Today's pitchers:  Berken vs. Matsuzaka
Today's pitchers: Berken vs. Matsuzaka
Steve Melewski
Orioles
RHP Jason Berken (5-11, 6.08) today makes his 22nd start of this season, his 13th at home and his 4th of the year vs. Boston. Despite allowing five runs over 6 1/3 innings on Tuesday, Berken got the win vs. Tampa. He gave up four runs in the first, then settled down after that. Over his last five starts, Berken is 3-0, 4.23. Before this stretch, the 25-year-old righty had a record of 2-11, 6.72. Berken has struggled often in the first inning, giving up 25 of his 71 runs and a batting...
Luke and the longball
Luke and the longball
Steve Melewski
Orioles
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...
Sox top O's to complete series sweep
Sox top O's to complete series sweep
Steve Melewski
Orioles
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...
Post-game Notes:  Sox complete sweep in Baltimore
Post-game Notes: Sox complete sweep in Baltimore
Steve Melewski
Orioles
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...
The final road trip begins:  O's at Toronto
The final road trip begins: O's at Toronto
Steve Melewski
Orioles
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...
Tonight's pitchers:  Tillman vs. Purcey
Tonight's pitchers: Tillman vs. Purcey
Steve Melewski
Orioles
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...
O's fall in series opener at Toronto
O's fall in series opener at Toronto
Steve Melewski
Orioles
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...
Post-game Notes:  Trip begins with loss at Toronto
Post-game Notes: Trip begins with loss at Toronto
Steve Melewski
Orioles
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...
Tuesday night baseball:  O's at Toronto
Tuesday night baseball: O's at Toronto
Steve Melewski
Orioles
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,...
Tonight's starting pitchers:  Hendrickson vs. Tallet
Tonight's starting pitchers: Hendrickson vs. Tallet
Steve Melewski
Orioles
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...