Toronto uses seven-run fourth to beat Birds, 9-8
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Toronto scored seven runs in the 4th inning, which offset a six-run Orioles 6th inning and the Jays beat the Birds, 9-8, Wednesday night. The Orioles have lost four in a row for the first time since June 1st and fall under .500 at 44-45 for the first time since June 12th. The last three losses have come by one run each.
Nick Markakis hit a solo homer off BJ Ryan with two outs in the 9th to bring the O's within 9-8, but Ryan got Kevin Millar to fly out with a man on to end the game.
Toronto expanded its lead back to two runs on Scott Rolen's RBI single in the 6th that made it a 9-7 game.
Trailing by an 8-1 deficit, the Orioles scored six times in the top of the sixth to cut Toronto's lead to 8-7. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases. Then Melvin Mora's two-run single made it 8-3. A Ramon Hernandez RBI single off the right-field wall made it an 8-4 lead.
Then Adam Jones batted with two men on. He hit a high fastball from AJ Burnett into the left-field seats for a three-run homer that made it 8-7. That shot, Jones' first homer since June 6th, brought the O's within one and knocked Burnett out of the game.
Toronto batted around, scoring seven runs in the fourth inning. With one run in, bases loaded and two outs, John McDonald hit a slow roller to third, Melvin Mora's throw was just late and Toronto led 2-1. They would score five more that inning as David Eckstein had a two-run double and Alex Rios a two-run single. Rios and Vernon Wells each had two hits as the Jays batted 12 in the fourth.
Kevin Millar's RBI single gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. It scored Nick Markakis who singled, then stole second base. That single extended Markakis' hitting streak to 16 games.
Balt 8-11-1
Tor 9-12-0
Postgame Notes
Olson knocked out
Garrett Olson struggled to go deep into a game yet again tonight, working just 3.2 innings and giving up seven earned runs. His ERA jumped from 5.04 to 5.65 after tonight's performance. He has now failed to go deeper than 5.1 innings in his last six starts.
After the game, Olson talked about his outing.
Final Notes
Olson falls to 6-4 and his ERA is 8.38 (27ER - 29IP) over his last six starts........The last time the O's were under the .500 mark they were 32-33 on June 12th.........The O's have lost four in a row, 5 of 6, and 8 of their last 12 and are 19-29 on the season in road games.
Nick Markakis extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a 3-5 night that included a solo homer in the 9th.......During the streak, Markakis is batting .406-2-18.......Adam Jones hit a three-run homer in the 6th.......It's his 5th homer of the season and first since June 6th.......Jones has 12 RBI his last 12 games......Melvin Mora had a two-run single and is 5-13 during a four-game batting streak......Jay Payton went 0-1 as a pinch-hitter and has just one hit in his last 22 at bats.
The Orioles have scored 24 runs over the last three games, but have lost all three......They have scored 37 runs the last five games and 82 runs over the last 13 games.
Steve Melewski's Live GameBlog
The O's Big Inning
Give the O's credit for not rolling over when it was 8-1. They put up their big inning, six runs in the 6th. Adam Jones' three-run homer was something to watch. That young man has such quick hands to get the bat aroun on a high fastball like that. He may struggle from time to time with a breaking pitch but he can hammer the number one. Jones now has 9 RBI over his last 6 games and 12 RBI over 12 games.
Olson's Night
Well, he was solid for three innings, but the fourth was a disaster. If Melvin Mora got rid of the ball a little quicker on that John McDonald dribbler to third, maybe they get out of that inning with one run scoring. But the Jays ripped into Olson after that. He is regressing and his ERA has gone up each month this season.
Olson's line: 3 2/3IP, 7H, 7R-ER, 4BB, 2K.........76 pitches.
Olson's ERA over his last six starts is 8.38, and it is 5.65 on the season.
Vote For Roberts and Burrell
An O's official told me tonight that the Phillies, when reminding their fans to vote for Pat Burrell for the All-Star team, are also reminding them to vote for the O's Brian Roberts. So the O's would like to return the favor, and while reminding you to vote for B-Rob at MLB.com, also consider Burrell and your neighbors to the north. Voting ends at 5pm Thursday.
Minor League Notes
The Frederick Keys have added IF Miguel Abreu and OF Bobby Andrews to their active roster off the DL. They are putting C Justin Johnson on the DL, retro to July 7, with a hand injury.
