Rodrigo Lopez now leads the league in losses with 14.
Lopez probably didn’t pitch as bad as his line says he did (6 2/3 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 3 BB, 9 K, 1 HR), but he still didn’t pitch good. Lopez left the game in the 7th with the bases loaded and 2 outs. Tim Byrdak came in and allowed all 3 of the inherited runners to score, plus a run of his own, without recording an out. James Hoey came in and got the final out, but not before giving up a run of his own. Amazingly Russ Ortiz came in and pitched a perfect 8th, even striking somebody out. You know its a rough day when Russ Ortiz pitched the best of all your pitchers.
The hitting didn’t really do too much either. Nick Markakis hit a double in the top of the first, but was stranded at third. Kevin Millar had 2 hits including a double. Maybe we can trade him for a PTBNL to a contender looking for a bat off the bench. Jay Gibbons hit a double to score a run. Ramon Hernandez hit a 2 run single. Corey Patterson was 1 for 1 before he made a running catch and banged into the wall. He was replaced by David Newhan, fresh off the DL. Newhan had a hit and an RBI and Miguel Tejada rounded out the last hit. Hopefully Patterson’s injury isn’t too serious, but he couldn’t lift his shoulder above his head, so thats not particularly a good sign. An outfield of Brandon Fahey, Newhan, and Markakis doesn’t sound too productive to me.
Markakis watch: 1-4 (.309)
Tonight, its game 2 of the series and the O’s will have Kris Benson (10-10, 4.88) on the mound. He will be countered by Robinson Tejeda (3-3, 6.42) for the Rangers. I’m seeing some long balls tonight. Go O’s.
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