Some O's hot bats cool off as Birds lose to Rangers, 5-3, on Kinsler HR
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Ian Kinsler's two-run homer in the sixth gave Texas a 4-3 lead, and the Rangers went on to a 5-3 win over the Orioles Saturday night. That evens the weekend series at one win each with the series finale set for Sunday at 1:35 p.m.
The Orioles fall to 3-3 on this homestand, 25-15 at home on the season and 44-42 on the year.
The Orioles scored three in the first for a 3-1 lead, but they didn't score after that inning and eventually lost the two-run lead.
The Rangers added a run in the eighth for a 5-3 lead when Micheal Young grounded into a double play with the bases loaded and no outs.
Texas reclaimed the lead 4-3 on Kinsler's two-run homer in the top of the sixth. German Duran doubled for his third hit of the game and the O's replaced Brian Burres with Lance Cormier. Kinsler hit a 3-1 Cormier pitch into the left-field seats to put Texas in the lead.
The Orioles moved into the lead within three batters in the last of the first. Brian Roberts and Jay Payton led off the frame with singles and both scored on a Nick Markakis double to right center. Markakis advanced to third on a grounder and scored on Melvin Mora's sac fly for a 3-1 O's lead. Josh Hamilton's RBI single in the Texas second cut the lead to 3-2.
Texas grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning. AL-leading hitter Ian Kinsler led off with a double and scored on Micheal Young's single to right. It's Young's 45th RBI. Brian Burres got Chris Davis on a popout to end the frame with the bases loaded.
The O's conclude this series and homestand, hosting Texas Sunday at 1:35pm.
Tex 5-14-0
Balt 3-8-0
Postgame Notes
Payton's Night
Jay Payton started in left field and batted second. He went 1-5 and scored a run in the first. He was involved in a key play on defense in the 6th. With two outs and none on, German Duran drilled a liner to left. Payton, on the run, had the ball glance off his glove for a double. That kept the inning alive and Ian Kinsler followed with his two-run homer that gave Texas the lead for good.
The First, Then The Rest
When the Orioles got three runs on three hits in the first inning it looked like they were on their way to another night of big offense. But they picked up just four hits the rest of the game, going 4-27 at bat after the first. They were also 0-5 with runners in scoring position after the first frame. This is the fewest runs they've scored in a game on this homestand.
Final Notes
Nick Markakis' hitting streak lives on as he went 2-4 with 2 RBI. He now has a 13-game hitting streak during which he is batting .360 with 12 RBI and 7 doubles.......Adam Jones went 0-3 with a walk and his 8-game streak ended.........Melvin Mora went 2-3 with an RBI, snapping out of a 4-38 stretch........Brian Roberts hit his Major League leading 32nd double in the seventh inning and he has 13 doubles over his last 21 games.......Aubrey Huff and Ramon Hernandez saw seven-game batting streaks end.
The Orioles have given up at least one run in the first inning four times in six games on the homestand......They are 18-19 this season when allowing a run in the first......Ian Kinsler now has a 17-game hitting streak and is batting .420 during the streak......He had a 19-game streak earlier this season.......The Orioles are now 6-11 in two-run games......The Birds are 2-3 vs. Texas and now 9-9 vs. the AL West.
Key Quotes
Dave Trembley on the pitchers
"Give Feldman credit because he settled down. He made some adjustments....Kranny told me in the first inning he didn't look like he (Burres) had very much.....His arm speed wasn't what it's been......There were a lot of hard hit balls and some very good plays behind him. He just didn't have a lot of finish on his pitches.
Burres on his outing
"I didn't have my best stuff at all today.....Defense was great behind me.......The one thing I did feel good about was limiting them when they had guys on base........They're (Texas) swinging it good right now, you can't go out there hanging stuff and throwing it down the middle vs. them."
Steve Melewski's Live GameBlog From Camden Yards
Can't Get The Key Hit
Since scoring three in the first tonight, the O's have no runs on four hits since the second and it's now the 8th inning. Over innings 5-7, the O's went 0-5 with runners in scoring position. Even hot hitting Aubrey Huff is 0-4 tonight. Need the clutch hit, but it hasn't come so far.
