W – Jon Lester (14-7, 3.33) L – Matt Albers (2-6, 5.43)

David Hernandez started and had his best start since August 27th. He went 6 innings, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks. Matt Albers started the 7th and could only get one out before giving up 2 runs on 2 hits. Alberto Castillo tried to clean up Albers’ mess but couldn’t get anyone out. He gave up a run of his own on 3 hits. Cla Meredith came in and finished the inning without allowing a run or a hit. Bob McCrory started the 8th inning and struggled mightily. He gave up 5 runs (although they were all unearned) on 3 hits and a walk. Dennis Sarfate came in and got the last out. Chris Lambert pitched a scoreless 9th.

The O’s got a run in the 1st when Brian Roberts led off with his 53rd double and scored on a Matt Wieters single. Ty Wiggington hit a solo homerun in the 2nd, Melvin Mora hit one in the 4th (his 8th), Felix Pie hit his 9th homerun of the season in the 9th – also a solo shot, and Wiggington hit another one in the 9th. Wieters ended up with 3 singles and a walk in the game. Pie had a single and a double to go along with his homerun. Jeff Fiorentino and Cesar Izturis each had a single and a walk.

Player of the game: Ty Wiggington (2-4, 2 solo HRs (10) (.268 AVG))

The Orioles will try to avoid the sweep tomorrow. Jason Berken (5-11, 6.08) goes up against Daisuke Matsuzaka (2-5, 7.02).

W – Clay Buchholz (6-3, 3.49) L – Jeremy Guthrie (10-15, 5.05) SV – Jonathon Papelbon (37)

Guthrie didn’t pitch too bad, but he put too many runners on base. He gave up 3 runs on 9 hits and 3 walks over 5.2 innings. Matt Albers relieved him and got the last out of the 6th inning along with the first out of the 7th inning. Chris Waters then came on with a bunch of left handed hitters due up. He struck out 2 batters over 1.2 innings, not allowing any runs. Cla Meredith pitched a scoreless 9th.

The Orioles lone run came on a Luke Scott homerun in the 2nd inning. We only managed to record 5 hits and 4 walks. Cesar Izturis, Brian Roberts, Nick Markakis, and Matt Wieters each had singles. Jeff Fiorentino walked twice. Wieters and Izturis each walked once. The season is dragging as we come close to the finish line.

Player of the game: Luke Scott (1-4, solo HR (23) (.256 AVG))

Game two of the series features Oriole killer Jon Lester (13-7, 3.29) going against David Hernandez (4-8, 5.40).

W – Wade Davis (1-1, 4.34) L – Mark Hendrickson (5-5, 4.47)

It was bullpen by committee last night with Hendrickson starting. It was his first start since May 12th, so he wasn’t going to be able to go very far into the game. He lasted 3.1 innings, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits before giving way to the bullpen. Dennis Sarfate was next to take the mound. He pitched 1.1 innings and didn’t allow any runs despite walking 3 batters. Cla Meredith also pitched 1.1 innings, but he didn’t allow any baserunners. Brian Bass started the 7th and gave up 2 hits before getting 2 outs. Sean Henn finished the inning and got 2 outs himself in the 8th. He struck out 2 batters, gave up a hit and a walk. Chris Ray gave up a run over 0.2 innings, then Alberto Castillo finished the 9th.

It wouldn’t have mattered how good our pitching was last night. Wade Davis pitched easily the best game of his early career, shutting out the Orioles on 4 hits and 2 walks. We loaded the bases in the 1st inning and that was about the only threat we posed to scoring all game. Brian Roberts led off with a walk, then Felix Pie doubled. Nolan Reimold walked to load the bases. Nick Markakis grounded out, with the Rays getting the out at home. Melvin Mora struck out and Luke Scott lined out to right field to end the inning. Reimold also singled in the game. Michael Aubrey had the only other hits, a single and a double.

Player of the game: Michael Aubrey (2-3, double (3) (.324 AVG))

The Red Sox come into town over the weekend. Tonight its Jeremy Guthrie (10-14, 5.06) against Clay Buchholz (5-3, 3.66) in game one.

W – Jim Johnson (4-5, 4.04) L – Russ Springer (0-4, 4.39)

The Orioles had a 2-1 lead heading into the top of the 9th inning last night. Jim Johnson came in for the save, but wasn’t able to finish off the Rays. He gave up a solo homerun which tied the game up and gave Tampa Bay the momentum. Johnson was bailed out in the bottom of the inning, but it hasn’t been a very good time for the new closer. Hes going to have to fight to keep the job in spring training next year. Chris Tillman started the game and gave us a very good effort. He didn’t strike anyone out for the first time in his career, but he was able to hold the Rays to 1 run on 5 hits and a walk over 6.2 innings. The run came on a solo homerun from former Oriole Gregg Zaun. Tillman left the game with two outs and runners on first and third, but Matt Albers came in and struck out BJ Upton to end the inning. Danys Baez tossed a scoreless 8th.

