O's pitching walks 10 in 11-2 loss vs. Oakland
If the Orioles thought they left their pitching problems behind on the last road trip, they were mistaken.
O's pitching had more control issues on Friday night in an 11-2 loss to Oakland. In Oakland's 8-run 8th, O's pitching issued six walks, four with the bases-loaded. Later Rajai Davis hit a Grand Slam for Oakland's only hit of the inning.
The O's, whose staff walked 46 on the six-game road trip, issued ten more walks tonight and hit two batters.
Brian Roberts and Lou Montanez had RBI's for the Orioles who have lost seven in a row and 12 of their last 13 games to fall to 63-77.
The O's pitching staff troubles resurfaced in a big way in the A's 8-run 8th that gave Oakland an 11-2 lead. The A's got 8 runs on just one hit. O's pitching issued four bases-loaded walks in the frame before Davis hit his first career Grand Slam to make it 11-2. There were six walks, a hit batter and one hit in the inning.
O's pitching walked three in the top of the 6th as the A's took a 3-2 lead. Jack Hannahan drew a bases-loaded walk to put the A's ahead.
In the O's 5th the Orioles tied the game, 2-2. A Montanez RBI double plated Oscar Salazar, who had walked.
Oakland scored two in the 5th to lead 2-1. A hit batter and two singles loaded the bases. Eric Patterson's RBI groundout scored a run. Oakland took the lead on Ryan Sweeney's sac fly as Jack Hannahan scored just ahead of the throw of left fielder Lou Montanez.
Roberts' RBI single in the last of the third gave the O's a 1-0 lead. It scored Montanez who had singled and advanced to second on an error. The run was unearned.
Oak 11-7-1
Balt 2-6-0
Postgame Notes
During the seven-game losing streak O's pitching has allowed 71 runs, 84 hits and 56 walks......In tonight's Oakland 8-run 8th, the O's allowed six walks and one hit batter.....On the night the O's gave up five bases-loaded walks....The 8-run outburst was the most allowed by the club in one inning this year.
The O's now have just one quality start in their last 15 games......The O's team ERA during this losing skid is 10.52 and the team ERA since the All-Star break is 6.41.
The O's are 0-4 vs. Oakland on the season and have been outscored 23-10 in those games.....The O's have allowed 10 or more runs 14 times in the last 56 games.
Rajai Davis his his first career Grand Slam in the A's 8-run 8th......Aubrey Huff, hitting .500 his last 7 games, missed this contest after his wife, Baubi, gave birth to a baby boy....Jayce was born on Thursday........Lou Montanez went 2-3 with an RBI and is 8-21 his last 7 games.....Kevin Millar went 0-4 and is just 4 for his last 31.
RHP Brian Bass made his O's debut, pitching 1 2/3, allowing two runs.....He became the 400th pitcher used in a game all-time by the O's.
The O's have lost 14 of 16 while Oakland snapped a four-game losing streak.....The A's are now 28-42 on the road and 13-33 since the All-Star break.
Steve Melewski's Live GameBlog From Camden Yards
Pitching Meltdown
The A's have now scored seven runs tonight thanks to the O's pitching meltdown in the top of the 8th. This ends a streak of 40 straight games where Oakland scored six or fewer runs. It's the longest streak by an AL team since Milwaukee also went 40 games in 1988. The A's frachise record of 41 was set in 1916 and will not be matched tonight.
Nice Throw
Adam Jones hasn't had too many chances to show off his arm this year, but he just had one in the top of the 6th. He threw Emil Brown out at the plate to save a run with his 4th OF assist of the season. Jones throw made it all the way on the fly just in front of and to the third base side of the plate. Ramon Hernandez caught it and quickly tagged out Brown.
Recapping Today's Moves
The O's added pitchers Brian Bass and Alfredo Simon, both right-handers, IF Brandon Fahey and C Omir Santos from Triple-A. All but Fahey were not already on the 40-man roster so to make room the O's released P Fernando Cabrera, IF Eider Torres was designated for assignment and Chris Ray went from the 15 to the 60-day DL.
Bass came in a trade from Minnesota where he went 3-4, 4.87 this season in 44 games for the Twins. He gave up 37ER in 68 1/3 innings. Bass is 26 and was acquired for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Simon was signed by the O's out of the Mexican League on August 29th. The 27-year-old this year for Monterrey went 7-2, 2.67 in 15 games, 11 starts, holding opponents to a .220 average.
The 27-year-old Santos played in 84 games for the Tides, batting .269 with 39 RBI. This is his 8th pro season and when he gets in an O's game it will be his Major League debut.
Fahey hit .252 in 64 games for Norfolk. He has played in 40 O's games this year.
Fall and Winter Leagues
The Orioles have announced that the following players are going to the Arizona Fall League to play for Norfolk manager Gary Allenson and the Surprise Rafters. They are Nolan Reimold, Brandon Snyder, Matt Wieters and these pitchers: Brian Matusz, Chad Thall, Kam Mickilio and Bob McCrory.
Headed to play for the West Oahu Canefires of the Hawaiian Winter League are: C Wally Crancer, 3B Tyler Hensen and pitchers Tim Bascom, Sean Gleason, Cliff Flagello, Brian Parker and Chris Salberg.
Play Ball
Tonight's game is underway here at cloudy Camden Yards. The first pitch was at 7:08pm and it's 88 degrees. Check back during tonight's game for the latest from Camden Yards.
