Olson pitches O's past Rays, 7-4; Birds remain on top of AL East
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Garrett Olson allows two runs on four hits in 6.2 ip in his 8th major-league start. Five different O's have RBI's. Aubrey Huff's two-run homer keys a 4-run 6th where the O's led 7-0. The O's end Tampa's six-game win streak.
Tampa battles back with a four-run 7th featuring a BJ Upton two-run homer. TB starter Jason Hammel allows three runs in 2.2 innings.
ORIOLES TAKE GAME ONE FROM THE RAYS, 7-4
Lefty Garrett Olson making his first O's start of the season and 8th of his career, pitched the O's past Tampa, 7-4, in their battle for first in the AL East.
Olson took a shutout into the 7th and gave up two runs on four hits over 6.2ip. It was the longest outing and the best of his brief major-league career. Olson retired the side in order three times and twice pitched out of jams. He threw 105 pitches.
George Sherrill got the last three outs for his 10th save.
The O's snap Tampa's six-game win streak, which was the longest current streak in the majors.
At 15-11, the O's are in first by percentage points over Boston and by one game over Tampa. Baltimore improves to 10-4 at home.
Down 7-0, the Rays scored four in the 7th including a two-run homer by BJ Upton off Randor Bierd.
The O's backed Olson starting with two runs in the second on RBI singles by Melvin Mora and Nick Markakis.
A Ramon Hernandez RBI double in the third made it 3-0 and an Oriole four-run 6th opened a 7-0 lead. That inning featured RBI's by Mora and Kevin Millar and a 425-foot, two-run homer to center from Aubrey Huff. It was his 9th career homer vs. his former team.
Rays starter, Jason Hammel, lasted just 2.2 innings, allowing six hits and three runs.
The O's are 3-3 vs. Tampa this season and now, 96-78 all time.
Tampa 4-8-0
Balt 7-10-0
POST-GAME NEWS AND NOTES
THE EARLY OFFENSE
This probably made Jeremy Guthrie jealous, but it was nice to see the O's help Olson to a 3-0 lead after three. Then the four-run outburst in the 6th which was needed as we saw later. The O's had ten hits and are now 7-0 when they get 10 or more. Five different O's drove in runs as the club went 10-32 tonight.
THEY HIT THE RAYS PEN
Entering the game, Tampa's bullpen ERA of 2.26 was the best in the majors. Tonight the O's scored off two of the three relievers they saw. The Tampa pen allowed 4 r-er and 4 hits in 5.1 ip.
THE BIG SIX
The sixth inning has been a good one for the club this year. Tonight they came up with four runs on four hits in the sixth. They've now outscored the opponents 29-11 in the 6th on the season.
GARRETT'S NIGHT
Garrett Olson showed poise, fastball command and an improved change up in picking up his second major league win. He pitched a career-high 6.2 innings and fanned a career-high six batters, allowing just two runs, one of those after he left the game. His first major-league win came July 15, 2007 vs. the White Sox.
THE OFFENSE CAME IN THREES
As in, the O's got all their offense in three innings - the 2nd, 3rd and 6th. In the other five innings they had no hits at all. But they bunched the other ten hits nicely, scoring seven runs. Their season high is nine runs.
ALBERS TOMORROW
Dave Trembley said after the game that Matt Albers (2-0 1.65) will start on Wednesday vs. TB.
KEY QUOTES
Dave Trembley on Olson
"He showed a lot of improvement. His stuff was improved, his mound presence, his poise, it was good for him and our team.........He pitched inside better and he worked faster. Last year his tempo was slow and he pitched defensive. Tonight he challenged some guys in the middle of their lineup........Ramon helped him keep his focus and staying with their plan.......After the way he pitched tonight we have to see what we can do to get him back out their again."
Garrett Olson on the difference from last year
"I was more in control with myself and didn't get flustered. I made the key pitch when I needed to........There was a huge difference there (in me attacking the hitters).....Strike one was big."
