- MASNsports.com

Millar homers twice, but O's rally falls short, Angels win 6-5

By Steve Melewski on July 25, 2008 9:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

STATS: By Inning | Box | Matchup | O's Stats | Angels Stats

Check out B-Rob's O's Blog only on MASNsports.com:
The strength of the division, his new at bat song, and a special guest.

Steve Melewski's MASN Blog:
Cintron's day in Bowie

The LA Angels homered twice in the first two innings, took an early 5-0 lead and held off the Orioles late, for a 6-5 win in the series opener Friday night. The O's fall to 3-6 on this homestand and a season-worst 6 games under .500 and have lost 13 of 17 games.

Kevin Millar's second homer of the game cut the Angels lead to 6-5 in the 9th. Francisco Rodriguez got Luke Scott to ground out with a man on second to end the game and record his 43rd save.

Losing pitcher Brian Burres gave up seven hits and five runs over just 1 2/3 in his shortest outing of the year. Orioles' starters have worked to an ERA of 8.20 on this homestand.

Winning pitcher Joe Saunders, now 13-5, gave up four runs, three earned, over 6 2/3. The Angels have won 8 of their last 9 and are 14-5 in July.

Garret Anderson's RBI single off Chad Bradford in the 8th gave LA an insurance run and a 6-4 lead.

The Orioles rallied for three runs in the 7th, knocking Saunders out of the game and cutting the Angels lead to 5-4. The rally started with two outs and none on when Ramon Hernandez singled. An Adam Jones single and Millar walk loaded the bases.

Jay Payton ripped a two-run double to right to make it 5-3. Millar later scored on a wild pitch and it was a 5-4 game. Reliever Scot Shields got Brian Roberts on a called third srike with runners on first and third to end that rally.

Millar's homer leading off the last of the third cut the Angels lead to 5-1. Millar's 13th of the year traveled 345 feet into the left-field corner.

The Angels homered twice off Brian Burres in the second to open a 5-0 lead. Juan Rivera led the inning with his 4th homer and a few batters later Casey Kotchman hit a two-run shot to right. His 10th homer traveled 380 feet and made it a 5-0 Angels lead. When Vladimir Guerrero singled with two outs in the inning, Dennis Sarfate relieved Burres.

LA scored twice in the first to take a 2-0 lead. Chone Figgins led off with a single and advanced to second on a groundout. After a two-out walk to Guerrero, Torii Hunter ripped a two-run double to right center for his 45th and 46th RBI.

LAA 6-9-1
Balt 5-8-1

Postgame Notes

Millar Goes Deep Twice
Kevin Millar hit a solo homer in the 3rd off Joe Saunders scoring the Orioles first run of the night and in the 9th off Francisco Rodriguez, scoring their last of the night. It's his 7th career two-homer night and second of this season. He hit two vs. the Yankees on May 27th. Tonight he hit his 13th and 14th of the season. He entered this game with just one hit his last 10 at bats and was 7-29 on the homestand. He had just one RBI the first 8 games on the homestand and two tonight.

Kevin Millar's postgame interview

Burres' Short Night
It was a long night for him in terms of the results, but short in that it was his shortest start of the season. He gave up five runs in 1 2/3. The Angels went 7-12 at bat against him with two homers. He is now 7-7, 5.37. Burres has just six quality starts on the season and just one in his last 10 starts.

Brian Burres' postgame interview

Another K-Rod Save
He gave up a run in the ninth, but Francisco Rodriguez picked up his 43rd save in 46 chances. He earned his 40th save in the Angels 98th game, the fastest to 40 saves in Major League history. He is on a pace for 67 saves and the ML record is 57 by Bobby Thigpen of CWS in 1990. Since 2005, his 175 saves leads the Majors.

Final Notes
The Orioles fall to 18-20 in one-run decisions, the Angels are 20-13.......Burres' start ties for the shortest non-injury halted start by an O's pitcher this year......Steve Trachsel went just 1 2/3 May 24th at Tampa.........It was the second shortest start of his career, behind one that lasted just 1 1/3 on July 5, 2007 at CWS.........Four O's bullpen pitchers combined to pitch 7 1/3 giving up just 2 hits and one run.

The Angels are 24 games over .500 for the first time this season and have won 8 of 9 and are 14-5 in July......They are now 32-18 on the road and 43-5 when they score first......The O's have not stolen a base since July 13th.....Ramon Hernandez went 1-4 and is now 8-25 with 7 RBI since the All-Star break and is 3 hits from 1,000.......Aubrey Huff went 1-4 and is 7-17 during his four-game batting streak......Melvin Mora entered batting .469 since the break, but went 0-4.....Brian Roberts went 0-4 and has 4 hits his last 23 at bats.

Quotable

O's manager Dave Trembley said
"Burres pitched up and it looked like they knew what was coming. Whatever he threw, they whacked it.........Our guys do what they've always done, they fight back, you come back 5-0 from the best team in baseball that ought to tell you something.....Millar is a gamer, it's good to see him have a game like that."

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said
"Early runs helped Joe (Saunders) to relax and make some pitches. Those guys kept coming. We had to hold on for everything we had."

