Cabrera and three relievers blank Texas, 9-0
For the second time in four games, the Orioles shutout a good hitting team. First it was the Angels on the last road trip, and tonight, four O's pitchers combined on a 5-hitter in a 9-0 romp over Texas.
The Orioles have taken the first two games of this series by a combined score of 18-1. The Rangers' offense leads the Majors in hits, runs, extra-base hits, slugging and OPS. However, Texas has now scored just 4 runs total during a four-game losing skid.
Winning pitcher Daniel Cabrera pitched six shutout innings, allowing four hits. He is now 8-7 and picked up his 3rd win in his last 15 starts.
Melvin Mora homered with 4 RBI to lead the O's offense, while Nick Markakis added a three-run homer.
The O's have won 3 of 4 and 8 of their last 12 games. They are now 11-11 in the second half and 31-23 at home.
Mora's two-run homer in the seventh gave the O's a 9-0 edge. It was his 16th of the season. Mora now has a 4-RBI night and has knocked in 74 runs on the season.
Brian Roberts' RBI single in the fifth gave the O's a 7-0 lead. Roberts, with two hits in the first five innings, has extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
The O's lead grew to 6-0 in the fourth. Mora, batting .374 with runners in scoring position, came through with a bases-loaded, two-run single. The O's stranded two runners in that inning and have left six on base through four frames.
Markakis hit a three-run homer in the second to give the O's a 4-0 lead. His 17th scored Juan Castro who singled and Roberts who walked and traveled 385 feet to right center. He now has 67 RBI.
The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the last of the first. A single, walk and hit batter loaded the bases with one out. Kevin Millar, who homered twice last night, singled to right for a 1-0 lead. But Vincente Padilla fanned Luke Scott and Ramon Hernandez as the O's left the bases loaded.
Tex 0-5-0
Bal 9-14-0
Cabrera's Night Ends
For the first time this year, Daniel Cabrera did not allow a run in a start. He pitched shutout ball over six innings. Nice turnaround for Cabrera, who had allowed 7 runs in three of his last four starts. Twice he stranded the bases loaded, stopping two Texas rallies.
Cabrera's line: 6IP, 4H, 0R, 3BB, 3K......102 pitches.
It's his 13th quality start of the season. He picked up his 8th win of 2008.
Final Notes
It was the Orioles 3rd shutout of the season, but second in four games after the blanking of the Angels on Tuesday.......The O's first shutout was by 6-0 on April 19 at home vs. the Yankees.......Cabrera improved to 2-6 in his career vs. Texas.....It's the 24th time the O's have scored eight or more runs in a game and they are 21-3 in those contests.
Aubrey Huff went 1-3 with a double to extend his hitting streak 17 games.....He is batting .418 (28-67) during the streak which ties his career-high and the O's season-high this year....Nick Markakis hit in 17 straight from June 22-July 10th......Huff hit in 17 straight with Tampa in 2002........Brian Roberts went 2-3 with three runs scored and now has an 11-game batting streak during which he is hitting .333. Roberts hit his AL-leading 42nd double in the 4th and now has hit 29 doubles his last 58 games.
Melvin Mora was 2-5 with a homer and 4 RBI......During his 7-game batting streak he is hitting .400-1-9......He has 26 RBI his last 20 games and has taken the team-lead with 74 RBI.......Juan Castro went 3-3 before leaving the game with a mild groin strain.....He hopes to play on Sunday.....The top three in the O's order, Roberts, Markakis and Mora combined to go 6-11 with two homers, 8 RBI and six runs scored.
Texas played without Milton Bradley and David Murphy and Michael Young left the game in the fourth due to aggravating a fractured right ring finger......the Rangers have scored a total of four runs and have been shutout twice during a four-game losing streak....Texas is now 29-33 on the road and 10-12 since the All-Star break.
Steve Melewski's Live GameBlog From Camden Yards
Padilla Pounded
For the second time this year, the O's pounded 12-game winner Vincente Padilla. On the fourth of July he gave up 8 runs, all earned, vs. the O's in just 2 2/3. The 8 runs allowed tied his career high. Tonight he gives up six runs in four innings.
Padilla's two starts this year vs. O's: 6 2/3 IP, 17H, 14R-ER.
That's an ERA of 18.90 vs. the O's this season for Padilla, who entered tonight tied for the AL lead with 9 road wins.
