Roberts collects 1,000th hit as O's end Cubs streak, 7-5 (Game two tonight in HD)
George Sherrill got out of a major jam in the 9th and Brian Roberts picked up the 1,000th hit of his career, as the Orioles beat the Cubs 7-5 Tuesday, ending Chicago's 14-game home winning streak.
The Cubs loaded the bases with no outs in the 9th vs. Sherrill, but he then struck out three straight hitters to record his 26th save.
The Orioles improved to 39-36 with their 7th win in ten games. The Cubs, who were 27-4 in their last 31 home games, are now 32-9 at home on the season.
Roberts picked up the 1,000th hit of his career, an RBI triple, as the O's scored three in the sixth to lead, 7-1. Alex Cintron made it 5-1 with an RBI double before Roberts picked up his third hit of the night and number 1,000 to make it 6-1. He later scored on a Nick Markakis infield single.
Jim Edmonds three-run homer in the last of the seventh cut the O's lead to 7-4. It scored Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez who singled and knocked Jeremy Guthrie from the game.
The Orioles scored two more in the fifth for a 4-1 lead. Markakis' RBI double scored Roberts, who singled. Kevin Millar's two-out single to center scored Markakis and knocked Cubs' starter Sean Marshall from the game.
The Orioles took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth. With one out, Millar walked and Ramon Hernandez singled. Luke Scott ripped a two-run triple to right for a 2-0 lead. He now has 30 RBI on the season.
The Cubs got on the board on Kosuke Fukudome's solo homer in the fourth. His 6th of the season made it a 2-1 O's lead.
Balt 7-11-0
Cubs 5-11-1
Roberts Picks Up 1000th Hit
Brian Roberts continued his torrid hitting tonight and reached a milestone at the same time. Roberts picked up his 1000th career hit with an RBI triple in the 6th inning, giving the O's a 6-1 lead. He was 3-5 in this game and is 8-16 on the road trip. Roberts, who is now hitting .296 on the season, is batting .391 during his current 11-game hitting streak.
After the game, Roberts talked with Amber Theoharis about the thrilling win and picking up career hit number 1000.
Sherrill Gains Another Save
George Sherrill's 26th save of the season may have been his toughest. First, it was a four-out save. Secondly he had to get out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the 9th. First he struck out pinch-hitter Ronny Cedeno on a high fastball. He then got Fukudome swinging and got pinch-hitter Henry Blanco trying to check his swing, but he went too far.
The Wrigley crowd was roaring and poised to run their home win streak to 15 games. By getting the final out when he did, Sherrill made sure that Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez did not come up in the ninth. It was an amazing save and win.
Final Notes
The Cubs have not had a 15-game home win streak since 1890 when they played at West Side Park........The 14-game home win streak was their longest since 1936.....Cubs fall to 32-9 at home.............The Cubs had been 39-5 when scoring four runs or more until this game.
The Orioles, now 9-4 in interleague play, have won 5 of 7, 7 of 10 and 11 of their last 17 games........They are 13-8 in June..........Luke Scott was hitting just .186 with runners in scoring position when he hit a two-run triple in the fourth......Ramon Hernadez went 2-4 and is hitting .382 his last ten games............Kevin Millar had an RBI and has knocked in 6 runs his last five games and has 17 RBI his last 20 games.......the Orioles have made just 6 errors in 21 June games......O's pitched has allowed 5 runs or more in 14 of the last 16 games.............Hernandez is now 23 hits shy of 1,000 for his career.
Steve Melewski's Live GameBlog
Guthrie's Night
By the numbers he didn't finish with a quality start, but for most of tonight he pitched with great quality. That three-run jack by Jim Edmonds uglies up his final line. But Guthrie gave his team another strong outing and it was so nice to see him get a few runs to work with.
Guthrie's line: 6IP, 7H 4R-ER, 1BB, 2K, 2 HR.....93 pitches.
B-Rob Closes In
Brian Roberts single to center in the fifth was his second hit of the night and the 999th of his career. He is now 7-14 on this road trip and has an 11-game hitting streak during which he is batting .386.
Cool Hand Luke
Luke Scott entered tonight hitting just .186 with runners in scoring position. And, he had 0 hits in his last 10 at bats and just 2 in his last 18. But he delivered a big two-run triple to give the O's a 2-0 lead in the fourth. He has 30 RBI. Adam Jones had a poor at bat after the triple and struck out, failing to get the run home from third with one out.
Play Ball In Chicago
The O's first-ever game in Wrigley is underway. Can they break the Cubbies 14-game home win streak. Check back here often tonight for news and updates.
Starting Lineups
Orioles
2B Brian Roberts
RF Nick Markakis
3B Melvin Mora
1B Kevin Millar
C Ramon Hernandez
LF Luke Scott
CF Adam Jones
SS Alex Cintron
P Jeremy Guthrie
Cubs
RF Kosuke Fukudome
LF Eric Patterson
1B Derrek Lee
3B Aramis Ramirez
CF Jim Edmonds
C Geovany Soto
2B Mark DeRosa
SS Ryan Theriot
P Sean Marshall
The Cubs are looking to win their 15th in a row at home. They last did that in 1890 when their home was West Side Park.
