O's fall to Royals, 6-5, on Jose Guillen RBI single in 11th
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O's will bounce back from this [link]
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The Royals took the lead on Jose Guillen's RBI single in the 11th and beat the O's 6-5 in the opener of a four-game series. The Orioles led 5-1 after five innings but could not hold the lead and Kansas City tied the game at five with two outs in the ninth.
The Orioles have dropped three of four games to fall to 41-40 at the season's mid point.
Mike Aviles led-off the Royals' 11th with an infield hit and advanced to second on a walk. Guillen singled to right to give KC the 6-5 lead. It was Guillen's 61st RBI of the year.
The Royals were down 5-1 after five innings, but scored two in the 6th and one in the 7th and 9th to tie this game.
For the second game in a row, O's closer George Sherrill got within one strike of an Orioles victory, but could not finish it off. Pinch-hitter Miguel Olivo hit a solo homer to left on an 0-2 pitch with two outs as Kansas City tied the O's, 5-5, in the ninth.
The Orioles scored four times in the fifth to break a 1-1 tie. Adam Jones tripled with one down and scored on an Alex Cintron double. After Brian Roberts struck out, the O's got three straight run-scoring hits with two outs.
Nick Markakis' RBI single made it 3-1 and then Aubrey Huff ripped an RBI double and Kevin Millar singled to right for a run and a 5-1 lead.
KC got RBI singles from John Buck and Mike Aviles in the sixth, off Ryan Bukvich, to pull within 5-3.
The Royals used two hits and a balk to score a run in the seventh and trail the Orioles 5-4. Jose Guillen singled, advanced to third on Billy Butler's single and scored on a balk by Dennis Sarfate. Sarfate dropped the ball while in contact with the pitching rubber and the Royals 4th run scored.
The Royals took a 1-0 lead in the third on an Alex Gordon RBI double. Joey Gathright walked, stole second and went to third on an error. Mark Grudzielanek walked ahead of Gordon's double. Brian Roberts' diving stop on Jose Guillen's grounder ended the inning and saved the O's perhaps two runs.
Ramon Hernandez led off the last of the third with a homer to tie the game, 1-1. His 7th of the year traveled 375 feet to right center.
KC 6-14-0
Balt 5-10-1
Postgame Notes
Sherrill Suffers Another Blown Save
This home run tonight didn't end the game, but it was sure deflating and Miguel Olivo's shot to left on an 0-2 pitch with two outs in the ninth tied the game at five. It's the second day in a row Sherrill was within one strike of a save and O's win. He has saved 26 games on the year and tonight was his 5th blown save.
After the game, Sherrill talked about his performance and how he will try and bounce back.
Millar's Hit Gave O's 5-1 Lead
Kevin Millar's RBI single in the 5th made it 5-1 O's and was his 44th RBI but the lead would not hold up. Millar's hit snapped a 2-14 stretch and was his 5th RBI this season vs. Royals pitching.
Final Notes
The O's got five runs off a tough starter, Zack Greinke but could not score over the next six innings vs. four Royals bullpen pitchers..........Joakim Soria is now 22-23 in saves and has retired 25 of the last 26 batters he's faced......He has been scored on in only two of 34 outings...........Of the Orioles ten hits, six were for extra bases with four doubles, a triple and a homer.....Ramon Hernandez homered in the 3rd, it was his 3rd longball over his last eight games.
Alex Cintron went 2-3, but left the game in the 7th with a strained left hamstring.......Brian Roberts hit his AL-leading 30th double in the third........Nick Markakis was 1-5 and now is batting .345 during an eight-game hitting streak......Melvin Mora went 0-4 and is now 2-26 at bat.
The Orioles end June with a record of 15-12......Had they won they would have finished the month with 16 wins for the first time since 1994.....Still, its their most June wins since going 15-12 in 1997........KC ended a seven-game losing streak at Camden Yards.
Key Quotes
Dave Trembley on another tough loss
"It was a breaking ball up (the homer in the 9th). I didn't worry about Sherrill yesterday and I won't today.......Burres pitched better than I expected, I didn't think he would be that strong after being sick.............Not putting a zero up then (in the 6th) after we scored was big....The key in that inning was the walk."
Sherrill on Olivo's homer in the ninth
"Same pitch, same spot......I tried to bounce it and it rolled......It makes headlines when a closer loses it."
Does Sherrill second guess his pitch selection ?
"Yeah, not going to my fastball enough. He struggles with breaking balls but not that one."
Extra-Innings Records
Royals 1-4
Orioles 3-5
Cintron Update
SS Alex Cintron suffered a strained left hamstring running to first base on an infield single in the seventh. He will be further evaluated in the morning. Brandon Fahey came in to pinch run and stayed in at short.
Tonight's Attendance
Is only 15,289. Maybe everyone is holding out for tomorrow when it's George Sherrill T-shirt night. The first 10,000 fans, 15 and over, get a number 52 T-shirt at the Yard on Tuesday night.
