Blame Yunel Escobar. If he didn't hit a liner off Brian Matusz's left triceps Tuesday night, the Orioles might have a streak of nine straight quality starts right now. We don't know how well Matusz would have done had he stayed in that game, but he's been pitching well, so I'd like his chances to get it done. O's starting pitching has gone from good to great. Here are the latest numbers: *ERA of 0.56 in the Toronto series. *ERA of 0.61 over last five games. *Starters are 5-0, 1.66 the...

The Orioles haven't won five straight series, something they'll try to accomplish this weekend, since Aug. 4-18, 1998. They went 2-0 vs. Detroit, 2-1 at Minnesota, 2-1 at Tampa Bay, 3-1 at Cleveland and 2-0 versus Minnesota. We tend to remember it being all bad when Ray Miller managed. I mentioned last night that the Orioles hadn't played a nine-inning game in under two hours since May 25, 2005 versus Seattle. That one also lasted 1:55. Rodrigo Lopez beat Jamie Moyer, 3-1, before an...

After one inning tonight, Brad Bergesen had thrown 20 pitches and allowed a homer. We didn't know then that he would need just 75 more pitches over the next eight innings and that he would pitch an at times dominant game vs. Toronto. But Bergesen produced his second complete game of the year and third of his career, with a 95-pitch, seven-hitter as the Orioles beat Toronto 3-1 to complete a three-game sweep. He threw 68 of his 95 pitches for strikes, with no walks and three...

Tonight's game was completed in 1 hour, 55 minutes. The anthems took longer. The Orioles hadn't played a nine-inning game in under two hours since May 25, 2005 vs. Seattle. That game also lasted 1:55. Showalter joked about all the smiling faces in the interview room. We're easy to please. Showalter wasn't going to yank Brad Bergesen after eight innings, though he played all the scenarios in his head. "You think about it. You know where they are in the order, but I thought he...

Kyle Drabek pitched pretty well at Camden Yards tonight in his Major League debut. But Brad Bergesen was better. The O's great run of starting pitching continued Wednesday night as the Orioles beat Toronto 3-1 on Bergesen's seven-hitter to complete a three-game sweep. Bergesen improves to 7-10, 5.03 and pitched his second complete game of the season and the Orioles third. Buck Showalter talks with the media after the O's 3-1 win over the Blue Jays He got plenty of defensive help as...

Kyle Drabek sure handled himself well and was pretty impressive in his Major League debut tonight. He leaves trailing 3-1 to Brad Bergesen and the Orioles as the O's bat in the seventh. He gave up nine hits and three runs, throwing 88 pitches through six frames. He showed a low 90's fastball and two pretty good curveballs. He limited damage during a couple of jams and fanned five. Bergesen has worked fast, throwing strikes tonight and his defense has been stellar, turning two double...

Manager Buck Showalter wanted to get Corey Patterson in the lineup tonight. That was his primary motivation for starting Luke Scott at first base. Move Ty Wigginton to third and free up the DH spot for Patterson. Showalter knew that the Yankees were expected to start left-handers CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte this weekend. He also knew that Patterson had one at-bat since Sept. 6. So what happens? Patterson grounds a run-scoring single into right field in the fourth inning to give the Orioles...

Jose Bautista, who did not homer in 11 Orioles at bats in 2004, tonight hit his seventh homer this year against Baltimore pitching. Bautista has 17 hits this year vs. the O's and 14 have gone for extra-bases after he homered off Brad Bergesen in the first tonight. He is 17 for 55 (.309) vs. the O's in 2010 with six doubles, a triple, seven homers and 16 RBI. He began this game with an OPS of 1.159 vs. Orioles pitching. He also has homered six times on the season vs. the Red Sox and...

Jose Bautista just homered into the Orioles' bullpen with two outs in the first inning, giving the Blue Jays a quick lead. Bautista has tied the Blue Jays' single-season record of 47 homers, originally set by George Bell in 1987. And I still can't wrap my head around it. Jose Bautista? Really? If he still played for the Orioles, he'd be a nugget. Brad Bergesen got ahead of Bautista, 0-1, with a 92 mph fastball. He threw another 92 mph fastball and almost wiped out a few...

Luke Scott had no idea that he was starting at first base until heading for the field to take batting practice. He took a quick glance at the lineup as he passed manager Buck Showalter's office and said, "Wow, I'm 3." That number indicates first base. He's used to seeing the letters DH. Scott dropped his bat and raced back to his locker to exchange his glove for a first baseman's mitt. Showalter wanted to check out Scott at first base, but he also wanted to get Corey Patterson in the...