Not a completely lost weekend

While the Orioles were outscored 21-6 by the Yankees the last two days, is was not all bad. Yesterday's game seemed to featured big play after big play in the final innings. The O's matched the Yankees and looked like they would pull out a huge comeback win that was much needed. After 11 losses in 13 games, fans are predictably down. There were a few things to take from the weekend, however. * Jake Arrieta battled well again versus the Yankees. He has made four career starts against New York and could pretty easily be 4-0 in those games. In two starts against the Yankees this year, he allowed five hits and three runs over six innings each time. Arrieta is 2-0 with an ERA of 4.09 in his career against New York. Arrieta seems like a pitcher with no fear and I don't expect him to buckle against anyone. He threw some very good breaking balls Sunday. He has four quality starts among five outings this season. He keeps his team in the game. * Adam Jones showed his talents in the two-game series. He hit a three-run homer Saturday off CC Sabathia, and he did good things in the field and at the plate Sunday. His perfect throw in the 10th inning yesterday nailed Derek Jeter at the plate and kept the game tied. Jones drew two walks Sunday and that's an area where fans get on him, for his lack of walks. He really battled to get the base on balls leading off the last of the ninth against Mariano Rivera and then he scored the third and tie run. I also liked his postgame comment when he said of the Yankees, "We play them 14 more times and our goal is to whoop their (butt) 14 times." * The comeback itself was gritty on Sunday. The O's had some real tough at-bats in the ninth versus Rivera and they probably did enough to win on most days. The Yankees' three-run 11th produced some of the softest hits you'll ever see in a three-run rally. * Luke Scott went 2-for-5 and was robbed of a huge hit off Rivera by Brett Gardner's catch in left field. Scott needs to get his bat going also and maybe that will turn out to be a key game for him. Now the Red Sox come to town with a five-game win streak and 8-1 record over their last nine games. We knew they couldn't and would not lose forever. The challenges just keep coming for this O's club and there is nothing else to do but try and meet them head on.