Melvin Mora with two homers, 6 RBI, O's pound Tigers, 16-8
Melvin Mora hit two homers and tied an Orioles' single-game record with 13 total bases as the O's pounded Detroit, 16-8 Sunday. The O's won the series and finished 4-3 on their road trip to Cleveland and Detroit.
Mora was 5-6 with a pair of homers, two doubles and a career-high 6 RBI. He is 18-27 at the plate over his last six games. Luke Scott added two homers and 4 RBI as the O's posted season highs in runs and hits with 22.
The Orioles have scored 41 runs over their last four games and 85 runs over the last ten contests. They began the day with a team average of .321 in August, best in the American League.
The Orioles had a season-high 12 extra-base hits with 7 doubles and 5 homers.
Neither starting pitcher, Garrett Olson or Zach Miner, made it through the second inning. The O's scored four runs in both the 4th and 5th to pull away from an early 5-5 tie.
Mora hit his second homer of the game, a two-run shot in the 8th that gave the O's a 16-6 lead. Mora now has five hits and a career-high 6 RBI. He also has 13 total bases to tie an O's single-game record.
Scott's solo homer in the 7th, his second homer of the game, gave the O's a 14-5 lead. It's Scott's third two-homer game this year.
The O's scored four more in the fifth to lead 13-5. Mora had a two-run double and Aubrey Huff's two-run homer made it 13-5. It was his 26th homer.
The O's put up another four-run inning in the fourth to lead 9-5. Mora's solo homer, his 19th, put the O's ahead 6-5. After a pair of walks, Scott hit a long, three-run homer to right for a 9-5 edge. It's Scott's 20th homer.
Detroit scored four in the second to tie the game, 5-5, and knock Olson out of the game. He walked three in the inning and they all scored as Gary Sheffield's two-run single made it 5-4 and Miguel Cabrera's single tied it at 5-5.
The Orioles used three walks and a double to score a run in the second. Kevin Millar drew a bases-loaded walk for a 5-1 lead that knocked Detroit starter Zach Miner out of the game.
Detroit got one back in the last of the first on doubles by Placido Polanco and Cabrera. Cabrera's 94th RBI cut the O's lead to 4-1.
The Orioles took a 4-0 lead in the first, topping by one their run total in all of Saturday. Brian Roberts led off with his AL-leading 45th double. Nick Markakis then ripped an RBI double for a 1-0 lead. Melvin Mora followed with an RBI single, his 86th RBI, and it was 2-0. After a bloop double by Aubrey Huff, a Kevin Millar single made it 3-0. One out later, a Ramon Hernandez grounder scored the final run of the frame and it was 4-0, Orioles.
Bal 16-22-1
Det 8-15-0
Postgame Notes
Mora Ties Record
When he hit his second homer of the game in the 8th inning, Melvin Mora tied an O's single-game record. He goes 5-6 today with two homers, two doubles and a career-high 6 RBI. He ties the club's single-game record for total bases with 13. Here are the other Orioles who have had 13 total bases in one game: Eddie Murray, Cal Ripken, Boog Powell, Dan Ford, Lee Lacy, Roberto Alomar, Brady Anderson and Chris Richard.
Mora over the last six games: .643-3-12, 18 hits in 28 at bats
Mora over the last 15 games: .500-5-25, 33-66 at bat
Mora since AS break: .432-9-43, 51-118 at bat
Updating the Offense
The O's have scored 41 runs the last four games and 85 over the last ten......They are averaging 6.4 runs per game since the All-Star break.......They have scored in double figures in three of the last four games and have ten hits or more in 15 of the last 20.....The O's have scored 8 or more runs 28 times this season, including 6 times in the past 10 games. The previous season-high for runs was 13 on 7-28 vs. the Yankees. The team record for runs in a single-game is 23 set on 9-28-00 vs. Toronto.
Final Notes
Today 8 Orioles had multi-hit games and four drove in 2 or more runs.......Luke Scott recorded his third two-homer game of the year........He had 3 hits and 4 RBI.....Scott is now batting .485 (16-33) during a ten-game hitting streak.......Ramon Hernandez was 2-5 and is hitting .333 during an 8-game batting streak......Aubrey Huff hit his 26th homer and now has four homers and 11 RBI over his last 8 games......Kevin Millar drove in two runs and had 5 RBI on the road trip and has knocked in 17 runs his last 22 games......Nick Markakis was 3-5 with an RBI and batted .419 on this road trip.