Burres Was Solid
After missing a turn and pitching not long after his illness, Brian Burres threw well tonight. He pitched out of a couple of jams. He gave up just one run for the first time since May 22, six starts ago, when he allowed just a run vs. the Yankees.
Burres' line: 5IP, 5H, 1R-ER, 3BB, 3K.......95 pitches.
Doubling Up
The American League doubles leaders are playing against each other tonight. Brian Roberts began the night with an AL-leading, 29 two baggers. KC's Jose Guillen is second with 28. While Guillen is 0-3 so far, Roberts picked up his 30th double in the third. That puts him on a pace for 60. He hit 50 in 2004 and that number is best in O's history for one season. Miguel Tejada also had 50 doubles in 2005.
Salazar Homers For Norfolk
In his first game back at Triple-A today, Oscar Salazar hit a three-run homer but Charlotte beat Norfolk 10-6 this afternoon. The Tides made five errors leading to four unearned runs. Eider Torres had three hits and two RBI. Torres has had two or more hits in eight of his last 13 games.
New Number Three Hitter
Slumping Melvin Mora today was dropped from third to sixth in the order as Dave Trembley shakes it up a bit to see if Melvin can get his bat going. Mora is just 2 for his last 23, dropping his average to .232. Aubrey Huff is batting third tonight for just the third time this season. The Orioles have used five different batters in the three hole this year. They are Markakis, Mora, Millar, Huff and Scott.
Gametime in Baltimore
A little later than planned, but tonight's O's game is underway after a rain delay of 31 minutes at the start. First pitch was at 7:36pm and it's 86 degrees.
The Royals OF David DeJesus is not starting tonight due to a bruised low right rib cage and is listed as day to day. He has a 13-game hitting streak going.
Channel 2's Scott Garceau threw out today's first pitch and the lefty threw a strike. Scott is leaving his full-time duties at WMAR soon. All the best to one of Baltiimore's all-time best sportscasters.
Starting Lineups
Royals
SS Mike Aviles
2B Mark Grudzielanek
3B Alex Gordon
LF Jose Guillen
RF Mark Teahan
DH Billy Butler
1B Ross Gload
C John Buck
CF Joey Gathright
P Zack Greinke
Orioles
2B Brian Roberts
RF Nick Markakis
DH Aubrey Huff
1B Kevin Millar
LF Luke Scott
3B Melvin Mora
C Ramon Hernandez
CF Adam Jones
SS Alex Cintron
P Brian Burres
More On Today's Roster Move
Adam Loewen is back with the club and Jamie Walker today was placed on the 15-day DL with left elbow inflammation. The move is retroactive to last Thursday and if all goes well, Walker could return for the Boston series beginning July 11th. Walker is 1-0, 4.98 on the season. He struggled this year vs. left-handed hitters, giving up an average of .382 and six home runs.
Loewen last pitched with the O's on April 24th, lasting just 2 2/3 innings in a start at Seattle. In 9 rehab appearances with Frederick and Bowie he allowed 1 earned run over 9 2/3 innings. In four April starts with the Birds he was 0-1, 7.85.
Loewen says he is 100 percent healthy, he isn't sure what his bullpen role is and that he doesn't even worry about his left elbow anymore.
Listen to Adam Loewen's pregame interview
Walker said his goal was to get to the all-star break and then get a cortisone shot, but he didn't make it that far.
"I've seen a couple of doctors and I'm seeing another one today," Walker said. "The X-rays show little arthritic spurs, that's nothing uncommon, I'll be 37 tomorrow. Anyone my age would have spurs. Hopefully I can get a shot today and soon start throwing."
Walker was asked if the inflammation affected his pitching.
"No I won't make any excuses, no. I try to go out and compete with what I've got, so no, that's not an excuse."
Jones Looks To Keep Hot Bat Going
Adam Jones had quite a weekend in Washington. His hit in the 12th-inning Sunday gave the O's a brief 2-1 lead and he went 8-13 in the series. Over his last 19 games, Jones is batting .388 (19-49). Before today's game I talked with him about his recent solid hitting and if the O's are over Sunday's tough loss.
Trembley's Talk
Dave Trembley was asked today if Jamie Walker's inconsistent season can be blamed on his left elbow inflammation.
"There is a difference between being hurt and having pain in the arm. I believe he was hurt for a while and didn't say anything. He has not had elbow problems before he had shoulder problems. He could be ready for the Boston series before the all-star break, but if he's not ready then, we'll take the three days of the break and see where we are."
Trembley said Loewen doesn't inherit Walker's role since Walker was a situational pitcher and Loewen would probably pitch longer than that.
Trembley said Loewen assured him he was 100 percent and he told Loewen he didn't want him to say his elbow was bothering him if he had a bad outing. He also said Loewen will pitch out of the bullpen for the rest of the season.
Trembley says Matt Albers will seek a second opinion this week from Dr. James Andrews before deciding whether or not to have surgery.
