Gonzalez has rare lapse in second inning

Miguel Gonzalez allowed his first run in his last three starts today when Brian McCann homered with one out in the second inning to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead. McCann drove the sixth pitch from Gonzalez, an 82 mph changeup, onto the flag court in right field. Gonzalez permitted three runs in the inning, a highly unusual occurrence over a full game. He walked Mark Teixeira and allowed a double to Chris Young and RBI single to former Orioles farmhand Antoan Richardson for a 2-0 lead, and the Yankees executed a double steal with two outs that produced another run. Richardson broke for second and beat catcher Caleb Joseph's throw, and Young raced home for a 3-0 lead. Gonzalez threw 36 pitches in the inning and allowed more than two runs in a start for the first time since Aug. 2 against the Mariners. It was quite a reversal from the first inning, when Gonzalez threw five pitches while retiring the Yankees in order. Gonzalez registered five consecutive quality starts before today, allowing four runs in 34 2/3 innings. He had permitted two earned runs or fewer in nine of his last 10 starts. Gonzalez is 15-7 with a 3.36 ERA in 34 career starts against the American League East. I mentioned earlier that the rotation has gone 6-0 with a 1.37 ERA and nine quality starts in the last 11 games. In addition, Orioles starters are 4-0 with a 0.56 ERA in the last five games, with two earned runs allowed in 32 1/3 innings. The only runs allowed by Orioles starters in that span came on solo home runs by Boston's Xander Bogaerts. The Orioles already have clinched the season series against the Yankees for the first time since 1997. The Blue Jays rallied to take a 3-2 lead over the Rays in the bottom of the third inning. Meanwhile, the Orioles are trying to get their magic number down to Earl Weaver or Harold Baines. Baines doesn't work for you? We could stay current and choose Ryan Flaherty, or really push the envelope and go with Larry Bigbie or Juan Bonilla. Curt Blefary? Freddie Bynum? I'm only in the Bs, folks. The Orioles achieved a victory today after only one batter. First base umpire Ed Hickox ruled that Jacoby Ellsbury was safe after Flaherty made a diving stop up the middle and threw from his knees, pulling Steve Pearce off the bag. Just one problem: The replays clearly showed that Pearce came down on the bag before Ellsbury reached it. Manager Buck Showalter challenged the call and it was overturned in 25 seconds. We already endured a 35-minute rain delay before the first pitch. No reason to hold up the game any longer than necessary.