O's and White Sox game suspended, in 3-3 tie, after 11 innings
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The Orioles and White Sox game has been suspended due to rain and poor field conditions after 11 innings in a 3-3 tie. The game will be resumed later in the season, at a date not yet announced
Ramon Hernandez hit a solo shot in the 11th for a 3-2 lead but Juan Uribe's homer in the last of the 11th off George Sherrill tied it back up.
Melvin Mora's RBI single off Bobby Jenks ties it 2-2 in the 9th. Daniel Cabrera allows two runs and four hits over 6.1 ip. Aubrey Huff hit a solo homer in the second inning.
O'S AND SOX SUSPENDED AFTER 11 INNINGS
The rain and terrible field condtions finally brought today's game to an end. But the result is still in doubt. The O's and Sox were tied at 3 after 11 innings when the tarp was put on the field and the decision was made to suspend the game and resume it, in the 12th inning, at some point later in the year.
It was a wild day that saw the contest start two hours late due to a rain delay, saw the O's rally to tie the game in the 9th, saw both closers blow saves and saw the teams play in cold and miserable conditions.
Javier Vazquez held the O's to four hits and a run thru eight and the Sox took a 2-1 lead to the 9th. But they took out Vazquez after 100 pitches and Bobby Jenks came on. Brian Roberts led off the 9th with a double and stole third. He scored on Melvin Mora's single for a 2-2 tie.
The Sox blew a golden chance with a botched suicide squeeze attempt in the 10th with the O's tagging Carlos Quentin out after Brian Anderson missed the ball on his bunt effort.
Each team got a solo homer in the 11th, Ramon Hernandez for the O's and Juan Uribe for Chicago. That came off George Sherrill, who suffered his first blown save in ten chances.
Daniel Cabrera gave up just two runs over 6.1 ip, pitching out of several jams. Cabrera now has a 2.33 ERA over his past four starts.
The O's come home after a 3-3 trip with a record of 14-11 and face Tampa to start a three-game series Tuesday at 7:05pm.
SOME FINAL NOTES AND THOUGHTS
Another good outing for Cabrera, who has now allowed 7er over 27 innings his past four starts, with an ERA of 2.33 over that stretch...........Ramon Hernandez homer in the 11th was his first since April 12 and ended a run of 11 homerless games for him.........Aubrey Huff, who homered in the second, was ejected in the 10th inning and had the O's batted today in the 12th, Eider Torres would have been the DH.
I can't understand why Ozzie Guillen took Vazquez out after eight. He had only thrown 100 pitches, he retired his last six batters and had the O's looking very bad at the plate. Why bring in someone in those terrible conditions, even if it is your closer, with someone throwing brilliant ball ?
Jim Johnson pitched two more scoreless innings and has hurled 13 innings this year without allowing a run. Did that outing make it so he can't start on Wednesday ?
After the game, in his MASN interview, Dave Trembley still would not name his starter for tomorrow, although all signs are pointing to Garrett Olson.
The linescore so far:
Balt 3-9-2
CWS 3-8-0
Chicago has left 14 on base, the Orioles just 3.
STEVE MELEWSKI's live GameBlog
RAIN DELAY NUMBER TWO
O's 3 Sox 3......end of 11.
This game, that started over two hours late due to rain, is in another rain delay, tied at 3, after 11 innings. Ramon Hernandez hit a solo homer in the top of the 11th for a 3-2 lead but Juan Uribe's solo blast off Geoge Sherrill ties it in the last of the 11th.
THAT WAS TERRIBLE
O's 2 CWS 2......middle of tenth
Adam Jones just missed giving the O's the lead with a booming double to left and two out in the 10th. The next hitter, Fahey hit a dribbler to short for an infield single. Jones then made a very, very poor decision, rounding third and the SS threw behind him at third to end the inning. End of that threat.
