Mark Ellis homers in the 10th as A's win 6-5, to sweep the Orioles
The A's picked up an unearned run to tie the game at 5-5 in the 8th and won it on a Mark Ellis solo homer with two outs and none on in the 10th. The 6-5 win gives Oakland its first sweep of the Orioles since August of 2005.
The O's score three in the 8th for a 5-4 lead on a Brian Roberts two-run single and Melvin Mora RBI double.
Kurt Suzuki's two-run homer in the 5th gave Oakland a 3-0 lead. The O's come up with two in the 6th on RBI's by Kevin Millar and Ramon Hernandez.
Starter Jeremy Guthrie allows four runs and five hits in 5.2 ip, ending his streak of six starts in a row allowing 3er or less.
The loss, the O's 5th in a row, drops Baltimore to 16-18 as they get set to start a four-game series in Kansas City on Thursday night.
ELLIS HOMER GIVES A'S THE WIN AND THREE-GAME SWEEP
When he came up to bat in the 10th inning of a 5-5 tie, Mark Ellis had just one hit in his last 18 at bats. But Ellis took a pitch that was up in the middle of the plate from Lance Cormier for a game-winning homer and A's 6-5 win. Ellis' third homer of the year hit the left-field foul pole.
The O's who fell behind 3-0 in the 5th, came to bat in the 8th down 4-2. They scored three times for a 5-4 lead on clutch two-out hits by Brian Roberts and Melvin Mora. Roberts two-run single tied the game at 4 and Mora's double made it 5-4, O's.
But Oakland got an unearned run in the last of the 8th to tie the game. Mora's error on an Emil Brown high chopper started the inning. Much later in the frame, pinch-hitter Frank Thomas hit an RBI grounder to tie it.
The O's came up with 13 hits and still lost. They have played seven consecutive games decided by two runs or less and have lost six of those. They fall to 8-5 in one-run games and 9-11 in games decided by two or less.
Starter Jermey Guthrie allowed four runs and five hits in 5.2ip in a no decision.
Aubrey Huff went 0-5 ending his 10-game hitting streak.
The O's fall to 1-5 on this trip and 16-18 on the season. They open a four-game series in Kansas City on Thursday night.
Balt 5-13-1
Oak 6-9-0
POST-GAME NOTES
ANOTHER CLOSE LOSS
The Orioles, who were once 8-2 in one-run games, are now seemingly losing a close one every night. They have lost five in a row by a combined 7 runs. They have fallen three times by one run on the road trip. They are now 9-11 on the season in games decided by two or less.
MILLAR BREAKS OUT
Kevin Millar went 2-3 with an RBI and two walks today. He entered in a 7-47 drought. He now has 3 RBI on the road trip and is 5-18 on the trip.
Nick Markakis, who entered in a 6-43 slump over his last 11 games, had three singles and scored a run. Ramon Hernandez had two hits and an RBI after going 2-18 before today. The O's had nine hits in the first two games of the series and 13 today.
THE SOLID SIXTH
The 6th inning has been the Orioles best this year. With two runs in the 6th today, they have outscored the opponents, 31-16 in that frame. The next best inning, in terms of runs scored, is the third where they have produced 18 runs.
HUFF AND MORA
On a day the club had 13 hits, Aubrey Huff's 10-game hitting streak ended as he went 0-5. During the streak, Huff went 13-36, with two homers, four RBI and six runs scored. Melvin Mora's hitting streak is at six after his 8th-inning double as he went 1-5. During the six games he is 9-23.
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AN UNEARNED RUN TIES IT UP
Melvin giveth and taketh away. His double gave the O's the lead in the top of the 8th and his error helped Oakland tie it in the bottom of the 8th.
Mora's error allowed Emil Brown to reach leading off the A's 8th. Much later he would score to tie the game at five. With one out and the bases loaded, George Sherrill came in for Bradford. Frank Thomas came on to pinch hit. Sherrill got him to roll over one to short, but Hernandez backed up on the ball and they got only out out and not an inning-ending DP. Tie game heading to the 9th.
O'S RALLY FOR THE LEAD
A's reliever Andrew Brown struck out two batters in the top of the 8th. But the other five hitters he faced all reached as the O's came up with some clutch two-out hits to take a 5-4 lead.
