday, the birds opened their road trip with a 13 to 4 victory; Tuesday, they squeaked by the Yanks 7 to 6; today, they could only muster 3 runs against the Yanks’ 13.

Such is the beauty, and the horror, of the long season.

Cabrera Takes Aim

Yesterday’s highlights included another bend-but-don’t-break performance from closer George Sherrill, who only impressed the scouts if they enjoy roller coaster rides. An inning before Sherrill’s performance starter Daniel Cabrera was tossed for hitting A Rod.

This umpire obviously doesn’t know D Cab very well. If Cabrera was aiming to hit the NY slugger, he probably would have thrown a strike.

No Sweep Til

Dennis Sarfate, a New York native, got his first career major league start at Yankee Stadium today. The good news is he only allowed two hits. The bad news is he struggled with his command, giving up three walks, all of which scored, partially due to an uncharacteristic Nick Markakis throwing error.

The O’s led 1-0 early on when Aubrey Huff singled to score Brian Roberts. The Orioles DH has been so hot that Yankees 1B Jason Giambi rubbed his back for good luck.

Birds Flipped the Bird

Giambi’s burly show of affection paid off when he basically bunted to the left outfield to start a big New York inning.

Giambi had to go the other way with it because O’s skipper Dave Trembley puts a big shift on the mustachioed bomber, a shift for which Giambi is not fond. If you check the link, please note that the photo doesn’t even do the moment justice. Giambi began giving the one finger salute half way up the baseline and didn’t stop until he made the turn. Classy.

The Yankees picked up four runs in the sixth and four in the seventh to run away with it. Bobby Abreu led the team with a 3-4 performance that included two home runs.

The O’s put four pitchers on the mound today, including Brian Burres, who Sarfate replaced in the rotation. Burres had another rough outing, going one and a third innings and allowing four runs to score. The game was effectively over by the time Ferndando Cabrera came on to finish the sixth inning.

Payback’s a Pitch

Both teams were going through the motions when E Ramirez, who looks like he played in last year’s little league world series, came on to relieve tubby starter Jobba Chamberlain. Ramirez tied the record for “least pitches thrown before getting ejected.” He tossed his first pitch just over the head of Kevin Millar to get the boot.

Joe Girardi came out to argue the ejection to no avail.

West Coast Bound

Spindly Orioles SS Juan Castro used all of his might to push one over the left field wall, but the rest of the Orioles lineup went down quietly. The birds had enough power to take the series from the perennially contending pinstripe squad, but their pitching did not allow them a chance to sweep the series this afternoon.

The Orioles have the day off tomorrow before heading to the West Coast, where they’ll really be getting into the dog days of summer. They’ll be playing the Seattle Mariners this weekend. The Mariners carry the worst record in the AL and fired their GM last month.

Score: 3-13 New York

Record: 51-56, 12GB

Next Game: @ Seattle. Fri. 10:10pm (Olson, 7-5 5.90 ERA) vs. Washburn (5-9, 4.50 ERA)

For more info: Check out the ESPN boxscore here

Topics: Dennis Sarfate , Bobby Abreu , Jason Giambi