Michael Young Out.......Updated
Rangers SS Michael Young, who is 1-2 tonight, has left the game. No reason has been given yet. Travis Metcalf enters in his spot in the lineup at third and Ramon Vazquez moves from third to short. It was announced mid game that Young aggravated a fractured right ring finger, but they still expect him to play in Sunday's game.
Cabrera.....Good, So Far
After escaping that bases-loaded jam in the first, Daniel Cabrera has sailed through the fourth with a 4-0 lead. He retired 9 of 10 batters in innings 2,3, and 4. Control is a key, just one walk tonight and that was intentional. He has thrown 66 pitches.
Nick Note
With a single and three-run homer already tonight, Nick Markakis is now 6-9 lifetime vs. Vincente Padilla with two doubles, a homer and 5 RBI. Markakis has extended his hitting streak to six and now has 35 RBI his last 42 games.
By the way, Aubrey Huff did get a bloop double in the second. He now has a 17-game hitting streak, tying his career-high, set in 2002 with Tampa and tying Markakis for the O's top hitting streaks of 2008.
Streaking
If Aubrey Huff gets a hit tonight, he got hit by a pitch in the first, he will extend his current hitting streak to 17 games. That would tie his career-high and the O's season-high. Nick Markakis hit in 17 in a row from June 22 - July 10. During the 16-games Huff is batting ..422 with four doubles, a triple, three homers and 12 RBI. Huff began tonight leading the AL in extra-base hits (Huff, Kinsler and Brian Roberts all have 57) and he is 6th in homers and 9th in RBI.
He Did It !
Despite giving up two hits and a walk, Daniel Cabrera DID NOT allow a first-inning run. He has given up 24 runs in the first this season coming into this start. So this was progress. He struck out Saltalamacchia on a 3-2 pitch to get out of the bases-loaded mess. Cabrera threw 26 pitches in the first inning. The stats say on pitches 26-50 he gives up a batting average of only .237. Let's see if that holds tonight.
Play Ball !
Tonight's game is underway at Camden Yards after another nice O's Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Let's see if Cabrera can avoid giving up a first-inning run, he has allowed one in the first frame 13 times this year. Tonight's first pitch was at 7:09 pm and it's 80 degrees at game time. Check back here often tonight for news and updates.
Starting Lineups
Rangers
2B Ian Kinsler
1B Frank Catalanotto
SS Michael Young
DH Josh Hamilton
CF Marlon Byrd
C Jarrod Saltalamacchia
1B Chris Davis
RF Jason Ellison
3B Ramon Vazquez
P Vincente Padilla
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 Daniel Cabrera
Trembley's Talk
Most of today's pregame visit with Dave Trembley centered on Lou Montanez and Daniel Cabrera.
"Montanez only played 8 games in center in Double-A," Trembley said. "He'll get a chance to play, and play some in center, but I would think most of his time would be in left field."
Trembley was pressed further on Montanez's role on the team right now.
"He's the fourth outfielder, but he will play. I've talked to him and told him when he will play and when he will start. He deserves a shot, but this is the big leagues. I'm willing to give him an opportunity, but also want to be fair to the guys that have been here.
"I think the kid can swing the bat, I really do. But to put him out there in center field, this is not instructional league. I'll put him out there, but after our coaching staff has worked with him and the kid feels comfortable out there (in center). He'll get his chance, he just got here, I'll be fair to him and he knows that."
Trembley said Montanez knows when he will start again, but he would not tell reporters when that will be.
I asked the skipper if it's important for Cabrera to show the organization he can pitch like he did in April and May as they begin to plan for 2009.
"I'd like him to show himself that. That that's who he is. We would benefit from that. We are all waiting for consistency to take over. Maybe tonight will be the start of it, that's the approach you've got to take."
Payton Gets a Shot
With Adam Jones out injured and with Lou Montanez not having a lot of experience in center field, that spot now belongs to Jay Payton. For now, he's an O's regular after spending most of the season as the 4th outfielder.
"I'm getting an opportunity, going into the season I wanted a bigger role than the fourth outfielder. But I guess that's the benefit of having a guy like me, I can play all outfield spots, I can start, I can come off the bench. This is what I was here for all year."
Payton said not playing regularly has been tough.
"It's hard to develop any consistency. You do the best you can and keep working hard hoping to get a chance. I'll try to make the most of it now."
Payton has been a mentor of sorts, at times, for Jones and says his potential is huge.