The Aberdeen IronBirds will play for a while without this year's 4th-round pick, OF Kyle Hudson. He suffered a hand injury sliding into second on the 4th of July. No word yet on how long he will be out. Hudson is hitting .216-0-5 in 11 games.
Game Two Underway
The second game of this three-game series is underway. Can Garrett Olson finally get deep into a game and over that fifth-inning hurdle? The O's could really use it. Can they hit AJ Burnett again, as they hit him hard the last time they faced him earlier this month. Check back tonight for news and updates during the game.
Starting Lineups
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 Brandon Fahey
Blue Jays
DH David Eckstein
2B Marco Scutaro
RF Alex Rios
CF Vernon Wells
1B Rod Barajas
3B Scott Rolen
C Gregg Zaun
LF Adam Lind
SS John McDonald
Last night's rally from a 6-2 deficit was Toronto's biggest comeback of the season and only the Jays 11th comeback win. The O's are 3-3 this year vs. the Jays and four of the games have been decided by one run. Toronto today placed last night's starter, Dustin McGowan on the 15-day DL with right shoulder soreness. They have recalled RHP Brian Wolfe from Triple-A.
Game Preview
Orioles (44-44) at Toronto (43-47)
In the last two weeks the Orioles have gone from a team that produces comeback wins to one that can't hold onto leads. The O's latest bullpen meltdown led to a 7-6 loss in Toronto on Tuesday in the first game of a three-game series.
The Jays scored four times in the seventh inning to tie the game at 6-6 and used two Orioles errors in the 9th to win the game, 7-6. When Scott Rolen's grounder went through Freddie Bynum's legs in the 9th it allowed Alex Rios to score the game-winning run.
The O's, who led 6-2 after six and a half innings, fell to 44-44. The Birds have not been under the .500 mark since they were 32-33 on June 12th.
The Orioles have now lost three in a row, 4 of 5 and 7 of 11 games. They are 15-20 in games vs. AL East opponents.
Toronto, which had lost four of five entering this series, is now 10-14 vs. the AL East and 8-8 since Cito Gaston took over as manager on June 20th.
Alex Rios' three-run triple in the seventh pulled the Jays within one run at 6-5 Tuesday. Vernon Wells added 2 RBI as Toronto improved to 3-3 this season vs. the O's.
Pitching Match-Up
LHP Garrett Olson (6-3, 5.04) tonight will make his 14th start of this season, his 8th on the road and his first of the season vs. Toronto.
Olson allowed six runs in 5 1/3 Thursday in a no-decision vs. Kansas City, and he is 1-2, 7.11 over his last five starts.
Olson's ERA has increased each month, from 2.70 in April; 4.31 in May; 5.81 in June; and 8.44 in July.
He has recorded a quality start just four times on the season and pitched six innings or more in just 4 of 13 starts. The Orioles are 7-6 when he starts in 2008.
In 7 road starts he is 3-3, 5.75 and in 20 career starts dating to last year, he is 7-6, 5.91.
RHP AJ Burnett (8-8, 4.92) will make his 19th start of the season tonight, his 9th at home and the 8th of his career vs. the Orioles.
Burnett took the loss his last start, Friday at Los Angeles, allowing 8 runs, 6 earned on 12 hits in 7 innings vs. the Angels. In his previous two starts, he had given up just 1ER over 15IP.
The 31-year-old Burnett gives up an average of .245 vs. right-handed hitters, .280 vs. lefties and .270 when pitching with runners in scoring position. In eight home starts in 2008, he is 5-3, 5.74.
In his last seven starts, since June 1st, Burnett is 3-3, 5.48.
He took the loss June 7th vs. the Birds giving up 8ER and 10 hits over 4 1/3 innings.
Burnett vs. Baltimore:
2008: 0-1, 16.22 one start
2007: 4-0, 3.28 five starts
Career: 5-1, 4.53 seven starts
Markakis and Huff Stay Hot
Those left-handed bats of Aubrey Huff and Nick Markakis are still rather warm. Markakis had two more hits last night. Over his last four games he is 9-18 with 8 RBI. He has a 15-game hitting streak during which he is batting .390, 1-17. The streak has raised his average from .281 to .300. This season he is batting 11-24 with 4 RBI vs. Toronto pitching.
Huff hit his 18th homer Tuesday. Over his last six games he has hit four homers with 9 RBI. He is batting .325 over his last ten games. Over his last 24 games he is batting .385, 9-25 with 11 doubles.
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