O's lose 4-run lead, fall to Rays 7-5 as Tampa sweeps doubleheader
The Tampa Bay Rays scored six runs in the top of the 8th inning to rally from four down and beat the Orioles 7-5 Tuesday night to sweep a doubleheader. The Rays, who trimmed their magic number to win the AL East to two, won the opener, 5-2.
Alfredo Simon took a 5-1 lead to the 8th. After he had allowed two runs, Jamie Walker faced four batters and they all reached as the Rays moved ahead.
The Orioles have lost eight games in a row by a total of 15 runs. They have lost 12 of 15 and 27 of their last 33 games.
Tampa, now 95-62, improves to 42-29 vs. the AL East and 14-3 with 11 wins in a row this season over the Orioles.
Tampa scored six runs in the 8th to stun the Orioles and take a 7-5 lead. Ben Zobrist tripled and scored and Evan Longoria hit a solo homer to make it 5-3. Walker then came on for starter Simon.
Walker allowed three hits and a walk including Jason Bartlett's single to bring Tampa within a run and Dioner Navarro's two-run single that put Tampa ahead 6-5. BJ Upton's RBI double made it 7-5 and capped the six-run uprising.
The O's lead grew to 4-1 in the sixth. Kevin Millar led off the inning with a bloop single and scored on a Guillermo Quiroz double. They made it 5-1 in the 7th as Lou Montanez led off with an infield single and later scored on a Ramon Hernandez groundout.
The O's scored twice in the second to gain a 2-1 lead. They picked up four singles in the inning including RBI hits from Juan Castro and Brian Roberts. The lead grew to 3-1 in the fifth when the O's used two walks and Oscar Salazar's RBI grounder to move ahead by two.
Tampa took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of game two. Akinori Iwamura led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He scored on Dan Johnson's RBI single.
TB 7-11-0
Bal 5-10-1
Postgame Notes After Game Two
The O's 8-game losing streak matches the season's longest.....They dropped eight in a row from August 29-September 6......The O's fall to 4-17 in September and 21-48 vs. the AL East......They are 3-14 vs. Tampa with 11 losses in a row this year vs. the first-place Rays.....Tampa is 7-2 at Camden Yards this season.
Alfredo Simon was poised to win his first-ever Major League start until the Rays rally in the 8th......He gave up three runs over 7 2/3, with six strikeouts and no walks.....Simon, who pitched earlier this year in the Mexican League, threw 96 pitches, 69 for strikes.
Struggling lefty Jamie Walker now has an ERA of 15.75 in September and 9.37 in the second-half.....The O's starters had recorded just six quality starts in the last 30 games but got two tonight from Olson and Simon.
None of the O's among the league doubles leaders had one in either game, so Brian Roberts still has 51, Aubrey Huff 48 and Nick Markakis 47 as the O's seek to become the first team ever with three players with 50 or more doubles........Several O's hitters continue to struggle as Aubrey Huff is 4-25, Ramon Hernandez 6-31, Nick Markakis is 4-22 and Luke Scott 1 for his last 24 at bat.
Oscar Salazar's eight-game hitting streak ended in game one, but he is batting .343 over his last ten games........Tampa picks up its first-ever sweep of a doubleheader.....Now with 95 wins, Tampa passes the 1991 Braves for most wins ever by a team that had MLB's worst record the year before.
Steve Melewski's Game Two GameBlog From Camden Yards
Questionable Decisions
Dave Trembley is going to get some criticism should the O's lose this one. After Alfredo Simon pitched his heart out and left with a 5-3 lead. The O's left the struggling Jamie Walker in to face four batters and all four reached as the lead disintegrated. There was no one even warming up behind Walker, I believe, until he was facing his third hitter. Tampa used Bartlett and Navarro to pinch-hit and they delivered. Walker is one of the toughest, best stand up guys in the game and would pitch with his arm falling off, but didn't the O's have better options than the struggling vet as this game got away from them tonight in the 8th?
Simon Says.....I'm Good
Alfredo Simon, the 27-year-old righty from the Domican, is pitching a gem here in game two vs. the first-place Rays. Simon was 7-2, 2.67 this year in the Mexican League in 15 games, 11 starts. This is his first start tonight since he had one in his only outing this year for Triple-A Norfolk on September one. Before that his last start was on July 23rd. In the Mexican League this year, lefty batters hit just .161 against Simon and right-handed batters hit .255. In July he went 4-0, 1.32 in five starts. He has pitched 8 innings or more five times this season. He has a 4-1 lead and a five-hitter through the top of the seventh tonight. He just fanned Carlos Pena with a man on to end the 7th. He has five strikeouts, no walks and has thrown just 88 pitches.