Injury Update
The Rangers report that catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia left the game in the top of the sixth due to a right groin strain. He was batting and left the game as Max Ramirez came on to finish the at bat. Ramirez struck out but it was charged to Saltalamacchia.
Melvin's D
He may be in a 4-39 slump at the plate, but Melvin Mora just flashed some leather at the Rangers in the top of the 5th, keeping the O's in the lead, 3-2. He leaped to grab Milton Bradley's hot liner leading off the inning. After a pop out he made a diving stop to the backhand side of Brandon Boggs' liner to end the inning. Two web gems for Mora in the fifth.
Hitting Streaks Extended
With his two-run double in the first, Nick Markakis' hitting streak extends to 13 games during which he is batting .362. He has 12 RBI during the streak.
Ian Kinsler of Texas doubled in the first and his streak is now at 17 games. Kinsler began today hitting .325 to lead the American League. He also leads the AL in total bases, hits, runs and multi-hit games and is tied for first with Brian Roberts with 44 extra-base hits. He is also second in the AL, batting .411 with runners in scoring position.
The First Inning Run
Now that the Orioles have allowed their usual first-inning run, on with the game. They have been scored on in the first inning in four of the six games on this homestand, KC did it twice and Texas is 2-2. The Orioles give up more runs in the first innig, 63 on the year, than any other inning. The next worst is the seventh, where they have allowed 56 runs.
Gametime in Baltimore
Game two of the series with Texas is underway. With Boston losing to New York today, the Orioles would be just three games back of Boston in the loss column with a win tonight. First pitch was at 7:06 p.m. and it's 83 degrees. Check back here during the game for news and updates.
Starting Lineups
Rangers
2B Ian Kinsler
SS Micheal Young
RF Josh Hamilton
DH Milton Bradley
CF Marlon Byrd
LF Brandon Boggs
1B Chris Davis
C Jarrod Saltalamacchia
3B German Duran
P Scott Feldman
Orioles
2B Brian Roberts
LF Jay Payton
RF Nick Markakis
DH Aubrey Huff
1B Kevin Millar
3B Melvin Mora
CF Adam Jones
C Guillermo Quiroz
SS Brandon Fahey
P Brian Burres
Dave Trembley says Brian Roberts is feeling better after missing Friday's game with flu-like symptoms. Nick Markakis is hitting .348 during a 12-game hitting streak. Adam Jones is batting .469 during an 8-game streak. Brandon Fahey has 4 RBI on this homestand. Aubrey Huff is hitting .400-8-22 over his last 21 games. Melvin Mora is just 4 for his last 38 at bat.
Aquino Returns
After being designated for assignment once by the Orioles this year, back on April 29, Greg Aquino returned to the club after pitching well at Triple-A Norfolk. Ryan Bukvich, who had a 6.75 ERA in four games with the Birds, was designated for assignment today.
Aquino appeared in six games for the O's in April with an ERA of 14.21 (10ER - 6 1/3IP). At Norfolk he was 2-2, 2.45 and nine saves in 25 2/3. He allowed 23 hits with 6 walks, 29 strikeouts and a batting average against of .240 in 23 games. He did not allow an earned run in his first nine Triple-A appearances.
"I'm really looking for a 7th-inning type guy. I need someone who can throw strikes and keep it where it's at. We'll give Aquino a shot and see what he can do," manager Dave Trembley said.
"I was pitching good at Triple A. I've worked with my mechanics and my slider. I feel confident and ready to go. Let's see what happens now," Aquino said.
The Orioles acquired Aquino off waivers from Milwaukee in December. In 2004, he saved 16 games for Arizona.
Trembley's Talk
Dave Trembley gave reporters an update on Randor Bierd today.
He said Bierd has left Frederick for Bowie to continue his rehab assignment. He will pitch two innings for the Baysox tomorrow and make four more appearances there through July 17th. Then the O's will decide what the next move will be.
