Early game notes

By Steve Melewski

Orioles

May 27, 2010, 3:24pm

Comments

*From the something has to give department, tonight, either the Orioles will win a series for just the third time this year or the A's will win a road series for just the second time. The O's are 2-11-1 in series and are 6-9 in the final game of a series on the season. Oakland is just 1-5 in road series and is 6-14 in road games. *The A's are 4-2 vs. the O's this year, have won 14 of their last 17 vs. the Birds and are 69-30 vs. the O's since 1999. That's the best winning percentage of any AL team vs. the Orioles in that time. *A's starter Gio Gonzalez is coming off a start where he pitched eight scoreless innings of two-hit ball vs. the Giants. He pitched six shutout innings in his only career start vs. the O's on 8-10-09. Meanwhile, Brad Bergesen has allowed 24 base runners over his last 11 2/3 coming into this game. He gave up six runs on 11 hits over five innings in his last start vs. Washington. *Will Miggy break out tonight? Lost in the slumps of players like Garrett Atkins is the fact that Miguel Tejada's bat has cooled. He is just 8 for 47 (.170) over his last 11 games and grounded out his first time up tonight. He has just one RBI over his past eight contests.