Tonight's Attendance
Is 15,215 for the twin bill. One attendance figure for both games. The season attendance total, with four games left, is 1,880,795.
Another Doubles Chase
All-Time Record, Doubles by a Switch-Hitter
55 - Lance Berkman, Houston, 2001
51 - Brian Roberts, Baltimore, 2008
51 - Pete Rose, Cincinnati, 1978
51 - Jose Vidro, Montreal, 2000
Roberts holds the AL mark for doubles by a switch-hitter now with 51. He is the only switch-hitter to ever have two seasons of 50 doubles.
Going for Two
The Rays have never won the AL East and they have never won a doubleheader, of any kind, split or straight. Tampa has been swept six times and split seven twin bills. They have played 8 day-night doubleheaders and 5 of the more traditional variety. They have played two twins bills before tonight in Baltimore. They split two here on 8-26-00 and lost two here on 7-5-04.
Starting Lineups
Rays
SS Ben Zobrist
2B Willy Aybar
1B Dan Johnson
3B Evan Longoria
DH Cliff Floyd
RF Gabe Gross
LF Eric Hinske
C Micheal Hernandez
CF Fernando Perez
P Mitch Talbot
Orioles
2B Brian Roberts
RF Lou Montanez
LF Luke Scott
3B Oscar Salazar
DH Ramon Hernandez
1B Kevin Millar
CF Jay Payton
C Guillermo Quiroz
SS Juan Castro
P Alfredo Simon
Game One - Tampa 5 Orioles 2
Tampa's number eight and nine hitters, Jason Bartlett and Fernando Perez combined for six hits and three RBI as the Rays beat the Orioles Tuesday, 5-2, in game one of a doubleheader. Tampa reduced its magic number to clinch the AL East to three.
The only O's runs scored on a Lou Montanez two-run homer in the second. The Birds were held to two runs or less for the 6th time in 8 games and 12th time in the last 19 contests.
The Orioles have lost seven in a row by a combined 13 runs.
Tampa is now 13-3 vs. the O's this season and 41-29 vs. AL foes.
James Shields pitched seven innings allowing two runs to get the win and Garrett Olson, who gave up three runs over six frames, took the loss.
Tampa's lead grew to 5-2 in the 8th on three singles. The last, a bunt hit for an RBI by Perez scored the Rays fifth run.
Bartlett's two-out, RBI double in the 6th gave Tampa a 3-2 lead. Ben Zobrist was thrown out at home on the play. Carlos Pena's RBI single in the 7th made it a 4-2 Rays' lead.
Tampa tied the game, 2-2, in the fifth. One run scored on Garrett Olson's wild pickoff throw toward first base. A Perez RBI double made it a 2-all contest.
The O's took a 2-0 lead in the second on a Montanez two-run homer. His 3rd of the year traveled 380 feet to left, scoring Luke Scott who reached when he struck out on a wild pitch.
TB 5-13-0
Balt 2-8-2
Game One Postgame Notes
The O's have scored just 11 runs the last six games and 70 runs in 20 September games to average 3.5 per game.......After batting .307 in August, the team batting average in September is now .235.......Omir Santos picked up his first Major League hit with a single in the 4th inning.......Garrett Olson recorded a quality start, the O's 7th in the last 31 games......Aubrey Huff went 0-4 and is 3-24 at bat......Tampa has won 10 straight over the O's......The O's are just 4-13 in their last 17 home games.
In Game One:
Rays 1-5 hitters went: 4-23, one RBI
Rays 6-9 hitters went: 9-15, five runs, 3 RBI
Steve Melewski's Live GameBlog From Camden Yards (Game One)
The Starters
Olson's line: 6IP, 6H, 3R-ER, 3BB, 4K......94 pitches
Shields line: 7IP, 8H, 2R-ER, 1BB, 8K......102 pitches
Olson records a quality start, just the O's 7th in the last 31 games. Shields, as he did in the opening day win over the Orioles, gave up two runs over seven frames. A win today and he'll tie the club record of 14 wins in a season.
Milestone Win Coming
With their next win, Tampa will tie the 1991 Braves (94-68) for most ever wins by a team that finished with MLB's worst record the year before. If Rays win 3 of the next 7 they will reverse their 2007 record (66-96) and finish with a 30-game improvement. Only 9 teams since 1900 have improved 30 or more games from one year to the next. The Orioles did it in 1989, going from 54-107 in 1988 to a record of 87-75, a 32.5 game improvement by that "Why Not" club.
