It's not workin' for Berken (with note)

This game has turned from weird to unwatchable. But please, keep watching. Jason Berken was torched tonight, allowing six runs and five hits in one inning. He also walked a batter, hit a batter, threw a wild pitch and served up two home runs. Berken is really struggling and he has minor league options, which isn't a good combination for any pitcher. He's been scored upon in six of his last nine appearances. In that span, he's allowed 15 runs (14 earned) and 22 hits, with eight walks, in 8 2/3 innings. Berken's pitches were belt-high over the plate tonight, and they were scalded. When the smoke cleared, his ERA had increased from 5.06 to 7.94. The Orioles will have to make room on the 25-man roster for Alfredo Simon this weekend. Brad Bergesen could be sent down, since the Orioles won't need a fifth starter because of Monday's off day. Berken is another candidate for removal. The Nationals had scored 12 runs in their last five games. They've matched that total tonight in only five innings. Note: This is the ninth time in Orioles' history that they've allowed 13 runs or more in two straight games. The franchise record is three in a row, Aug. 10-12, 1993. It's the fourth time that all the runs in consecutive games were earned. Now go out there and win a bar bet.