After a walk to Millar and singles by Ramon and Luis Hernandez loaded the bases with two outs, Brian Roberts, who entered as a pinch-hitter in the 7th, ripped a two-run single to right to tie the game at four. Melvin Mora followed with an RBI double to right to make it 5-4.
Dallas Braden fanned Markakis to end the threat. But it was a 3-run, 4-hit 8th to get the lead with six outs to go for a win.
PROBABLES FOR THE KC SERIES
Thur-8:10p Daniel Cabrera (2-1 4.06) v. RHP Luke Hochevar (2-1 4.86)
Fri --8:10p Steve Trachsel (1-1 7.43) v. RHP Gil Meche (2-4 5.98)
Sat--7:10p Garrett Olson (1-0 2.08) v. RHP Brett Tomko (1-3 4.98)
Sun-2:10p Brian Burres (3-3 3.19) v. RHP Brian Bannister (3-4 4.46)
The Royals, who host the Angels tonight, got off to an 8-5 start, but are 6-13 since.
A'S SCORE AGAIN
With two outs in the last of the 6th, Guthrie gave up a single to Mark Ellis and was replaced by Jamie Walker. He then gave up another hit to a lefty batter, an RBI double to Jack Hannahan to make it 4-2, Oakland. Lefty batters are 10-28 (.357) vs. Walker on the season.
Guthrie's final line: 5.2ip, 5h, 4r-er, 3b, 6k, 1 HR..........106 pitches.
The 4er allowed ends his run of 6 starts in a row giving up 3er or less.
O'S GET BACK IN IT
The O's rally for two runs in the 6th to pull within 3-2. After a Markakis single and Luke Scott walk, Kevin Millar batted with one out. His single to center made it 3-1. One out later, a Ramon Hernandez single to right made it 3-2 and knocked Blanton out.
Joey Devine now pitching for Oakland. He got Luis Hernandez to fly out deep to right. Each of the three outs in the inning were hit hard. Will the O's come up with more offense today ???
NO LONGER DOING IT ONE BASE AT A TIME
A's 3 O's 0.........end of five
Kurt Suzuki's first homer of the year, a two-run shot, gives Oakland a 3-0 lead. It's the 8th homer Guthrie has given up on the season.
Entering the inning, the A's had no extra-base hits in 23 innings of this series, but number nine hitter Ryan Sweeney led off with a booming triple to center and Suzuki followed with his longball.
The A's had 17 hits, all singles in the first two games, but won both. It's the first time they have done that since July 29 and 30, 1993.
Today they are trying for their first sweep of the O's since August 26-29, 2005 when they won four in a row in Baltimore.
THE LEADOFF RUNNER
A's 1 O's 0.........middle of 4th
So far in this game, the O's have had the leadoff runner reach three times, without scoring him. The A's had one leadoff runner and scored him.
Guthrie had to throw 58 pitches to get thru three innings, Blanton needed only 33 to get thru three. You just have to make a pitcher work more than throwing 11 pitches an inning.
O's just left the bases loaded in the 4th and, as a team, are 4-24 this year with the sacks full.
KEYS WIN
The Frederick Keys, in an afternoon contest at home today, beat Kinston 12-6. There was a lot of scoring early, as the Keys led 10-6 after four.
Brandon Tripp hit two homers and knocked in five in the win. Keys stater Brandon Erbe lasted just two innings, allowing five runs and three hits. Chad Thall came on to get the win, allowing just one run over three innings.
The Keys now depart for an 8-game road trip to Lynchburg and Salem.
THE BASE RUNNING
The O's base running is not bad, it's atrocious. They lead the majors in runners cut down on the bases. They mess up the fundamentals far too often.
In the top of the second today, with runners on first and third and no one out, the O's were poised to pounce on Blanton. Then Jay Payton hit a liner back to the mound and Luke Scott, who had started down the third base line, was doubled off third. Of course Ramon Hernandez then struck out.
Ironically on the play before, Scott made the right play, heading back toward second on a line drive that went for a single. Seconds later, similar situation and he does the wrong thing. Yes that is puzzling to say the least.
It's basic ball, man on third, less than two outs, make sure a liner gets thru before you break for home. Should not be messed up by major leaguers.