Not His Day
No one can dog Aubrey Huff for anything having to do with offense this year, but today has been tough for him so far. He is 0-3 through the 5th inning. In the first, he fanned with runners on second and third and one out. He just ended the 5th by grounding into a double play with first and third and one out. Like most on this club, his bat has cooled this month and in recent games. Huff is 3 for his last 23 at bat.
Olson Through Four
Has allowed just one hit and has the 2-0 lead. He has thrown just 50 pitches and gotten 8 ground ball outs.
O's During the Six-Game Losing Streak
Offense: .229 team ave, 16 runs, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 1 homer
Pitching: 4.17 team ERA
Rare Feat
According to Elias sports, last night's game here was just the third in the Majors this season in which neither team had a hit through four innings. It joins the Indians and White Sox from April 3rd and the and Dodgers and Braves from July 9th.
O's Worst Septembers (by win percentage)
.143 - Went 4-24 in 2002
.211 - Are 4-15 in 2008
.222 - Went 6-21 in 1987
Let's Play Two
Game one of the doubleheader is now underway here in Baltimore. The Rays magic number is four to clinch the AL East. It's Olson vs. Shields. Today's first pitch was thrown at 5:06pm and it's 75 degrees.
Starting Lineups
Rays
2B Akinori Iwamura
CF BJ Upton
1B Carlos Pena
3B Evan Longoria
DH Rocco Baldelli
C Dioner Navarro
LF Ben Zobrist
SS Jason Bartlett
RF Fernando Perez
P James Shields
Orioles
2B Brandon Fahey
RF Nick Markakis
CF Adam Jones
3B Aubrey Huff
1B Oscar Salazar
DH Luke Scott
LF Lou Montanez
SS Alex Cintron
C Omir Santos
P Garrett Olson
Chasing Fifty
There is some drama left in this Orioles' season. Will this Birds team become the first in the history of the Majors to have three players with 50 or more doubles? Brian Roberts is there with 51, Aubrey Huff has 48 and Nick Markakis is at 47.
"It would be cool, but we're running out of time," Huff said. "Doubles are just like homers, they come in bunches. Brian was stuck on 48 for about two weeks, it's been about a week since I've hit one. You know you can hit two in a game or go with no doubles in a week, we'll see how it plays out."
Huff said it does give the players some incentive and something to shoot for this late in the season.
"In last place with nothing to play for it can be tough, especially with crowds like this. That is something to keep us in the game andmotivated the rest of the season.......We've got a shot. I need two and Nick needs three in six games. Nick could hit three in one game, I could hit two in one game, you just never know."
Huff, who had 28 doubles in the first half, has not had one in the last eight games. Markakis has gone five games without a double. He had 12 in August and has 5 in September.
AL Doubles Leaders (through Monday)
52 - Dustin Pedroia, Bos
51 - Brian Roberts, Bal
48 - Aubrey Huff, Bal
47 - Nick Markakis, Bal
Trembley's Talk
Dave Trembley told reporters today that Jeremy Guthrie will throw a three-inning simulated game tomorrow and if he feels good after that would pitch either Saturday or Sunday.
Trembley said it's questionable whether Melvin Mora would play again this season.
"He says his hamstring is worse than what it was so I really think it's questionable."
Trembley was asked his take on Adam Jones first season as an Oriole.
"Coming out of spring training we would have taken what he's done. I'd like to see what he would have done if he hadn't broken his foot. He would have really put some numbers up. He needs some time off this winter, he played last year until days before spring training. We all should be happy with what he's done."
Trembley said he eventually sees Jones as a number 5 or 6 hitter because he can be a run producer. But he said don't hold him to that for next year, but that's eventually where he would be.
Guthrie Hopes to Start Sunday
Jeremy Guthrie told reporters today he hopes to start the season's final game, Sunday, vs. Toronto. He said that would be the logical day to pitch after he throws a simulated game here tomorrow.
Guthrie has been on the disabled list since September 15, retroactive to September 6th, with a right shoulder impingement.
"I don't think I've been injured, but I did suffer pain (with the impingment)," Guthrie said. "I'm not going to come out of a game or end a season because I'm tired. I felt something, discomfort I guess that didn't allow me to pitch. But the doctors aren't concerned one bit about my arm except to get it rested. The term injury can be used a lot of ways, I used it because an injury to me is something that keeps you from participating in a game."
Guthrie said there would be no risk if he pitched on Sunday.
Game Preview
Tampa Bay (93-62) at Orioles (67-88)
It's been a frustrating time for the Orioles, who have lost six in a row by a total of ten runs.
Today they get two chances to break out of their offensive slump and snap their losing streak when the O's host Tampa in a doubleheader beginning at 5:05 p.m.
