It looked like it was going to be a bumpy ride on the Dennis Sarfate experience Monday night. The birds battled back from a rough first inning, answering the Indians hitting with clutch swings of their own. At the end of the day, poor fielding and relieving ultimately sealed the O's defeat in the opener of a four game series in Cleveland.

First Licks

Sarfate gave up four runs in the first inning. Alex Cintron didn’t do him any favors, missing the bag and throwing late to 1^st. Instead of a double play, the Indians had the bases loaded with no outs. Cintron missed the bag by a few inches, but fielders typically get the call. Indians SS Jhonny Peralta even started walking towards the dugout before being called back by the safe call. 0-4 Cleveland before the O’s had a chance to bat.

Flipping Around

The Indians sent eight to the plate in the first, so surely Sarfate could get the .209 hitting number nine man out to start the second inning, right? Wrong. Sarfate gave up a leadoff homer to a guy named Asdrubal. Maybe it’s time to see what’s on ESPN.

“Brett Favre. Brett Favre. Brett Favre. Aaron Rodgers. Brett Favre.”

Ah, forget it. I hate you Chris Berman.

The O’s got two back in the third inning. Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis were credited with the RBIs after Ramon Hernandez and Jay Payton walked.

After giving up the homer to Asdrubal, Sarfate settled down and got through the rest of the second, then the third and fourth with no problems.

Who is this Huff?

Aubrey Huff led off the fourth with a home run. Ok, who is this guy wearing number 17? I’m on to you, hard-hitting Huff impersonator, whoever you may be. 3-5 Cleveland after four innings.

Castillo Clunks Two

Alberto Castillo relieved Sarfate after the latter walked the first two batters in the fifth. Castillo compounded matters by hitting the first batter he faced. Castillo gave up two runs, one on a bases loaded hit by pitch to meatball Sal Fasano. That one was a lot more questionable than his first hit by pitch; it essentially bounced on or around Fasano’s shoe. 3-7 Cleveland after five innings.

Castillo then underwent a reversal of fortune, putting down the next six batters he faced.

Battling Back

In the seventh, Carmona walked Hernandez and Payton. He then gave up a single to Cintron to load the bases with one out. Brian Roberts delivered an RBI single, knocking Indians SP “Dr” Fausto Carmona out of the game.

Nick Markakis came through with a bases loaded triple, his first triple of the year. The hit tied the game. Melvin Mora scored Markakis on a sac fly that dribbled past Fasano and the Orioles were improbably on top. The five run inning put the Orioles up 8-7.

Rocky Cherry came on and allowed the tying run to score. There was some sort of issue with a failed run down as well, but I don’t quite understand what went wrong.

Throwing In the Towel

In any event, Jamie Walker came on to relieve Cherry, so it looks like Trembley didn’t really want to win this one. Melvin Mora was called on an error that allowed another run to score. Maybe it’s time to flip around again.

Women’s gymnastics and preseason football. I wish I had a hobby.

The Indians scored another run and it was 8-10 after seven.

Tuning Out

Walker came on to pitch the eighth, further advancing my theory that Trembley had no desire to win this game. He served a leadoff home run to Ben Fransisco.

Walker gave up another homerun, this one a two run shot to Andy Gonzalez. There’s got to be something else on TV.

Oh my God, Bob Costas still works the Olympics???!!! Kill me now.

Randor Bierd came on and gave up a sin…ah, who cares anymore. A wild pitch. Yadda yadda yadda. Hernandez can’t cover. Blah. Blah. Blah. Life is meaningless.

Tune in tomorrow when whatshisface goes up against somebodyorother in another round of glorified batting practice. Also, send last minute summer reading suggestions to me.

Score: 8-13 Cleveland.

Record: 56-61,at least two years away

Next Game: @Cleveland. 7:05 Tues. Olson (8-6, 6.06 ERA) vs. Sowers (1-6, 5.70 ERA)

For more info: Check out the ESPN boxscore here.

Topics: Aubrey Huff , Dennis Sarfate , Jamie Walker