TIE GAME
O's 2 CWS 2.....middle of 9th
The O's got a gift when the Sox took Vazquez out after eight brilliant innings. Brian Roberts quickly doubled off Bobby Jenks and stole third. Melvin Mora's RBI single to center ties the game as Jenks suffers a second blown save this year vs. Baltimore.
The Sox are batting in the last of the 9th and Jim Johnson is on to pitch.
SOX PULL AHEAD
CWS 2 O's 1........end of seven
Cabrera walked Nick Swisher to lead off the 7th, his 6th walk today. He went to second on a bunt and then Thome was walked intentionally. Chad Bradford then replaced Cabrera to face Konerko, who was 4-8 in his career vs. Bradford.
Konerko ripped an RBI single up the middle for a 2-1 lead.
Jamie Walker and Dennis Sarfate came on to get the final two outs.
Cabrera final line: 6.1ip, 4h, 2r-er, 7b, 2k, 1 HR......102 pitches
THE LEAD IS GONE
CWS 1 O's 1......end of sixth.
The Sox, who lead the AL in homers, got a leaoff homer from Carlos Quentin in the 6th to tie it, 1-1. It's Quentin's 6th homer of the year and 33rd by Chicago. The O's offense just better get going, they can't keep asking their pitchers to be perfect. It seems like no O's starter ever gets to work with a 2 or 3-run lead.
O'S STILL LEAD IT
O's 1 CWS 0.......end of five
Cabrera keeps getting into, then out of, two-out jams. With two outs in the last of the 5th, he walked Jim Thome and Konekro blooped a single to right. But he got Pierznski to pop to short left field where SS Luis Hernandez made the catch just avoiding a collison with LF Luke Scott.
Cabrera so far: 5ip, 3h, 0r, 2k, 5b........75 pitches, 40 strikes
He has walked five, but is not really wild, if you can believe it. He has had only one, 1-2-3 frame. Chicago has left a whopping 8 runners on base.
He seems to be having some trouble with footing on the mound as a light rain is still falling in raw, windy, rainy Chicago. So far, Huff's homer in the second holds up.
OLSON TUESDAY ?
Gary Thorne, on MASN, just said what we've all suspected. That Garrett Olson is likely to start tomorrow and Jim Johnson on Wednesday. He said this was "not official" but this is what it looks like will happen.
So the probables for the Tampa series would be:
Tue 7:05 Garrett Olson (1-1 1.85 at AAA) v. RHP Jason Hammel (2-1 4.32)
Wed 7:05 Jim Johnson (0 runs, 11 ip) v. RHP Andy Sonnanstine (3-1 5.28)
Thurs 12:35 Brian Burres (3-1 2.49) v. RHP Matt Garza (0-0 7.62)
THE "NEW" DANIEL
O's 1 CWS 0.......end of third
How can anyone not enjoy watching this "new" Cabrera. He works fast, throws strikes, has good fastball command and doesn't panic when he gets in a jam.
He calmly worked out of a two on, two out situation in the second, then got the top of the Sox order on just a few pitches in the third. He seems to be rolling again. Knock on wood !
HUFF HOMERS
O's 1 CWS 0........middle of second
Aubrey Huff took a 3-2 pitch over the fence in right for his 4th homer and an O's 1-0 lead. It's the first HR allowed this season by Javier Vazquez. It was an off speed pitch that was up in the zone and was Huff's second homer of the road trip.
FINALLY UNDERWAY
The O's and Sox have finally begun the series finale in Chicago. The game started after 4pm eastern, about two hours after it was scheduled to begin.
The O's went out 1-2-3 vs. Vazquez in the first.
PRE GAME NEWS AND NOTES
On Sunday, Paul Konerko hit two solo homers and Jose Contreras allowed just one run over 6.2 innings as Chicago posted a 6-1 win.
The Orioles went 2-4 on the season's first trip and are 3-3 on this one.
The inconsistent Orioles offense was held to just five hits yesterday and scored two runs or less for the 7th time. Hitters 5-9 in the order combined to go 0-19 with five strikeouts.