Garrett Olson on getting a standing ovation
"That gets you pumped. It feels great knowing they're behind me and supporting me.
I gave it my best tonight for them."
Steve Melewski's live GameBlog from Camden Yards
GARRETT'S EXIT
O's 7 TB 4.....middle of seventh
There isn't a big crowd here tonight, but Garrett Olson exited his 8th career start to a standing ovation. After he gave up a two-out, RBI double to Akinora in the 7th, Randor Bierd has come on. High fives all around for the 24-year-old lefty from Fresno, California.
Carl Crawford greeted Bierd with an RBI single, the run charged to Olson's record. Then BJ Upton ripped a two-run homer to bring Tampa within 7-4. Then Carlos Pena hit one near the wall in center for the final out of the inning. Yikes.
Olson tonight: 6.2ip, 4h, 2r-er, 5b, 6k.......105 pitches
With a spot open in the rotation, with Loewen on the DL, tonight Olson made his case.
HUFF HOMER NOTE
It was his second homer this year vs. his former team and his 9th in 85 career at bats vs. Tampa. It's the O's 27th homer this season. Of the 27, 19 have been solo shots and eight two-run homers. None are 3-run or Slams. Also it came off a lefty and Huff entered tonight 5-28 vs. left handed pitching.
By the way, everyone in the lineup tonight has a hit or has scored a run, except Luke Scott who is 0-3 with a walk.
O'S ADD ON AND BLOW IT OPEN
Luis Hernandez came up with an infield single to start the 6th and went to third on Brian Roberts double. Hernandez would score on a Mora sac fly and Roberts on a Millar single off Scott Dohmann, who had just come in the game.
Then Aubrey Huff rocked Dohmann with a 425 foot blast to center, a two-run homer and 7-0 lead. His team leading 5th homer and second in two days.
MAYBE IT'S HIS NIGHT
O's 3 TB 0......middle of 5th
The first two hitters reached vs. Olson in the 5th on an infield single and walk. Then he got a foul pop, a fly out and pop out to short. He is pitching a two-hit shutout thru five. He has three, three up and out innings and has stranded five runners in the other two frames.
He is in search of his second major league win. His first came last July 15 vs. the White Sox.
NOT HIS NIGHT
O's 3 Rays 0.....end of third
Rays starter Jason Hammel, who had pitched at least six innings in each of his four starts, gets knocked out in the third tonight. A Ramon Hernandez RBI double makes him 2-2 and the O's lead, 3-0. Adam Jones stumbled on the bases or he would have scored too, instead he got thrown out at the plate on the play. JP Howell, a lefty and no relation to Thurston, is in the game.
Hammel's line: 2.2ip, 6h, 3r-er, 4b, 0k.........61 pitches, just 28 strikes.
The O's have left six on base thru three.
WHAT JAM
O's 2 TB 0........middle of third
Garrett Olson is impressing so far. He got out of a one-out bases loaded jam in the third by getting Carl Crawford and BJ Upton back to back. He got Crawford to ground to third and Mora thew home for the force. He then got ahead of and struck out Upton. His 4th K of the day. He earlier walked two in the inning. He needed 25 pitches to get out of the third.
Olson: 3ip, 1h, 0r, 2b, 4k........52 pitches.
O's 2 TB 0....end of second
With one out in the O's second, Ramon and Luis Hernandez singled. With two outs, Mora and Markakis came up with clutch RBI singles for a 2-0 lead. Then RF Eric Hinske robbed Milar with a great diving catch running toward the right-field line. If that ball drops, its probably 4-0.
IMPRESSIVE PITCHING
The Rays have some impressive pitching stats. Starting with a team ERA of 3.63, 2nd in the AL. Their bullpen ERA of 2.26 is the best in the majors.
In their recent three-game sweep of Boston, TB gave up just 5 runs and only ONE EXTRA BASE HIT in three games. Boston hit .173 in that series.