Trembley was asked if he felt confident his team is over Sunday's loss to Washington.
"This team is resilient and has a lot of pride. We are mentally tough and this team has earned every bit of respect I could give them. To me that is a given (they are over yesterday)."
He is confident Burres is over his stomach ailment and is at or near 100 percent for tonight's start.
Trembley dropped Melvin Mora to sixth in the order today. "Let's see if we can get him producing some runs hitting in the six slot. I was late putting the lineup up today, I wanted to talk to Melvin before I posted it. I told him the reasons for it and he was fine with it."
Minor League Note
The Frederick Keys have activated RHP Pedro Beato. They have put IF Miguel Abreau on the DL with a groin injury. Frederick also got IF Mike McCoy from AAA.
Game Preview
Kansas City (37-45) at Orioles (41-39)
The Orioles will reach the mid-point of their 2008 season tonight. They'll play their 81st game vs. Kansas City as the Orioles open a four-game series and seven-game homestand.
The Orioles were 35-46 at the season's 81-game mark last year.
The Orioles suffered perhaps their toughest loss of the season Sunday. They took a 2-1 lead to the last of the 12th in Washington, and George Sherrill got the first two outs in the bottom of the inning. But a walk and Ronnie Belliard's two-run homer followed as the Nats won a 3-2 stunner.
That result kept the O's from winning the series and having a winning road trip, as they went 4-5 on the swing through Milwaukee, Chicago and Washington.
The Orioles are 22-12 at home and have won three in a row and six of their last seven games at Camden Yards.
The Royals lost the past two games vs. St. Louis. Before that they had won 11 of 12 games. Kansas City just completed a 6-3 homestand. They are 18-24, but have won five in a row on the road.
The Orioles have been dominant vs. the Royals in recent years. They went 7-0 vs. KC last season and took three of four in a series at KC in early May. The loss in the final game of that series ended a 12-game winning streak vs. KC.
Still, the O's have won 15 of the last 17 between the clubs and are 25-7 vs. KC since 2004. The Royals have lost nine in a row at Camden Yards, dating to their last win there, May 8 of 2005.
Pitching Match-Up
LHP Brian Burres (6-5, 5.29) tonight is scheduled to make his 15th start of the season, his 8th at home and his second on the year vs. Kansas City.
Burres was scratched from his last start, last Wednesday at Chicago, due to a stomach ailment. He pitched one inning vs. the Cubs the next day, giving up one run.
Even though Burres has won his last two starts, he has not recorded a quality start over his last five appearances and has an ERA of 10.27 in that time. In seven home starts, he is 4-2, 6.75 and has allowed 11 homers in 38 2/3 innings.
Burres took the loss May 11th at KC, giving up four runs and nine hits in six innings. He walked two and fanned one that day, throwing 103 pitches.
His ERA has been on the rise during this season, from 2.49 in April, to 5.35 in May to 8.57 in June.
RHP Zack Greinke (7-4, 3.40) tonight makes his 17th start of the season, his 11th on the road and his 3rd career start vs. the Orioles.
Greinke is 2-0, 1.80 over his last three starts. He got off to a great start on the season, pitching to an ERA of 1.25 in April. In five June starts, he is 2-2, 4.65.
The 24-year-old has pitched with solid control this season, with a strikeout-to-walks ratio of 84 to 33 in 106 innings. The Royals are 9-7 when he starts this year.
Greinke was the 6th pick in round one of the 2002 draft by Kansas City.
In ten road starts, he is 4-4, 3.94. When in jams he seems to toughen up. His batting average against when he pitches with runners in scoring position is .176.
In limited innings vs. the Orioles, Greinke has not fared well. In four career games, two starts vs. Baltimore, he is 0-2, 10.64. In 11 innings vs. Orioles batters he has allowed 18 hits, 13 earned runs and 6 home runs.
O's Hitters, 2008 vs. Kansas City
Cintron: 0-1
Fahey: 0-0
Hernandez: 3-8
Huff: 4-17, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI
Jones: 2-13, 2B, 3B, RBI
Markakis: 3-13, HR, 3 RBI
Millar: 5-16, HR, 4 RBI
Mora: 3-15, HR, 3 RBI
Payton: 0-3
Quiroz: 1-5, RBI
Roberts: 2-11, R
Scott: 1-12
The O's hit .228 as a team in the earlier series vs. Kansas City, scoring 17 runs and hitting four homers. The pitching staff's ERA in the series was 3.60 and they allowed just one homer.
Pitching Probables, Rest of Series
Tues 7:05pm: Radhames Liz (2-0, 5.70) vs. RHP Luke Hochevar (5-5, 4.60)
Wed 7:05pm: Daniel Cabrera (5-4, 4.53) vs. RHP Gil Meche (6-8, 4.66)
Thurs 7:05pm: Garrett Olson (6-3, 4.76) vs. RHP Kyle Davies (3-1, 3.34)
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