"The kids got five tools. He can be as good as he wants to be. He can be pre this season Andruw Jones type of player. He's having a tough year this year (Andruw Jones) but's that's the kind of guy I view him as. He can go get it in the outfield, hit for average, for power, it he keeps working he'll be a great one."
Rocky Enters the Fray
Rocky Cherry has joined the O's taking the roster spot vacated by Chad Bradford. He went 0-1, 2.89 at Norfolk and, over his last 17 games, pitched to an ERA of 0.83.
Game Preview
Texas (60-57) at Orioles (55-59)
For the Orioles on Friday night, they had one of those games where it all came together - they got excellent starting pitching, solid defense and plenty of hitting in a 9-1 romp over Texas. Tonight they look for two in a row over the Rangers at Camden Yards.
Jeremy Guthrie followed up his complete-game win at Seattle with a one-run, seven-inning effort vs. Texas to pick up his 9th win. Kevin Millar homered twice and drove in three runs as the Orioles had 15 hits.
Millar's two-run shot in the 3rd gave the O's an early 5-0 lead, and they were ahead 7-1 after five innings. Ramon Hernandez, Brian Roberts and Juan Castro added 2 RBI for the Birds, who are 3-4 on the season vs. Texas.
Guthrie won his third straight start and is 3-0, 1.21 in that stretch. Since June first, Guthrie is 7-2, 2.92 over 13 starts.
The O's improved to 4-3 in August, 10-11 since the All-Star break and are 30-23 at home on the season.
Texas has now lost three in a row scoring a total of four runs in those games. The Rangers are 10-11 since the break but over a longer stretch, are 53-41 since April 25th.
Pitching Match-U
RHP Daniel Cabrera (7-7, 4.97) tonight will make his 25th start of the season, his 10th at Camden Yards and the 9th of his career vs. Texas.
Cabrera got off to a fast start this year but has struggled in recent outings. Sunday he took the loss at Seattle, giving up seven runs and hits over six innings. Over his last four starts, Cabrera is 1-2, 8.61. Cabrera has just two wins in his last 14 starts.
Cabrera April & May: 5-1, 3.60 in 12 starts
Cabrera since June 1st: 2-6, 6.50 in 12 starts
Cabrera has really struggled in the first inning of his starts, giving up 24 first-inning runs this year and a batting average of .386 in the opening frame of his outings.
Cabrera pitches 1-25: .359 average
Cabrera pitches 26-50: .237 average
Left-handed batters hit .293 vs. Cabrera, righties hit .248 off him and with runners in scoring position, opponents bat .210. The Orioles are 12-11 when he starts. He has recorded 12 quality starts.
Cabrera vs. Texas:
2008: 0 appearances
2007: 0-2, 6.55, two starts
Career: 1-6, 6.33 in eight starts over 42 2/3 allowing 31 walks and 9 homers
RHP Vincente Padilla (12-5, 4.59) tonight will make his 23rd start of the season, his 14th on the road and his second of the season vs. Baltimore.
Padilla has pitched consecutive no decisions for the first time all year. He was on the DL from July 9-19 with neck stiffness.
Padilla leads the Rangers' staff in wins, innings and quality starts with 11. Texas is 17-5 when he starts.
After pitching to an ERA of 6.35 in June, Padilla has an ERA of 6.00 in one August start. His shortest start of this season was on July 4th in Baltimore when he allowed 8 runs, all earned, on 9 hits in just 2 2/3.
The 30-year-old is now 3 wins away from tying his career high of 15, set in 2006.
Padilla vs. Orioles:
2008: 0-1, 27.00 (LP July 4th, 2 2/3 IP, 9H, 8R-ER)
2007: 0-1, 10.80
Career: 2-4, 7.86 in six games, five starts (23 ER - 26.1 IP)
Orioles Current Hitting Streaks:
Huff: 16 games at .422-3-12......(27-64)
Roberts: 10 games at .310......(13-42)
Mora: 6 games at .400 (10-25) with 5 RBI
Markakis: 5 games at .350-1-7......(7-20)
Cintron: 5 games at .462......(6-13)
Scott: 3 games at .600........(6-10), HR, RBI
Payton: 2 games at 3-8
O's Offense
*Last ten games: team average of .311 with 61 runs and 13 homers
*Since All-Star break: team average of .298, 115 runs, 28 homers
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