The Orioles and Tampa are tied for first in the East, percentage points ahead of Boston. The White Sox lead the AL Central by 2.5 games over Cleveland, and, have been in first every day since April 15.
The Orioles return home for a three-game series with Tampa on Tuesday, before hitting the road again on Friday.
PONDERING HOME RUNS
It should be no suprise the O's aren't among the league leaders in many offensive categories. In fact, they are 11th in the league in batting average and 12th in runs scored. But, in a mild suprise, the O's are 6th in the league in homers. This from a club that certainly has a less than potent middle of the order.
But the O's have hit 25 homers, just 3 less than the Yankees 28 that ranks second in the league. The White Sox, with 32, lead the AL.
But, the Birds do not have any three-run homers or Slams this season. Of the 25 longballs, 17 are solo shots and 8 are two-run shots. So while they've hit a fair amount of homers, those have not accounted for that many runs.
By the way, the O's have hit at least one HR in their last six games and have just 8 homerless games this season.
NICK NOTE
Nick Markakis is first in the AL in outfield assists (4), OBP (.449) and walks (22). Nick is just 1-10 this series vs. the Sox and is 5-20 on this road trip. After going 1-4 Sunday his average fell under the .300 mark (.298) for the first time since April 10th.
O'S AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS
In addition to Markakis mentioned above.
Brian Roberts, 2nd in steals with 9.
George Sherrill, 2nd in saves with 9.
Luke Scott, tied for 3rd in doubles with 9 and 10th in OBP at .398.
MOUND MATCHUP
Daniel Cabrera, a pitcher on a roll, makes his 6th start of 2008 today. Over his past three starts, he is 2-0 2.18, giving up just 5 ER over 20.2 IP. He had allowed 10 runs in 10 innings his first two starts.
He is 2-0 with a 4.40 on the year. But here are his last three starts.
4-12 at Tampa........6.2 IP, 5h, 1R-ER, 3 BB, 4 K.......107 pitches
4-18 v. NYY..............6 IP, 6h, 2R-ER, 2 BB, 3 K.........108 pitches
4-23 at Sea.............8 IP, 5h, 2 R-ER, 0 BB, 5 K............95 pitches
TOTAL................20.2IP, 16h, 5 R-ER, 5 BB, 12 K
In those three he is 2-0 2.18.
Cabrera, who holds right-handed hitters to a batting average of .173, is 1-0 1.84 in two road starts.
In his career vs. the Sox, he is 2-3 5.35 and has walked 26 in 38.2 IP.
Righty Javier Vazquez (3-2 4.28) makes his 5th start of 2008 for the Chisox. He has fanned 30 this season, that's 2nd best in the AL. He has not allowed a homer this year after giving up 29 in 2007.
The 31-year-old Vaquez took the loss in his last start, Tuesday vs. New York, giving up 6 ER over 5.1 innings.
Last season he was 15-8 with an ERA of 3.74 and struck out 213 batters. He is the only pitcher in baseball to record 10 wins, 30 starts and 150 strikeouts the past eight seasons. Since the 2000 season, he is second in the majors in strikeouts, with 1,563.
Last year he went 1-0 3.07 vs. the Birds and has a career record of 6-2 5.24 vs. the Orioles.
This season, Vazquez holds right-handed batters to an average of .183, but lefties hit .349 against him.
HOW SOME SOX HAVE FARED VS. CABRERA
Paul Konerko 3-13
Jim Thome 4-9, HR
Orlando Cabrera 7-15
Joe Crede 3-8
Jermaine Dye 7-14
B-ROB'S HITTING STREAK
Brian Roberts takes a seven-game hitting streak into today's game. Roberts homered and went 2-3 Sunday. During the streak he is 9-27, 2 HR, 5 RBI.
In his last four games, he is 6-17, with 2 homers and five RBI.
His career-best hitting streak was a 20-gamer in May of 2005.
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