Steve Melewski's Live GameBlog From Camden Yards

The Starting Pitching Story
O's starters on the nine games of this homestand have pitched to an ERA of 8.20. They have allowed 41ER in 45 innings and have given up 10 homers. They are 0-9 in producing quality starts on this homestand.

O's starters the past 19 games, since Daniel Cabrera's complete game July 2 vs. KC, have worked to an ERA of 7.59.

Sarfate to the Rescue
He's done a great job in long relief tonight through five. He has pitched 3 1/3, giving up just one walk with no runs and no hits. But how much longer can he go? He has thrown 44 pitches. Burres' early ouster will really tax a pen that could be needed a lot this weekend. Will the O's need to make a roster move after this game to get a fresh arm? Who could it be if they do?

Doyne to Aberdeen
Remember right-handed pitcher Cory Doyne? He pitched in five games for the O's last year, making his Major League debut on June 16th. He went on to have off-season shoulder surgery and just now is getting back to pitching. He has joined Aberdeen on a Minor League rehab assignment. He went to the Gulf Coast O's July 12th and pitched four scoreless innings there. Last season, Doyne was third in the International League in saves with Norfolk.

Aberdeen outfielder Jacob Julius, a 33rd round pick in 2007, has now hit safely in 8 straight games. He extended the streak by homering in both games of a twin bill last night at Mahoning Valley.

Burres Bombed
Orioles starting pitching, bad now for the last few weeks, may have hit a low tonight. Every pitch Brian Burres threw seemed to be about belt high, most down the middle of the plate, and he was predictably torched by a hot-hitting club. This was not a good match.

Burres: 1 2/3 IP, 7H, 5R-ER, 1BB, 1K, 2 HR......51 pitches.

It was by far his shortest start of the year, surpassing the 3 2/3 outing May 27th vs. the Yankees. The Angels went 7-12 at bat vs. Burres and 8 of the 13 hitters he faced, reached base. Before his single, Guerrero hit about a 400-foot foul ball. Tough night.

Figgins Likes Baltimore
Well, Chone Figgins likes playing the Orioles, that's for sure. Even though he went 0-6 on Wednesday and is batting just .200 this month, his eyes light up when he sees Orioles' pitching. Figgins led off tonight's game with a single and scored the Angels first run.

Last year Figgins hit .538 (21-39) vs. the O's. He is a career .340 hitter vs. the Birds and bats .389 lifetime at Camden Yards. He entered tonight batting just .269 on the year, but that figures to go up by Sunday.

Friday Night Baseball is Underway
On a more comfortable (read that: less humid) night than we've had in a while, the O's host the Angels and game one is now underway. Can the O's slow this very hot club which is 13-5 in July? Tonight's first pitch was at 7:06pm and it's 88 degrees. Check back often tonight for news and updates live from the Yard.

Starting Lineups

Angels
3B Chone Figgins
1B Casey Kotchman
SS Maicer Izturis
RF Vladimir Guerrero
CF Torii Hunter
LF Garret Anderson
2B Howie Kendrick
DH Juan Rivera
C Jeff Mathis
P Joe Saunders

Orioles
2B Brian Roberts
RF Nick Markakis
3B Melvin Mora
DH Aubrey Huff
C Ramon Hernandez
CF Adam Jones
1B Kevin Milar
LF Jay Payton
SS Juan Castro
P Brian Burres

O's Hitters vs. Joe Saunders
Hernandez: 3-8
Huff: 4-6
Jones: 0-4
Markakis: 0-9
Millar: 5-7, HR
Mora: 5-7, HR
Payton: 4-10, HR
Roberts: 1-8

Huff, Mora and Millar are a combined 14-20 vs. Saunders with a double, two homers and 5 RBI.

The Difference is Pitching
The Angels media notes points out how hot their offense has been in July. But the Orioles are close to them. But they are not close at all in pitching and that makes all the difference.

LAA July: .291 team average, 5.9 runs per game, 13-5 record
O's July: .271 team average, 5.6 runs per game, 7-13 record

Trembley's Talk

In his pregame meeting with reporters today Dave Trembley was asked if Jamie Walker could be activated in time to join the O's on their upcoming road trip.

Walker allowed three runs in one inning yesterday for Bowie and will pitch one inning on Saturday night at Frederick.

"We'll have to see how he pitches and how he feels. There's a likelihood that could occur, but I'm not ready to say it will or won't. He wasn't real happy how he pitched."

Trembley wasn't that concerned with Walker's results from yesterday, moreso that he came back healthy and felt well today and he did.

Trembley was asked about the lineup changes today, with Melvin Mora moving up to third and Adam Jones down to sixth in the order.

"We've lost some games and when you lose you have to do something to mix it up. You have to try and balance the lineup a little better. That's it, do something different."

One concern Trembley does not have is his team's mood or confidence level, which he said is fine, despite 12 losses in 16 games.

"I saw Mora beat out an infield hit the other day, guys were running hard yesterday. I have no problems with the guys whatsoever, they are to be commended for the way they've handled themselves and the way they've played. This team will never give up one bit or give in one inch at any time. That's a given, no doubt in my mind."