With a win, the O's won the series and finished the road trip at 4-3.....It was just their 3rd win on a Sunday this year in 20 contests.........They are now 1-10 on Sunday road games.....the O's improved to 12-27 in series finale games......They are now 9-7 in August and 15-15 in the second-half.
Steve Melewski's Live GameBlog
Boston Probables
Mon 7:05pm: Jeremy Guthrie (10-8, 3.18) vs. LH Jon Lester (11-4, 3.25)
Tues 7:05pm: Daniel Cabrera (8-7, 4.78) vs. RH Daisuke Matsuzaka (14-2, 2.74)
Wed 7:05pm: Chris Waters (1-0, 4.32) vs. RH Clay Buchholz (2-8, 6.32)
More on Luke
He entered today's game with just one homer in August, but he has hit two today. It's Scott's third, two-homer game of the season. He also did it June 8 vs. Toronto and July 18 vs. Detroit. Scott is 3-5 today with four RBI. He now has a ten-game batting streak and is hitting .500 (16-32) during the streak.
New Season Highs
O's now with season-highs in runs and hits. They have 14 runs on 19 hits as they bat in the 7th. Previous highs were 13 runs and 17 hits.
This Offense is Amazing
Through five innings today the O's lead 13-5. They've now scored in double figures in three of the last four games. They have scored 38 runs those last four games with more at bats coming today. They have scored 8 runs or more in six of their last 10 games. The O's now have double-figure hits in 15 of the last 20 games and have now scored 8 runs or more 28 times this season. They homered three times in two innings today. With 13 runs already, that ties for the most in a game this year, they got 13 on July 28th vs. New York. They have nine extra-base hits in this game. They could score 20 today. The club record is 23 runs scored on 9-28-00 vs. Toronto.
Luke and the Longball.....Updated
Luke Scott 2008: 21 homers in 361 at bats
Miguel Tejada 2008: 12 homers in 483 at bats
Luke Scott 2007: 18 homers in 369 at bats
Mora......Again
Melvin Mora's homer in the 4th gives the O's a 6-5 lead. He already has two hits in this game and now has six straight multi-hit games. He is 15-25 (.600) in those games. Over his last 15 games he is batting .476. He had a .233 average at the All-Star break, but with that homer, his average is now up to .281. Mora now has 87 RBI, that's 29 more than he had all of last year.
Olson Knocked Out
Garrett Olson, handed leads of 4-0 and 5-1, gave most of it back and didn't survive the second inning. This had to be about his most disappointing outing of the season. When Alberto Castillo gave up an RBI hit, the lead was blown and it became a 5-5 game.
Olson and those that coach him have to be at a loss about now. He works hard, he cares deeply, he's as smart as they come, but he just can't get the job done. When your team hands you a 4-0 lead and you can't survive the second, that's a miserable start. Today he had a good curve ball, than hardly threw it as he proceeded to walk three batters in the second inning.
Olson's line today: 1.2 IP, 4H, 5R-ER, 3BB, 4K.........63 pitches
Olson's ERA over his last three starts is 13.06 and on the year it's up to 6.38.
Trembley's Talk
Dave Trembley told reporters in Detroit today he gave Ramon Hernandez last night off, instead of today, because he had caught five games in a row.
Trembley talked about Rocky Cherry getting a shot to inherit the set-up role that Chad Bradford was in before his trade to Tampa.
"He's getting a chance," Trembley said. "When he extends on his slider like he did last night vs. Sheffield, that can be a tough pitch vs. right-handed hitters."
Trembley said the O's will go with a four-man rotation until they need the 5th starter next on August 26th vs. the White Sox.
B-Rob Note
Brian Roberts hit a double to lead off today's game. It ended a six-game double-less drought for the AL doubles leader. It's Roberts' 45th double of the season. He began the day leading the AL with 44 to Ian Kinsler's 40. Roberts (2004) and Miguel Tejada (2005) co-hold the O's club record for doubles in one season, with 50. Roberts also had 45 doubles in 2005 and 42 last year.
The Offense
The O's are hitting .321 in August, the best team average in the American League. They are hitting .307 since the All-Star game. Since June first Aubrey Huff is batting .345, Nick Markakis .335, Brian Roberts .313, Melvin Mora .308 and Ramon Hernandez is at .282. Mora has been one of the O's best hitters vs. Detroit this year, going 11-22/4/11. Luke Scott is 10-18/3/6 vs. the Tigers.