The O's began the season's final homestand with a 4-2 loss to Tampa Monday. They held the Rays to just three hits but had only six themselves. The O's have scored just nine runs in the last five games and are averaging just 3.6 runs per game in September. The O's have been held to two runs or less 11 times in the past 18 games.
Tampa is closing in on its first-ever AL East title, leading Boston by 2 ½ games and with a magic number of four to clinch.
The Rays, who won just 66 games last season, are now 50-23 in games decided by two runs or less. The Rays are 38-23 in the second-half.
Game One Pitchers
LHP Garrett Olson (9-9, 6.75) tonight makes his 26th start of the season, his 12th at home and his second this season vs. Tampa.
Two starts ago, Olson lasted just 2/3 of an inning vs. Minnesota but he rebounded to pitch 5 1/3, giving up three runs, last Thursday at Toronto. He lost both of those starts, going 0-2, 12.80.
Olson pitched to an ERA of 5.65 in the first half and 8.27 since the All-Star game. The Orioles are 11-14 when he starts this season. In 11 home starts, Olson is 5-2, 6.00.
Olson has allowed 16 of his 17 homers vs. right-handed batters, who hit .308 against him. Lefties hit .322 off Olson.
Olson has made just one start in his career vs. Tampa and he got the win on April 29th. He went 6 2/3, giving up just two runs on four hits.
RHP James Shields (13-8, 3.61) tonight makes his 32nd start of this season, his 15th on the road and his 5th of this year vs. the Orioles.
Shields, who is 1-0, 3.22 in three September starts, has pitched a pair of shutouts this year. They came within a three-start span early in the season as he two-hit Boston April 27th and threw a one-hitter vs. the Angels on May 9th.
Shields, who gave up 6 runs in 6 1/3 in his last start vs. Minnesota, has not pitched as well on the road as he does at home. In 14 road starts, he is 4-6, 5.06. At home this year, he is 9-2, 2.59.
Shields, who has already pitched 207 innings, beat the Orioles on opening-day and tonight will make his 10th start vs. the Birds since the start of 2007. When he starts this year, Tampa is 20-11.
Shields is 4th in the AL in innings and leads the AL in fewest pitches per inning at 14.6. He needs one more win to tie Rolando Arrojo's club record of 14 set in 1998. The Rays have won all four of his starts vs. the O's this season.
Shields vs. Baltimore:
2008: 2-0, 2.57, four starts, one HR allowed in 28 innings
2007: 1-1, 3.16, five starts
Career: 3-1, 3.27, 11 starts over 77 innings
Game Two Pitchers
RHP Alfredo Simon (0-0, 8.10) tonight will make his 3rd Major League appearance of this season and his first as a starter.
Simon spent most of this season in the Mexican League before signing with the O's and joining the Birds in early September. He made his Major League debut September 6 vs. Oakland and gave up three runs in 1 2/3. In his last appearance, September 13 vs. Minnesota, he pitched 1 2/3 shutout innings.
The 27-year-old Simon this year went 7-2, 2.67 with Monterrey of the Mexican League in 15 games, 11 starts. Last year, with Triple-A Oklahoma, he was 5-10, 6.43 in 22 games.
Simon was signed by Philadelphia originally in July of 1999 as a non-drafted free agent. He was traded to San Francisco in July of 2004.
RHP Mitch Talbot (0-0, 12.00) will tonight be making the second appearance of his Major League career and his first as a starter.
Talbot came on in relief last Monday vs. Boston and gave up four runs and five hits over three innings. He allowed homers to Kevin Youkilis and Jacoby Ellsbury.
The 24-year-old pitched for Triple-A Durham this season and went 13-9, 3.86 in 28 starts. In 161 innings he gave up 165 hits and an opponent batting average of .263. In two playoff starts, he went 0-1, 6.30.
His changeup was rated the best in the International League by Baseball America. Tampa acquired Talbot and Ben Zobrist at the All-Star break in 2006 in a trade with Houston. The Rays then sent Aubrey Huff to the Astros.
O's struggling hitters:
Castro: 7-44
Hernandez: 5-26
Huff: 3-20
Jones: 8-36
Markakis: 3-19
Millar: 2-25
Payton: 5-33
Quiroz: 1-21
Scott: 1-16
There are few hot bats right now, but Brian Roberts is batting .333 his last 12 games and Oscar Salazar is hitting .370 during an 8-game batting streak.
Fahey?! How can they give this guy a start and have him lead off. I feel like he is the kid in middle school that never got picked for kickball and now his dad is giving him a chance. Maybe he will break his record and blow 3 plays in a row today.