Dice K KO’s birds

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August 19, 11:03 PM

by Jay Trucker, Baltimore Orioles Examiner

 

 

Going Denny Green

In each of the first two innings, the O’s had men on first and second and they couldn’t score a run.

Boston SP Dice K struck out the birds’ two hottest hitters, Melvin Mora and Aubrey Huff, and got Ramon Hernandez to fly out to end the first.  The Sox ace induced a Juan Castro double play to end the second.

They had him on the ropes and they let him off the hook!

Meanwhile, the Sox scored two in the first as David Ortiz and Jason Bay picked up RBIs.  Jason Veritek homered to lead off the second inning and it was 0-3 Boston through two.

Third Chances

Melvin Mora hit a single in the third and Aubrey Huff walked, but it looked like the birds were going to go down swinging again as Hernandez fell into an 0-2 count.

This time Ramon came through with a single that brought Mora home.  Luke Scott followed up with a single of his own that scored Huff. 

At the end of the third inning, MASN announcer Jim Hunter proclaimed, “it’s a brand new ball game.  Orioles 2, Red Sox 3.”

Not exactly, Jim.  It was a closer ball game, though.

No Cleanup

The O’s let another opportunity slip away in the fourth, when Huff and Mora couldn’t get on base.  The bases were loaded, but the birds recently big bats couldn’t connect. 

Kevin Youkilis hit a two run homer in the fifth, and the “Youuuuuk” chants reigned down.  Losing to the Sox is one thing.  Hearing Camden Yards turn into Fenway South is just unbearable. 

After a Jason Bay single and a Sean Casey walk, Cabrera was lifted in the top of the fifth inning.  Alberto Castillo relieved Cabrera; he allowed an inherited runner to score but struck out Coco Crisp to end the inning.  2-6 Boston after five innings.

Lance Cormier came on in the sixth and retired four batters in to finish the sixth and seventh innings. 

Youkin’ it Up

Kevin Youkilis picked up another RBI in the eighth, his third of the night.  2-7 Boston through eight innings. 

Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis gave the O’s a chance in the ninth; each of them hit a single.  Once again, though, the Orioles 3^rd and 4^th hitters, Mora and Huff, couldn’t come up with a hit.

The birds came close in the third inning, but blew three RISP situations.  They never really got it going against Dice K.

Mound Up

After the Boston series mercifully comes to an end, the Yankees will be coming to town for a weekend matchup.  The Yankees are 11 games behind Tampa in the AL East and 6.5 out of the wildcard. It looks like they will be missing the playoffs for the first time since Barry Bonds was a base-swiping 160 lb outfielder.

The Orioles recently moved Dennis Sarfate and Garrett Olson to the bullpen.  With a day off each of the next three weeks, they won’t need a fifth starter for a while, but they are in need of someone to plug in to the fourth starter sport on Friday night. 

Who do you want to see starting against the Yankees?

1)      Radhamas Liz

2)       Brian Burres

3)      A slow pitch softball machine

4)      Whoever wins the 100 millionth fan contest

Score: 2-7 Boston

Record: 60-65, 17GB

Next Game: vs. Boston Wed. 7:05pm.  Waters (1-0, 4.32 ERA) vs. Buckholz (2-8, 6.35 ERA)

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