O's score 8 runs in the 8th, beat Cleveland, 11-6
It took a while tonight, but when the O's resurgent offense got going, it looked like it would never stop.
The Orioles scored 8 runs in the 8th inning and beat Cleveland 11-6 to split the four-game series. Baltimore batted 13 men and picked up six hits, three walks and an error in that 8th inning to snap a 3-3 tie. Five different Orioles drove in runs and Kevin Millar and Lou Montanez both had two hits and 2 RBI during the outburst.
The 8-run inning tied the O's 8-run 5th on July 31st at Seattle for biggest inning of the season. Their 11 runs was two shy of the season-best while their 17 hits did tie a season high.
The Orioles have scored 55 runs in their last 7 games and are averaging six runs per game since the All-Star break.
The O's are now 7-6 in August, 13-14 in the second-half and are 10-7 over the last 17 contests.
The Orioles scored eight runs on six hits in the 8th to break a 3-all tie and take an 11-3 lead. A Montanez RBI double made it 4-3. Juan Castro's two-run single to center made it 6-3. A Melvin Mora RBI double put the Birds ahead 7-3 and a bases-loaded walk to Ramon Hernandez made it 8-3. The next hitter, Millar, delivered a two-run single for a 10-3 edge. Montanez picked up his second hit of the inning, an RBI single to cap the inning and leave the O's ahead 11-3. The 8 runs ties for the biggest inning of the year.
Cleveland picked up three runs in the last of the 9th to account for the final 11-6 score.
An RBI double by Asdrubal Cabrera in the sixth tied the game, 3-3. It's his 4th RBI in this series.
The O's used two doubles to score a run and take a 3-2 lead in the fifth. Hernandez scored on Millar's double that Cleveland outfielders Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo lost track of. A ball that should have been caught fell in for the hit that gave the O's a 3-2 lead.
Cleveland scored twice in the first to tie the game, 2-2. Shin-Soo Choo's double scored Grady Sizemore and Ben Francisco, who had singled.
The Orioles took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. With one out, Mora doubled, putting runners on second and third. Aubrey Huff reached on an error and one run scored. A Hernandez single to center made it a 2-0 O's lead.
Balt 11-17-1
Clev 6-13-2
Postgame Notes
Cabrera's Night
Cabrera allowed first-inning runs for the 14th time this season tonight. Coming into this start, 28 percent of the runs he had given up this season had come in the first inning. But he settled down after that to pitch 5 2/3 in getting a no decision. He allowed 8 hits and 3 runs, all earned and threw 96 pitches.
Final Notes
The O's tied season highs by getting 17 hits and scoring 8 runs in one inning......They have scored 55 runs the last 7 games and are averaging 6 runs per game since the All-Star break......Six different Orioles drove in runs in the game with Kevin Millar leading the way with a 3-RBI night..........Nick Markakis had just one hit tonight but finished 9-17 in the series with four doubles, five runs and 8 RBI.......Jay Payton went 0-5, ending his hitting streak at seven games.
Melvin Mora had three hits and an RBI tonight and finished 8-19 with 3 RBI in this series..........Over his last 12 games, Mora is batting .434-2-15.......Since the All-Star break he is batting .390 with 6 homers and 33 RBI.
The O's 17 hits tied their season-high, set July 28 at New York vs. the Yankees.....That was also the night the Orioles scored a season-high 13 runs........The O's improve to 27-38 in road games and 13-14 in the second-half.
Steve Melewski's Live GameBlog
Tillman and Bowie
Chris Tillman pitched well for first-place Bowie tonight, which leads Trenton 2-0 in the 7th. In six scoreless innings he allowed just three hits with seven strikeouts and no walks. He was replaced after six. Tillman, who has fanned 21 over his last two starts, is 7-4, 3.67 on the season. His ERA was 6.38 over his previous five starts before tonight. With a win last night, Bowie moved into sole possession of first by one game over Akron in the Eastern League's Southern Division. Tonight they are trying for a 3-game sweep of Trenton.
More First-Inning Runs
Orioles pitchers, especially Daniel Cabrera, struggle in the first inning. Cabrera allowed two runs tonight in the opening inning as Cleveland tied the game at 2-2. Cabrera has now allowed a first-inning run or runs in 14 of his 26 starts. Before tonight's outing Cabrera had allowed 24 first-inning runs and 87 total this season. That's 27.6 percent of the runs he allows scoring in the opening frame. His next worst inning is the third where he has allowed 15 runs.
Orioles pitching has now given up runs in the first in 52 games this season. They are 20-31 when serving up a first-inning run.
Trembley's Talk
Dave Trembley told reporters in Cleveland today that Hayden Penn is heading to Baltimore, but not to join the rotation, to be examined by team doctors for his shoulder stiffness. Another setback for Penn, who for now, is no longer a consideration for the rotation.
Jeremy Guthrie left last night's start after 101 pitches due to some back stiffness. Trembley said Guthrie felt fine today and felt even better than he did when he left last night's game.