Trembley talked about Greg Aquino having a bigger role with the O's this time around.
"He was the 12th pitcher on the team before. There was a ten day period where he didn't pitch. What I saw in Spring Training was his ability to throw a power slider as an out pitch and strikeout pitch. Perhaps he wasn't used enough before. Reports we got on him from Triple A were good."
Trembley said he could use Aquino for more than one inning at times.
Trembley talked about the all-star voting and the fact that no Orioles rank very high in that voting.
"It's mind boggling that people can vote up to 25 times. It becomes a popularity contest. You't can't argue with what Huff's done at the DH spot. Markakis is not even in the top 15 among outfielders. Roberts is as good as anybody in this league and what Sherrill has done is phenomenal."
Trembley said he would not promote his own guys but would be happy to talk about his own players if someone else called him.
Trembley talked again today about Adam Jones and his recent hot hitting.
"He's made that trade look very good. He's a young, exciting player that has a high ceiling for improvement. He's gotten some key hits for us. He's a real athlete and he's going to get better. Crow's done a great job with him."
Game Preview
Texas (44-43) at Baltimore (44-41)
The Orioles took the first game of a three-game series from Texas on Friday and a win today would give the O's a series win over the Rangers. The clubs meet tonight at 7:35 p.m. at Camden Yards.
The Rangers have lost only four of their last 20 series with a record of 37-27 since April 25.
The Orioles' Freddie Bynum knocked in three runs in Friday's win while Brandon Fahey and Adam Jones added two RBI each. The Orioles led 8-1 after three innings. Nick Markakis extended his batting streak to 12 games while Jones' streak has reached eight games.
The Orioles are batting .282 as team during this homestand and have scored 34 runs in the five games played so far. The O's are 3-2 on the homestand and 25-14 at home on the season.
The O's have won 3 of their last 4 and are 12-8 over the past 20 games.
Texas is 2-2 on a six-game road trip. The Rangers, who are 14-4-2 in their last 20 series, are 23-25 on the road in 2008.
Pitching Match-Up
LHP Brian Burres (6-5, 5.09) tonight will make his 16th start of the season, his 9th at Camden Yards and his second this year vs. Texas.
Burres hopes to build on his last start, Monday against KC, when he gave up just one run over five innings. In his five previous starts, his ERA was 10.27 and it was 7.27 in five June starts.
Burres, who has allowed 104 hits in 86 2/3 innings, has had trouble all season vs. left-handed batters, who hit .346 against him.
In eight home starts, he is 4-2, 6.18 and the O's are 8-7 when he starts in 2008.
Burres got the win April 8th at Texas, giving up just one run and seven hits over six innings. He walked two and fanned three, throwing 81 pitches that night.
RHP Scott Feldman (2-3, 4.38) will tonight make his 13th start of the season, his 7th on the road and his first career start vs. the Orioles.
Feldman is starting instead of 22-year-old righthander Eric Hurley, who has been scratched from the start due to a hamstring injury.
Feldman was the winning pitcher Monday at Yankee Stadium, giving up just one run and four hits over 5 2/3. Over his last three starts, he is 1-0, 2.70.
The 25-year-old gives up a batting average of .243 against right-handed hitters, .258 vs. lefties and .243 when he pitches with runners in scoring position.
In six road starts, he is 1-3, 6.00. His home ERA is 3.20.
Feldman has not appeared in a game in 2008 vs. Baltimore and is 0-0, 1.93 in three career relief appearances vs. the O's, covering 4 2/3 innings.
O's Hitters, Current Homestand
Bynum: 1-5, 3 RBI
Fahey: 4-14, 3 2B, 4 RBI
Hernandez: 8-21, HR, 4 RBI
Huff: 8-21, 3 HR, 8 RBI
Jones: 7-19, 2 3B, 6 RBI
Markakis: 7-22, 2 2B, 3 RBI
Millar: 3-13, 2 RBI
Mora: 2-16, RBI
Payton: 0-5
Quiroz: 0-0
Roberts: 4-16, 2 2B, HR, RBI
Scott: 3-19, 2B, RBI
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