Trembley, of course, has great respect for an Angels team that has Major League Baseball's best record.

"They have balance in every area. They have every component that you would want. And, when someone gets hurt, they dip into their farm system and they don't miss a beat. But we play good against good teams, so I expect we should play good against them."

Cintron and Walker Play For Bowie

O's infielder Alex Cintron, out since July first with a left hamstring strain, began a minor-league rehab assignment on Thursday when he played short and went 1-2 at Bowie.

Cintron will play Saturday and Sunday for Frederick and next Tuesday and Wednesday for Bowie. He is hopeful of rejoining the Orioles next Friday in Seattle.

Cintron said he gave the Baysox players five of his bats and they asked him a lot of questions and he was glad to help the young players.

Jamie Walker gave up five hits and three runs in one inning Thursday for Bowie. He allowed a three-run homer. He wil pitch one inning at Frederick on Saturday.

"They ambushed me," Walker said. "I gave up like 18 hits in an inning, I gave up some rocket ships. Nothing was down. I probably need another outing. I still want to get out here in the big lights where I belong. I didn't get the ball down but it was good to get out there.

"It was a good game, Wieters hit a pinch Grand Slam in the 9th. They got some big kids down there, third baseman, center fielder."

Walker said his elbow feels good today.

Game Preview
LA Angels (62-39) at Orioles (48-53)
After losing the last three games of their series with Toronto, the O's look to reverse the slide that began before the All-Star break as they host the Los Angeles Angels tonight to start a three-game series.

The O's could have picked a better opponent to try and turn around a slide that has seen them lose 7 of 10 and 12 of 16 games. The Angels have the best record in the AL and lead the West by 10 games over Oakland.

The Angels have won 7 of their last 8 games and are 13-5 in July. At 31-18 they are the best road team in the American League. If all that is not enough, the Angels are 12-0-2 in their last 14 series vs. AL teams.

The Angels are averaging 5.9 runs per game in July. Vladimir Guerrero is hitting .333 with 10 homers this month and Howie Kendrick has 17 RBI his last 16 games.

LA took two of three from the O's in Anaheim in May. The Orioles won the series opener 4-3, behind Jeremy Guthrie, then lost the next two games by scores of 3-1 and 6-5.

The Orioles starting pitching has worked to an ERA of 7.48 during the 8 games of this homestand. The Birds team ERA for July is 5.89.

Melvin Mora has been on a tear on this homestand with 15 hits in 32 at bats, 4 homers and 15 RBI. Mora has 21 RBI over his last 13 games and is 9-17 during a four-game batting streak.

Pitching Match-Up

LHP Brian Burres (7-6, 5.02) tonight makes his 19th start of the season, his 11th at Camden Yards and his first this season vs. the Angels.

Burres has been pitching a little better in recent starts. Over his last four starts, he is 1-1, 4.03. He was the losing pitcher in his last start, Sunday vs. Detroit, when he allowed three runs and six hits over 5 2/3.

After recording 5 quality starts in his first 11 tries, Burres has just one quality start his last nine outings. The Orioles are 9-9 in his starts. Burres is 4-3, 5.93 in ten home starts in 2008.

Left-handed batters hit .336 vs. Burres, while right-handed batters hit .281, and he gives up an average of .288 with runners in scoring position.

After pitching to an ERA of 7.27 in June, Burres is 1-1, 4.67 in three July starts.

He has made two career starts, both last year vs. the Angels and is 2-0, 2.84 vs. that club.

LHP Joe Saunders (12-5, 3.05) tonight makes his 20th start for the Angels, his 10th on the road and his second this season against Baltimore. Saunders pitched a scoreless inning for the American League in the All-Star game.

Saunders is 1-1, 3.00 in three July starts. The Angels are 14-5 when he takes the mound this year. In 127 innings on the season, Saunders has allowed just 111 hits and 34 walks.

The 27-year-old from Springfield, Virginia, is 6-3, 2.23 in nine road starts. He has given up just 4 homers on the road this year in 60 2/3.

Opponents bat .282 off Saunders during the first 25 pitches of his starts, but only .186 on pitches 26 through 50. Right-handed batters hit .237 off him and lefties hit .243.

Saunders, a first-round pick, number 12 overall, in 2002, has faced the O's once this year, getting the win at home on May 4. Then he gave up a season-high 12 hits and four runs over five frames. Last season he was 2-0, 4.91 in two starts vs. the O's and in three career starts vs. the Birds is 3-0, 5.62 in 16 innings, giving up 26 hits.

Melvin Mora has five hits in seven career at bats vs. Saunders.

In 52 career starts, Saunders is 27-13, 4.04.

O's Hitters, 2008 vs. Angels
Castro: 0-0
Fahey: 0-0
Hernandez: 2-11, RBI
Huff: 5-11, 2B
Jones: 0-11
Markakis: 3-12, 2 HR, 3 RBI
Millar: 2-10, 2 RBI
Mora: 6-11, 2B, HR, 3 RBI
Payton: 3-7, 2B
Quiroz: 0-0
Roberts: 2-14, 2B
Scott: 1-4, RBI