Scott Kazmir pitched five innings of one run ball in a AAA game Sunday and is expected to start this coming Sunday in Boston.
THEY LET HIM OFF THE HOOK
O's 0 TB 0......middle of second
Strong start for Olson. He's retired six in a row, two on K's. He's thrown 27 pitches, 15 strikes.
The O's loaded the bases, on three Jason Hammel walks in the first, but did not score. Luke Scott grounded to second with two outs and the sacks full. Scott is now 1-4 this year with the bases loaded and the O's as a team are just 4-23.
ON THIS DATE IN O'S HISTORY
Paul Blair becomes the third Oriole to hit three homers in a game, leading the O's past the White Sox, 18-2, at Comiskey Park. On April 29, 1970. Courtesy tonight's Orioles media notes.
PLAY BALL IN BALTIMORE
Game one of the O's-Rays series is underway at Camden Yards with Garrett Olson on the mound. First pitch was at 7:07pm and it's 63 degrees at game time. Check back often during tonight's game for news and notes from the Yard.
PRE GAME NOTES FROM CAMDEN YARDS
ROSTER MOVES TODAY
The Orioles have recalled pitchers Garrett Olson and Bob McCrory from AAA Norfolk. To make room on the 25-man roster, IF Brandon Fahey has been optioned to Norfolk and RHP Greg Aquino has been designated for assignment.
Bob McCrory Interview
Righty reliever Bob McCrory was called up today by the O's from AAA Norfolk, where he was 0-2 with an ERA of 1.80 and 4 saves. In ten innings he allowed nine hits, walked five and fanned six.
McCrory, an O's 4th round pick in 2003, saved 27 games last season between Frederick and Bowie. McCrory has come back from Tommy John surgery in August of 2005 and now can throw in the mid 90's. You can hear his elation in making the majors for the first time when he talked with reporters this afternoon in the O's clubhouse.
TONIGHT'S ORIOLES LINEUP
2B Brian Roberts
3B Melvin Mora
RF Nick Markakis
1B Kevin Millar
DH Aubrey Huff
LF Luke Scott
CF Adam Jones
C Ramon Hernandez
SS Luis Hernandez
P Garrett Olson
SUSPENDED GAME UPDATE
Dave Trembley told reporters here today that yesterday's suspended game will be resumed August 25th at Camden Yards. It will start at 6:05pm. Anyone holding a ticket for the regularly scheduled game on August 25th can attend the suspended game also that day. The O's only remaining trip to Chicago this year is to face the Cubs, so the Yard will host when that game is resumed.
LOEWEN UPDATE
Dave Trembley said Adam Loewen is having a bone scan today after earlier having an MRI and CT scan. Trembley said the results are not yet known.
"Like I said before, I don't think Loewen is going to pitch when the 15 days on the DL are up. I think we are looking at longer than that."
MORE FROM THE SKIPPER
Trembley talked about today's roster moves, adding P's Garrett Olson and Bob McCrory, sending Brandon Fahey back to AAA and P Greg Aquino was designated for assignment.
"We decided to go back to 13 pitchers. With the tough trip, split doubleheader, rainouts and all, we are going with 13. The reports on Olson are that's its time to see if he can do it at this level. Fahey had options, Torres just got here and deserves a longer look that he has gotten. McCrory was impressive in spring and a guy we had earmarked to be here by May 15th."
Trembley said he's hopeful McCrory can pitch more than one inning at times but it's not likely he'll use him for more than two innings.
"Olson needs to command his fastball at this level, just like he did at AAA. At times he did in spring, other times he did not. His numbers are good, the reports on him are good. But it all starts with strike one."
Trembley says Matt Albers or Jim Johnson will be Wednesday's starter. If he has to use one tonight, the other will start on Wednesday.
He talked more about Olson and the theory that some believe he is thinking too much and pressing when he has pitched in the majors.
"The easy thing to do is doubt yourself. It's harder to trust who you are and what you have. It's a different ballgame when they turn those lights on up here and you're facing major-league hitters. We see guys come up last year and the ability is there but they weren't ready. Sometimes with Olson, he tries too hard."