Back in March there was plenty of speculation that O's second baseman Brian Roberts might be dealt to the Cubs. But as the Orioles play their first-ever game at Wrigley Field tonight, B-Rob remains with the Orioles. He's working on a ten-game hitting streak during which he is batting .366 and he has 13 doubles over his last 18 games.
Before the game, Roberts talked with Amber Theoharis about dealing with the rumors and how he's happy he's still with the Birds.
Game Preview Orioles (38-36) at Chicago Cubs (48-28)
After winning one of three at Milwaukee, the Orioles begin the second stop on their three-city road trip tonight when they play the Cubs in Chicago.
As the Orioles make their first-ever stop at Wrigley Field, they brace to face the team with the best record in baseball, at 48-28.
The O's hit into five double plays and Garrett Olson gave up four earned runs over five innings in Sunday's 7-3 loss in Milwaukee. The Birds lost the last two games of the series, scoring a combined 5 runs on Saturday and Sunday.
The Orioles, even with back to back to losses, have won 4 of 6 and 6 of 9 games. They are 12-8 in June and 8-4 vs. National League clubs.
The Cubs took three straight from the White Sox over the weekend by a 22-11 score. They have won 14 straight at Wrigley Field, their longest home winning streak since 1936.
The Cubs, who lead the NL in runs scored, have baseball's best home record at 32-8 and lead the Major Leagues in run differential at a plus 112.
The Cubs entered June with the best record in baseball for the first time since 1908. They went 18-11 in May and are 13-7 in June.
The Cubs continue to win despite playing without ace starter Carlos Zambrano and slugger Alfonso Soriano. Against the Sox, third baseman Aramis Ramirez went 6-13, with four homers and 8 RBI.
The Cubs were swept three straight last week at Tampa and are 5-4 this year and 83-83 all-time in interleague play.
Pitching Match-Up
RHP Jeremy Guthrie (3-7, 3.51) tonight makes his 17th start of the season, his 9th on the road, his third in interleague play and his first vs. the Cubs.
Guthrie had perhaps his best start of the season, a no decision, last Wednesday vs. Houston. In a season-high eight innings he gave up just one run on three hits with a season-high, eight strikeouts. Guthrie has allowed 2ER or less in six of his last eight starts. In that time he is 2-4, 2.73.
Guthrie is tied for third in the AL in starts, is 8th in innings and tied for 12th in ERA. The Orioles have scored a total of 10 runs in his seven losses.
Guthrie has recorded a quality start in seven of his last eight outings and in 12 of his 16 starts on the season. In eight road starts, he is 2-4, 3.78.
The 29-year-old right-hander gives up an average of .225 to right-handed hitters and .250 vs. lefties. In two interleague starts this season, he is 0-1, 1.20. In six career interleague starts, Guthrie is 1-1, 2.11.
The Orioles are 7-9 when he starts this season.
LHP Sean Marshall (0-0, 4.15) tonight will make his 14th appearance of the season, his first as a starter and his first-ever vs. the Orioles.
Marshall has been in Triple-A since he was optioned out on May 9th and in his last six starts in the minors was 1-1, 3.77. The 25-year-old lefty was the Cubs' 6th-round pick in 2003.
He pitched earlier in the season out of the Cubs bullpen and gave up eight hits and four earned runs over 8 2/3. He appeared in 13 games and did not allow a run 10 times.
In parts of three seasons with the Cubs, Marshall has made 58 career appearances, 43 starts, with a record of 13-17, 4.81.
The Cubs' 14-Game Home Winning Streak
During the streak they are 1-0 vs. Pittsburgh, 3-0 vs. the LA Dodgers, 4-0 vs. Colorado, 3-0 vs. Atlanta and 3-0 vs. the White Sox.
They are batting .303 during the streak, scoring 5.9 runs per game, and they have hit 22 homers in the 14 games. The team ERA during the run is 2.93. They have outscored the opposition, 82-46, during the streak.
Orioles Hitters, 2008 Road Games
Cintron: (5-22) .227-0-0
Hernandez: (28-120) .233-2-15
Huff: (42-155) .271-6-19
Jones: (33-142) .232-2-15
Markakis: (43-145) .297-6-17
Millar: (32-138) .232-6-20
Mora: (33-145) .228-5-17
Payton: (18-72) .250-2-10
Quiroz: (7-38) .184-1-5
Roberts: (44-155) .284-2-16
Salazar: (3-8) .375-1-3
Scott: (23-114) .202-6-15
No June Swoon
After going 8-18 last June, there is no swoon this time. The Orioles are 12-8 this month with seven games left. They have not won as many as 16 games in June since going 16-10 in June of 1994. This June has been marked by a much improved O's offense but a pitching staff that is having its worst month of 2008.
June offense: .288 average, 5.3 runs per game, 28 homers
June pitching: 5.06 ERA, 30 homers allowed
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