The mistake is magnified because the team went on to not score, is in a losing streak and a batting slump. Other than that things are pretty rosy.
A'S SCORE FIRST
A's 1 O's 0...........end of first
Is it a rule that there have to be a couple of runners on base every time Emil Brown comes to the plate ? His RBI groundout gives Oakland a 1-0 lead and him his 3rd RBI of the series. He batted after two singles and a walk loaded them up. Of course, there was an infield hit in there.
UNDERWAY IN OAKLAND
They have begun today's game in Oakland. Maybe even with Roberts and Jones not in the starting lineup, the O's will break out today. Joe Blanton is 0-5 at home. Need a win for a .500 record and to avoid being swept for the first time in 2008.
PRE-GAME NOTES
They have lost four in a row on this road trip, by a total of six runs, to fall into 4th place, 5 games back of division-leading Boston.
They are 1-4 on this road trip and have lost eight of their last ten games. They have never been two games under .500 this season.
Last night the O's were held to two runs or less for the 12th time. They have scored just 18 runs the past seven games, going 1-6 in that stretch.
In a 4-2 win Tuesday, Oakland got nine hits, all singles. The A's have 17 hits, all singles, in this series. Emil Brown is 5-9 with two RBI in the series.
A's starters have allowed two runs or less 20 times in 35 games on the season, including twice this series. The A's lead the majors in team ERA and have pitched to an ERA of 2.59 over their last 18 contests.
MOUND MATCHUP
Consistent Jeremey Guthrie, the O's opening-day starter, is set to make his 8th start of the season this afternoon. Guthrie finally got a win his last time out and is 1-3 with an ERA of 4.06.
He has pitched much better than a 1-3 record would indicate. He has allowed 3er or less six straight starts. He has five quality starts and has walked two or less in six of seven outings.
The 29-year-old righty got his first victory Friday night vs. the Angels. He gave up just three hits and two runs over seven frames. He fanned six, walked just two and threw 109 pitches.
In four road starts in 2008, Guthrie is 1-2 3.46.
He has allowed just a .244 opponent batting average, but has served up a team-high 7 home runs.
In two games last season vs. the A's he went 1-1 0.75 in 12 innings. His career mark vs. Oakland is 1-1 1.80 in three games.
RHP Joe Blanton (2-5 3.86) makes his major-league leading 9th start today. Amazingly he is winless at home. In six starts in Oakland, he is 0-5 3.73.
He leads the majors in home losses and this is the longest home losing streak of his career.
He is among the league leaders in innings, hits allowed and losses. He has pitched 7 innings or more five starts in a row.
He took the loss his last time out, Friday vs. Texas. Then he gave up seven hits in seven innings, allowing four runs, two earned runs.
His career mark vs. Baltimore is 1-2 5.46. Last season he went 0-2 10.03 vs. the O's who touched him for 13er and 20 hits in 11.2 ip.
B-ROB, JONES SIT OUT
I'm a little suprised Roberts is not in today's lineup. Eider Torres is starting at second. Payton is in center for Adam Jones. Jones is 1-18 on this trip and this is a good time to give him a day. He needs to focus on swinging at strikes and not chasing pitches.
Unless this game turns into a blowout, Roberts will probably be in by the 6th or 7th inning.
At least the Birds have a more formidable bench today.
FINAL NOTES
The O's are now 9-10 on the season in games decided by two or less.....The O's are 6-11 in road games and 10-6 at home........Oakland has won three in a row, giving up just 4 runs......The A's are 12-6 their last 18 games........Oakland is 57-27 vs. the O's since the start of the 1999 season.
The O's still have not hit a three-run homer or Grand Slam on the season. Of their 31 homers, 22 are solo shots and there are 9 two-run blasts.......Aubrey Huff is batting .361 during his current ten-game hit streak and he has hit safely in 16 of his last 17 contests.......Orioles starters have pitched to an ERA of 3.99 the last 12 games............Nick Markakis has just 6 his in 43 at bats his last 11 games.
Hi Jim and Rick:
Really enjoyed the look ahead on O's pitching staff you presented today. Any plans to do same on position players. I know there is a lot of planning to improve O pitching but like to hear more on position players...Thanks
Dale