Game Time in Detroit
The Orioles and Tigers game has begun in Detroit. A win today would give the O's a win in this series and a 4-3 road trip. But the O's are just 2-17 on Sundays this year, 0-10 on the road.
Starting Lineups
Orioles
2B Brian Roberts
RF Nick Markakis
3B Melvin Mora
1B Aubrey Huff
DH Kevin Millar
LF Luke Scott
C Ramon Hernandez
CF Jay Payton
SS Juan Castro
P Garrett Olson
Tigers
CF Curtis Granderson
2B Placido Polanco
DH Gary Sheffield
1B Miguel Cabrera
LF Marcus Thames
SS Edgar Renteria
RF Ryan Raburn
3B Brandon Inge
C Dane Sardinha
P Zach Miner
Game Preview
Orioles (59-63) at Detroit (60-63)
The Orioles have lost just one of their last five series. Today they play the third and deciding game of a three-game series at Detroit. It's also the final game of a seven-game road trip. The O's are 3-3 so far on the trip.
After winning on Friday, the Birds hot offense was slowed a bit Saturday by no longer struggling right-hander Justin Verlander. He entered Saturday's start with an ERA of 9.97 over his previous four outings. But he allowed just two runs, both unearned, in six innings, in beating the O's 5-3 for his 9th win.
The O's scored three runs but did not have an RBI in Saturday's contest. The O's had double-figure hits in 7 of their last 8 games, but were held to 9 vs. Verlander and four relievers.
Melvin Mora did go 2-3 and is now batting .411-7-37 since the All-Star break. Aubrey Huff was hitless for just the second time in 24 games. Juan Castro was 2-4 and is hitting .385 his last seven games.
Detroit won for just the 5th time in the last 16 games. The Tigers are 4-5 on a ten-game homestand that ends today. They are 33-27 at home on the season.
Pitching Match-Up
LHP Garrett Olson (8-6, 6.06) today makes his 21st start of the season, his 12th on the road and his second against the Detroit Tigers.
Olson has had an inconsistent season and his last four starts point that out. He had a two-start stretch where he pitched to an ERA of 3.14, but over his last two starts he is 0-1, 10.38 giving up 10ER in 8 2/3 innings.
Olson's first eight starts: 5-1, 3.86
Olson's last 12 starts: 3-5, 7.61
Like some of his teammates, Olson has struggled in the first inning. He has allowed 17 first-inning runs this year, more than in any other inning and opponents hit .313 off him in the opening frame.
In 11 road starts, he is 4-5, 6.83. The Orioles are 9-11 when he starts in 2008. Olson has six quality starts on the season.
He has started once this season vs. Detroit and took the loss on July 17. He pitched six innings and gave up five runs and two homers. That is his only career appearance vs. the Tigers.
RHP Zach Miner (6-4, 3.41) today will make his 38th appearance of this season and his 6th as a starter. He will make his 3rd home start of the season and his first-ever start against the Orioles.
The 26-year-old Miner was pitching well in the bullpen and was moved into the rotation right after the All-Star break. His ERA was 4.23 in the pen and, in his five starts, he is 3-1, 2.15. In his last two starts he has allowed just 2ER over 12 innings.
Minor pitched to an ERA of 1.32 in June and 1.29 in July. It's at 2.60 in August. The Tigers are 3-2 in his five starts.
Miner, who was drafted in round 4 by Atlanta in 2000, gives up an average of .242 vs. left-handed batters and .255 vs. right-handed hitters. He gives up an average of .262 when pitching with runners in scoring position. At home this season, Miner is 3-1, 2.65.
He has not faced the Orioles this season. In two career innings vs. Baltimore, he has allowed one run on three hits.
How O's Hitters Are Doing Recently:
Castro: Is 5-13 during 3-game batting streak
Cintron: 2-10
Hernandez: Is 9-28 during 7-game batting streak
Huff: Over his last 58 games is batting .362-16-51 with 20 doubles
Markakis: Batting .360-3-18 over his last 12 games
Millar: 15 RBI his last 21 games
Montanez: Is 9-22 in his five starts
Payton: 1-13 at bat
Quiroz: 2-19 at bat
Roberts: 31 doubles his last 65 games, 7 RBI his last 9 games
Scott: Hitting .481 (13-27) during nine-game batting streak
Wow no runs in the third inning the batters are tired from running the bases.