He also said Olson worked too hard pitching hitters away all the time last year and he needs to bust hitters inside at times and throw some breaking balls.
He said Fahey will be moved around several positions at AAA to continue to work on being a utility guy.
MINOR LEAGUE NOTE
The Frederick Keys have placed P Pedro Beato on the inactive list for personal reasons. The club reports he will return to the team this weekend and start at Potomac. Pitcher Zach Clark has been called up from Delmarva where he was 1-2 4.11 in six games, making one start.
The Orioles will get just the three games at home, before heading back on the road. They begin a three-city, 10-game trip Friday night in Los Angeles
The O's went 3-3 on their road trip to Seattle and Chicago. The finale of the trip yesterday was suspended by rain and poor field conditions, with the score tied at 3 after 11 innings. Aubrey Huff and Ramon Hernandez hit solo homers and Daniel Cabrera allowed two runs over 6.1 ip in his 4th consecutive solid start.
Now the O's face an improved Tampa team that has the longest current win streak in the majors, at six in a row.
The Rays have come from behing in each of the six wins, with back to back three-game sweeps of Toronto and Boston. Tampa has never been three games over .500 this late in the season. The last time a Rays team was three games over was when the 2002 team began 3-0.
Sunday ended a stretch where Tampa played 17 of 19 games at home. Tonight the Rays are beginning a nine-game road trip and a stretch where they will play 15 of 22 on the road. Tampa is 4-7 in road contests.
The O's are 2-3 this season vs. Tampa and 95-78 all-time. But, dating to last year, Tampa has won 8 of the last 11 between the clubs.
The Orioles are 9-4 at home this year. With two days and games left in this month, the Orioles are now assured of a winning record for April.
MOUND MATTERS
Garrett Olson is expected to be activated today to make the start tonight. He made seven starts for the O's last season, going 1-3 7.79, allowing 42 hits and 28 walks in 32.1 ip.
Olson has had a good 2008 season for AAA Norfolk, with a 1-1 record and 1.85 ERA in 24.1ip. He has walked 11 and fanned 25 and opponents are hitting .247 off the 24-year-old lefty. Olson was taken out after just two innings of a start on Saturday in case he was needed tonight. In his last full start, April 19 v. Durham, he pitched seven innings and gave up just 1er on 7 hits with 7 strikeouts and no walks.
Olson was the 48th pick overall in the 2005 draft out of Cal Poly.
Last year, before joining the O's, he went 9-7 3.16 in 22 starts for Norfolk. He has never faced Tampa Bay.
The Rays starter is 25-year-old righty Jason Hammel. He is 2-1 4.32 in four starts, allowing a .240 average in 25 innings. Hammel will be making his 27th career start.
He picked up a win in his last start Wednesday, beating Toronto and Roy Halladay. He pitched six innings, giving up four hits and three runs.
Hammel, a 10th round pick in 2002, last year with Tampa, went 3-5 6.14 in 24 games, 14 starts. He also pitched at AAA Durham in 2007.
Hammel is winless in five career starts vs. the Birds, but pitched very well earlier this month in a no decision vs. the O's. On April 12, he pitched a career-high 7 innings and gave up just 2 runs and 5 hits in a game the Orioles won, 3-2. His career numbers vs. the Birds: 0-3 7.18 (21er in 26.1 ip).
ROAD TRIP STATS
As a team the O's batted .240 and scored 27 runs in the seven contests. The team ERA was 3.73 on the trip.
Here are some individual stats from the trip;
Ramon Hernandez 4-22, HR
Aubrey Huff 7-27, HR's
Adam Jones 8-27, 3 rbi
Nick Markakis 6-25, HR
Kevin Millar 3-25, HR
Melvin Mora 9-28, 3 rbi
Brian Roberts 9-28, 2 HR, 5 rbi
Luke Scott 3-20
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