Starting Lineups
A's
CF Ryan Sweeney
SS Bobby Crosby
LF Emil Brown
DH Jack Cust
C Kurt Suzuki
1B Daric Barton
3B Jack Hannahan
RF Aaron Cunningham
2B Eric Patterson
Orioles
2B Brian Roberts
CF Adam Jones
RF Nick Markakis
C Ramon Hernandez
1B Kevin Millar
LF Luke Scott
3B Oscar Salazar
LF Lou Montanez
SS Juan Castro
P Chris Waters
Trembley's Talk
The manager and team announced today the release of RHP Fernando Cabrera, IF Eider Torres has been designated for assignment and RHP Chris Ray was moved from the 15 to the 60-day DL. That opens 40-man roster spots for today's additions in pitchers Brian Bass and Alfredo Simon and catcher Omir Santos. Brandon Fahey has also joined the club but was already on the 40-man roster.
Trembley was asked if Cabrera's release was partly because of him flipping Trembley the ball in a disrespectful manner recently.
"Performance is the bottom line, I didn't see him fitting in on this club next year, we can do better. Also, there is no substitute at any time for respect and integrity."
Trembley said he wasn't sure if Bass would get a chance to pitch as a starter.
Trembley said George Sherrill threw well today in a side session and will throw again on Monday. Trembley said he'd like him to throw one more time before he is activated. Jim Johnson had an MRI today but did not yet know the results.
Aubrey Huff is not with the club today as his wife has given birth to a baby boy.
"Melvin Mora will go out on the field today to see where he's at," Trembley said. "He said he's improved and he's better, but I don't know how close he is."
Trembley said the rotation for Cleveland will be announced later today and that Daniel Cabrera is fine to pitch tomorrow night.
Game Preview
Oakland (63-77) at Orioles (63-76)
After an 0-6 road trip to Tampa and Boston, the Orioles return home tonight to start a ten-game homestand hosting Oakland in game one of a three-game, two-day series.
The clubs are scheduled to play a day-night, split-doubleheader Saturday at 1:05 and 7:05 p.m.
The O's were outscored 60-26 on the road trip and the team ERA was 10.43 on the trip. The ERA of the O's starters during the six-game stretch was 12.58.
The O's, who have lost 11 of their last 12 games, are 33-31 at home this season.
The A's aren't playing very well, either. Oakland lost a doubleheader at Kansas City last night by scores of 5-4 and 9-6. Oakland has lost four in a row and is 12-35 since July 11th. The A's have lost 18 of their last 24 road games.
With another doubleheader scheduled for Oakland tomorrow, the A's are slated to play 5 games in 3 days for the first time since August of 1986.
The A's are not producing much on offense and are, in fact, last in the Majors in batting average, slugging and OBP. Oakland has scored just 120 runs in its last 40 games for an average of 3.0 per game.
The O's are 0-3 vs. Oakland in 2008, losing three games in Oakland in early May by a combined 12-8 score. The O's had just 22 hits, only 3 for extra bases, in that series.
Pitching Match-Up
LHP Chris Waters (2-1, 5.45) tonight makes his 7th Major League start of this season, his 4th at home and the first of his career vs. Oakland.
Waters has allowed 8ER over 11 1/3 innings in his last two starts.
He has struggled at times in the first inning, giving up 8 runs and an opponent average of .357 in that inning. Waters has recorded 2 quality starts in 6 outings.
Left-handed batters are hitting .429 off him but he holds right-handed hitters to a .236 average. Waters is 1-1, 7.31 in three home starts. The Orioles are 3-3 when he starts.
Waters pitches 1-25: .314 opponent ave.
Waters pitches 26-50: .355 opponent ave.
Waters pitches 51-75: .135 opponent ave.
Waters made a combined 22 starts earlier this season between Norfolk and Bowie and went 8-6, 4.65.
LHP Dallas Braden (4-3, 3.88) tonight makes his 18th appearance of this season, his 9th as a starter and his second outing this season vs. the Orioles.
Braden, who was drafted in round 24 by the A's in 2004, has allowed just 2ER over 13 innings in his last two starts vs. the Angels and Twins and is 2-1, 2.76 over his past five starts.
Braden began this season in the bullpen and moved into the rotation on July 22nd. Since then, in his 8 starts, he is 3-3, 3.59. Oakland is 5-3 in those games.
The 25-year-old can struggle early in his outings and gives up an average of .388 in his first two innings. In six August starts, Braden was 2-2, 3.50. He has given up 3ER or less in five straight starts.
Braden vs. Baltimore:
2008: 1-0, 0.00, one outing in relief, 2 1/3 innings
2007: 1-1, 1.38, two starts
Career: 2-1, 1.17, three games, two starts (15 1/3IP, 7H, 2R-ER)
O's Hitters, 2008 vs. Oakland:
Castro: 0-0
Cintron: 0-0
Hernandez: 2-8/0/2
Huff: 2-12/0/1
Jones: 1-8/0/0
Markakis: 3-12/0/0
Millar: 3-8/0/1, 5 walks
Montanez: 0-0
Mora: 3-12/0/1, 2 doubles
Payton: 1-9/0/0
Quiroz: 0-4/0/0
Roberts: 2-9/0/2
Salazar: 0-0
Scott: 2-6/0/1
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