Luke and the longball
Luke Scott's two-run homer in the 4th inning today is his 24th this year, that's a new career high surpassing last season's total of 23 longballs.
Last year he hit 23 in 475 at bats. Today, he got number 24 in his 408th at bat of the year.
Last year, he hit just 5 of 23 homers off a lefty. This year he has hit 9 of 24 off lefties.
Scott has hit 18 homers this year at home to six on the road. This was his third homer on the season vs. Red Sox pitching.
While 24 is Scott's Major League...
The Red Sox scored six runs over the first three innings today on their way to a 9-3 win over the Orioles at Camden Yards to complete a three-game sweep.
It's Boston's fourth series sweep of the Birds this year and they end the season series going 16-2 vs. the O's.
On his 31st birthday, Jason Bay hit a solo homer and drove in three runs. It's his 35th homer to tie his career high. Jacoby Ellsbury added a two-run double and solo homer while Mike Lowell added a two-run single to lead...
Not his day - Losing pitcher Jason Berken entered with a record of 3-0 and 4.23 ERA over his previous five starts. But he walked two of the first three batters he faced today and it only got worse from there.
Berken falls to 5-12, 6.41.
In three innings today he allowed ten hits (one off his season high) and six runs. Over his last two starts, he has given up 11ER in 9 1/3 frames.
Berken gave up three runs in the first today and on the year, 28 of the 74 runs he has given up have come...
Game Preview
Orioles (60-89) at Toronto (66-83)
Their first road trip of the season took them to Texas and on to Boston. Tonight, the Orioles begin their 11th and last road trip of this year.
They'll play three games starting tonight at Toronto, than it's on to Cleveland for three and Tampa for four to wrap up the ten-game trip.
The Orioles have not had a winning road trip all year, they went 3-3 on one trip. They are 24-47 on the season on the road.
The O's completed a 2-5 homestand...
RHP Chris Tillman (2-3, 4.50) tonight will make his 11th Major League start of the year, his 6th on the road and his 2nd this year vs. Toronto.
Tillman is coming off his best start of the year in the big leagues. He did not get a decision Wednesday vs. Tampa, but allowed just one run and five hits over 6 2/3 innings. For the first time in 28 starts this year between Norfolk and Baltimore he failed to strike out a batter.
Tillman said he took something off his velocity in that game in order...
Lefty David Purcey picked up his first win of the year in his 7th Major League start of the season, pitching Toronto past the Orioles 9-2 Monday night.
It was game one of a ten-game trip for the Orioles.
Purcey, 1-2, gave up just one run and four hits, all singles, over 7 2/3. He fanned and walked four, throwing 111 pitches. This was his 4th Major League win.
Felix Pie's RBI single in the second provided the first O's run and he added a sac fly in the 9th. The Orioles have scored just...
Not Tillman time - After allowing just one run over 6 2/3 vs. Tampa in his last start, tonight, O's rookie Chris Tillman gave up four runs and six hits over five innings. Tillman falls to 2-4, 4.71 after 11 Major League starts.
In two starts vs. Toronto, Tillman is 0-1, 4.63. The O's are 4-7 when he starts.
The O's bullpen again served up late runs for an opponent. Tonight in three innings, the bullpen allowed seven hits and five runs (all earned).
Over the last three games, the O's...
Game Preview
Orioles (60-90) at Toronto (67-83)
Back in late April and early May, the Orioles lost six games in a row. It is a season-high mark they would like to avoid matching tonight.
In game two of a three-game series tonight at 7:05 p.m., the Blue Jays host the Orioles with Mark Hendrickson (5-5, 4.47) pitching vs. Brian Tallet (7-9, 5.31).
The O's have been out-scored 35-11 during their five-game losing streak. Over the past three games, the Orioles pitching has given up 29 runs,...
LHP Mark Hendrickson (5-5, 4.47) tonight will make his 51st appearance of this season and his 9th start. It's his 4th road start and the 12th of his career vs. Toronto.
Hendrickson took the rotation spot of Brian Matusz and made the start last Thursday vs. Tampa. In 3 1/3 innings, he gave up five hits and two runs, throwing 57 pitches.
In 42 games this year pitching out of the bullpen, Hendrickson went 4-0, 3.44. Over his last 12 relief outings, he pitched to an ERA of 2.31.
In his...
The Orioles blew a lead and the game. Their bullpen is still struggling.
Aaron Hill's RBI double to right center scored Jose Bautista in the last of the 11th as Toronto beat the Orioles 6-5 Tuesday to hand the O's a 6th straight loss.
Dennis Sarfate came on in the 11th and walked Bautista on a 3-2 pitch before Hill delivered his second RBI of the night and 100th on the year.
The O's led 5-2 after seven innings.
O's right hander Jim Johnson suffered another blown save as Toronto scored...
On the Mark - Mark Hendrickson got the start and pitched a season-high six innings but did not get a decision. He pitched very well, allowing just four hits and two runs, throwing 68 pitches.
Hendrickson, who retired the last 11 batters he faced, was seeking his first win since July 11th and his first win as a starter since April 10th.
Another rough night - Struggling closer Jim Johnson suffered his third blown save tonight in his last five chances. Johnson has saved six of nine games...