Trembley confirmed the rotation for the Detroit series will be Chris Waters Friday, Dennis Sarfate on Saturday and Garrett Olson on Sunday.
Trembley said the Orioles would be watching a lot of video before today's game to learn all they could about tonight's Tribe starter, Zach Jackson.
Play Ball
Tonight's game is underway in Cleveland. The O's need a win to split the four-game series. Check back here often tonight for news and updates.
Starting Lineups
Orioles
2B Brian Roberts
RF Nick Markakis
3B Melvin Mora
DH Aubrey Huff
C Ramon Hernandez
1B Kevin Millar
CF Jay Payton
LF Lou Montanez
SS Juan Castro
P Daniel Cabrera
Indians
CF Grady Sizemore
DH David Dellucci
LF Ben Francisco
SS Jhonny Peralta
RF Shin-Soo Choo
C Kelly Shoppach
1B Ryan Garko
3B Andy Gonzalez
2B Asdrubal Cabrera
P Zach Jackson
Game Preview
Orioles (57-62) at Cleveland (54-65)
In desperate need of solid pitching, the O's got it Wednesday night from Jeremy Guthrie. Because of that, they could even this series with Cleveland with a win tonight. The Tribe won Monday and Tuesday to start the four-game set.
O's opponents scored 35 runs during Baltimore's three-game losing streak, but that ended behind Guthrie's pitching. He allowed just one run over seven innings in the O's 6-1 win. Guthrie is 4-0, 1.23 over his last four starts. He is 10-8, 3.18 on the year.
Aubrey Huff hit a solo homer and added an RBI double one night after his 19-game batting streak ended. Brian Roberts went 0-5 as his hitting streak ended at 14 games. Nick Markakis had a two-run single and has 8 hits and 8 RBI in this series.
The Orioles have scored 44 runs over six games and since the All-Star break are batting .303 as a team and averaging 5.8 runs per game.
The O's are 12-14 in the second-half and 26-38 on the road.
Cleveland's five-game winning streak ended vs. Guthrie and the Birds. The Tribe is 13-12 since the All-Star break and is 17-12 over its last 29 games.
Pitching Match-Up
RHP Daniel Cabrera (8-7, 4.78) tonight will make his 26th start of the season, his 16th in a road game and the third of his career vs. Cleveland.
Cabrera is coming off a winning start Saturday vs. Texas when he pitched six innings of four-hit shutout ball. It was his first start all year in which he did not allow a run. In his previous four starts, his ERA was 8.61. In five starts in the second-half, Cabrera is 2-2, 6.83 in 29 innings.
From April 12 to May 20, Cabrera recorded a career-best 8 consecutive quality starts. Since then he has 5 in 15 starts. He has 13 quality starts on the year.
Cabrera has allowed 24 first-inning runs and a batting average of .387 in the opening inning this year, but the stats show that if he can get past those early pitches, he tends to get better.
Cabrera by pitches:
1-25 - batting average of .353
26-50 - batting average of .229
51-75 - batting average of .234
Left-handed batters hit .285 off him while righties bat .250 and he gives up an average of just .206 when pitching with runners in scoring position. The Orioles are 13-11 when Cabrera starts. In his 15 road outings, he is 4-6, 4.45.
Cabrera vs. Cleveland:
2007: 1-0, 1.29, one start
2008 - 0 appearances
Career: 2-0, 0.64, two starts (14 IP, 7H, 1R-ER)
LHP Zach Jackson (3-1, 4.05 at Buffalo) tonight is set to make his first-ever start for the Cleveland Indians. Jackson was acquired from Milwaukee in the July trade that sent C.C. Sabathia to the Brewers.
Jackson made 8 appearances, four starts, for Buffalo, going 3-1, 4.05. In 26 2/3 he walked just 5 and fanned 20 batters. Two starts ago he allowed 7 ER in just 3 1/3 innings.
Before the trade, Jackson pitched with Triple-A Nashville and went 1-5, 7.85 in 22 games, 8 starts. Last year for Nashville, he was 11-10, 4.46.
Jackson has pitched in 10 Major League games, 7 as a starter, with a record of 2-2, 5.36.
He was drafted with the 32nd overall pick of the 2004 draft by Toronto. The 25-year-old Jackson has never faced the Orioles.
Orioles Batting Notes:
Hernandez: Hitting .314 with 12 RBI in second-half
Huff: Has 3 HR and 6 RBI last 4 games.....Batting .376 over 21 games
Markakis: Over nine games batting .444-3-18.........8-12, 8 RBI this series
Millar: 1-12 at bat
Mora: Over 11 games batting .426-2-14.....32 RBI since All-Star break
Montanez: In his three starts is 6-12, 2 RBI
Payton: Batting .333 during 7-game hitting streak
Roberts: 14-game hitting streak ends Wed........31 doubles last 62 games
Scott: Batting .455 during 7-game batting streak
O's Offense
*Last 6 games: .336 average, 44 runs, 16 doubles, 8 homers
*Second-Half: .303 average, 5.8 runs/game, 56 doubles, 34 homers
Leave a comment