W – Jose Mijares (2-2, 1.99) L – Kam Mickolio (0-1, 0.79)

It was another inconsistent outing for Brian Matusz. He showed alot of good things, but still put too many runners on base. Over 5 innings he gave up 3 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 3 batters. Its easy to forget hes only 22 and has advanced levels very quickly, just like Matt Wieters. I think Matusz and Wieters will greatly benefit from their time on the major league squad and we’ll reap the benefits next season. Brian Bass came in to start the 6th and couldn’t get anyone out. He faced 5 hitters and gave up 2 walks, 2 singles, and a double before he was pulled for Mark Hendrickson, who finished the inning. Chris Ray pitched a scoreless 7th, then Kam Mickolio came in and pitched a scoreless 8th. Dave Trembley left Mickolio in for the 9th and he finally gave up his first run of the season. It came at a bad time because it gave the Twins the win.

The offense scored 3 runs in the 2nd to jump out to an early lead. Matt Wieters and Melvin Mora each singled and both came around to score on a Michael Aubrey double. Aubrey came around to score when Cesar izturis hit a single. In the next inning the O’s loaded the bases with two outs and scored when Aubrey walked. Aubrey has looked good in his limited at bats so far, I hope he plays alot over the rest of the season. The Orioles couldn’t bring any more runs across in the 3rd, but we got one in the 4th on another bases loaded walk by Matt Wieters. An RBI single by Luke Scott was the last run we put across the board. Felix Pie, Nick Markakis, and Nolan Reimold each had doubles in the game.

Player of the game: Nick Markakis (2-4, 2 R, BB, double (40) (.308 AVG))

Jeremy Guthrie (8-12, 5.45) will try to salvage one game in the series tonight against Nick Blackburn (8-8, 4.27).

W – Scott Baker (12-7, 4.47) L – Chris Tillman (1-2, 4.58) SV – Joe Nathan (32)

Tillman pitched very well through the first 5 innings. He had a 3 hit shut out going, but struggled in the 6th. He gave up a triple and back to back singles to start the inning, then struck out Joe Mauer and intentionally walking Justin Morneau before being taken out of the game in favor of Mark Hendrickson. Hendrickson got a sacrifice fly, which added another run to Tillman’s totals. He finished at 5.1 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and a strikeout. Hendrickson was lifted after facing one batter and Cla Meredith came in to finish the inning. Meredith also got 2 outs in the 7th before Chris Ray came in and pitched 1.1 perfect innings.

The pitching was good last night, its too bad the hitting got shut down. The Orioles only run came in the top of the 3rd. Michael Aubrey singled and came around to score on a Brian Roberts double. Those were two of the Orioles four hits in the game. Luke Scott and Matt Wieters had the other hits, both singles. Nick Markakis, Nolan Reimold, and Cesar Izturis each had a walk.

Player of the game: Brian Roberts (1-4, RBI, double (48) (.294 AVG))

The Orioles will face a pitcher making his major league debut tonight, Armando Gabino (0-0, -.–). Brian Matusz (2-2, 6.75) pitches for the O’s.

W – Jason Berken (3-11, 6.49) L – Mark Buehrle (11-7, 3.92) SV – Jim Johnson (6)

Jason Berken pitched pretty well. The game started off with back to back errors, but Berken was able to get out of it only giving up one run. Overall he went 5.2 innings allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits and 2 walks. Kam Mickolio came in and pitched 1.1 scoreless, striking out a batter. Danys Baez then pitched a scoreless 8th and struck out 2 batters. Hopefully we’ll be able to trade him before the August 31st waiver trade deadline. Jim Johnson allowed a run in the 9th, but we were up by two. He struck out 2 batters in recording his 5th save since we traded George Sherrill.

Brian Roberts led off the game with a double, then scored on an Adam Jones single. Unfortunately that would be it for Jones in the game. He left with back spasms. Felix Pie replaced him and immediately made his presence known with a sacrifice fly after Roberts singled, stole second, and reached third on a groundout in the 3rd inning. He also hit a solo homerun in the 5th, his 4th of the season. Also in the 3rd, Nolan Reimold hit his 12th homerun of the season bringing in Nick Markakis who had hit one of his two singles in the game. Matt Wieters chipped in a pair of singles himself.

Player of the game: Brian Roberts (3-4, 2 R, BB, SB (27), double (47) (.295 AVG))

Tonight: Chris Tillman (1-1, 4.80) vs. Scott Baker (11-7, 4.62)

W – John Danks (11-8, 3.85) L – David Hernandez (4-6, 4.35) SV – Bobby Jenks (27)

Hernandez struggled with his control a little bit and he threw too many pitches in each at bat to be able to stretch into the later innings. He threw 96 pitches over 4 innings, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 4. Brian Bass replaced him for the 5th and gave up another run, but settled down and ended up pitching through the 6th. Cla Meredith pitched a scoreless 7th despite allowing 2 hits and a walk. Mark Hendrickson threw a perfect frame in the 8th.

The offense struggled against a solid lefty in John Danks. We could only manage 4 hits for the entire game, although we did draw 8 walks. Nolan Reimold tripled and Nick Markakis, Ty Wiggington, and Michael Aubrey each had singles. Brian Roberts walked twice and stole a base, Melvin Mora walked twice, and Cesar Izturis, Adam Jones, Luke Scott, and Wiggington each had a walk.

Player of the game: Nolan Reimold (1-4, triple (2) (.273 AVG))

Its an afternoon game today and we’re facing another tough lefty, Mark Buehrle (11-6, 3.78). Jason Berken (2-11, 6.72) goes for the O’s.

W – Jeremy Guthrie (8-12, 5.43) L – Gavin Floyd (10-8, 3.98)

Guthrie finally came through with a good start. He did a great job of escaping trouble whenever he was in it. The only run he gave up came on (surprise) a homerun by Jim Thome. Over 7 innings Guthrie allowed 6 hits and 2 walks, while striking out a pair. It would help if Guthrie could finish strong and maybe get his ERA in the 4′s before the season ends. Danys Baez pitched a scoreless frame in the 8th, as did Chris Ray in the 9th.

Its been the Brian Roberts show for about the past week, and that didn’t change last night. Roberts homered twice last night, a solo shot in the 3rd and a 2 run shot in the 8th. Hes now hit 5 homeruns in his last 6 games. Also in the 8th, Nick Markakis tripled in a run and Ty Wiggington hit a pinch hit RBI single to round out the scoring. Cesar Izturis had a pair of hits including a double. Hes been worth every penny this year. Nolan Reimold had a single and a walk. Felix Pie had 3 singles in 4 at bats. Since June hes batting .338 and if you take out April hes hitting .308. Even with his abysmal April, which you could account to adjusting to a new league/team/position, hes now batting .259 on the season. Say what you will, but Felix Pie has a future in this game, and on this team.

Player of the game: Brian Roberts (2-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 HR (14) (.293 AVG))

In game 2 tonight its David Hernandez (4-5, 4.20) against John Danks (10-8, 3.96).