Matt Wieters has officially arrived. The much hyped 23 year old catcher got off to a slow start to his major league career, but after his 3 hit, 5 RBI effort on Tuesday he was back at it again last night. First he gave the O’s an early 1-0 lead by lifting a sacrifice fly to left field to score Melvin Mora, who had doubled and moved to third on a flyout. Then with the game tied in the bottom of the 9th, after our closer just blew a save, he hit a game winning homerun to left center field. Wieters also threw out Carl Crawford, who has 57 stolen bases on the season, trying to steal second base – twice. Perfect throws to get the speedy outfielder. It was only the second time in Crawford’s career that he was thrown out trying to steal twice in one game. Our other run came on a Luke Scott RBI double in the 4th inning. It was his 23rd double of the season. Brian Roberts singled and walked in the game.

Player of the game: Matt Wieters (1-3, R, 3 RBI, HR (7) (.273 AVG))

The Orioles will have a chance to take 3 out of 4 from Tampa Bay tonight. Mark Hendrickson (5-4, 4.43) makes his return to the rotation with Brian Matusz being shut down against rookie Wade Davis (0-1, 8.38).

W – Jason Berken (5-11, 6.08) L – Jeff Niemann (12-6, 3.80)

It wasn’t looking good early on. The Rays scored 4 runs in the top of the 1st inning off Berken. It didn’t look like he was going to last very long at that point. They scored another run in the 3rd to make it 5-0, but that would be it for them as Berken really shut down the Tampa Bay bats from that point on. He ended up pitching 6.1 innings, allowing those 5 runs on 7 hits and a walk while striking out a pair. His only walk came to the last batter he faced. Alberto Castillo was brought on to get the lefty out and he did, except he didn’t face the lefty since they pinch hit Gabe Kapler for Reid Brignac. He got the out regardless, as did Chris Ray who was brought in to get the last out of the inning. Danys Baez pitched a perfect 8th, then Jim Johnson pitched a scoreless 9th to end the game. Johnson continues to allow alot of baserunners since he became the closer. He gave up a hit and a walk in his scoreless inning.

The offense got started in the 3rd. Felix Pie and Jeff Fiorentino hit back to back singles, then Brian Roberts hit his 52nd double to score Pie. Fiorentino scored on a Nick Markakis ground out. In the 4th, Matt Wieters doubled, moved to 3rd on a Michael Aubrey single, and scored on a Cesar Izturis single. We took the lead in the 5th. Roberts walked, Markakis singled, and Melvin Mora singled to load the bases. Luke Scott grounded out, but advanced all the runners with Roberts scoring. Wieters singled up the middle to score Markakis and Mora to give us a lead would never relinquish. Scott’s 22nd homerun, a solo shot in the 7th, extended the lead to 7-5 and Wieters hit a 3 run shot in the 8th to make it 10-5. A bit of a break out game for the highly touted catching prospect.

Player of the game: Matt Wieters (3-4, 2 R, 5 RBI, BB, double (12), HR (6) (.272 AVG))

Game three of the four game series gets under way tonight with Chris Tillman (2-3, 4.91) taking on Andy Sonnanstine (6-9, 7.15), who has pitched effectively against the O’s in the past.

W – David Price (8-7, 4.60) L – David Hernandez (4-8, 5.40)

Hernandez continues to struggle as the season wears on. He only lasted 3 innings this time out, giving up 5 runs on 9 hits. He struck out 5 batters, but continues to throw too many pitches per inning. Hes had trouble putting away batters once he gets two strikes on them. He has about 3 more starts before the season ends, it would be nice if he could pitch a couple of good games before then. Brian Bass relieved Hernandez but he wasn’t much of a help. He gave up 3 more runs over 1.1 innings. Matt Albers was next and he somehow didn’t give up any runs despite allowing 3 hits and 2 walks over 1.2 innings. Dennis Sarfate, Chris Ray, and Alberto Castillo each pitched a scoreless inning to finish off the game.

The Orioles scored all of their runs in the 1st inning. With two outs Nick Markakis walked, then Nolan Reimold, Melvin Mora, Matt Wieters, and Luke Scott hit consecutive singles. Mora would later hit a double. Brian Roberts and Cesar Izturis each had a single, while Jeff Fiorentino had two.

Player of the game: Melvin Mora (2-4, R, RBI, double (17) (.264 AVG))

Jason Berken (4-11, 6.02) pitches game two tonight against Jeff Niemann (12-5, 3.57).

W – CC Sabathia (17-7, 3.42) L – Jeremy Guthrie (10-14, 5.06)

Guthrie struggled for the first time in 5 starts. He gave up 5 runs on 12 hits and 3 walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out 4 batters. He wasn’t doing too bad until the 6th when things started to unravel. Sean Henn came in and got the last out of the 6th, walking a batter before striking one out. Chris Waters came in and pitched a perfect 7th and then came back out for the 8th. Thats when things got ugly. Waters could only get two outs in the 8th before giving up 4 runs on 3 hits and a walk. He was removed in favor of Bob McCrory who did even worse. He couldn’t get any outs, but he did give up 4 runs on 4 hits and a walk. Cla Meredith finished the inning but not before allowing a hit and a walk. This season needs to end…

The Orioles took an early 2-1 lead in the 2nd inning. Nolan Reimold singled, as did Ty Wiggington, and Matt Wieters walked to load the bases. Justin Turner got a run in with an RBI groundout, then Chad Moeller hit a sacrifice fly. Jeff Fiorentino also hit a sacrifice fly in the 4th to extend the lead to 3-1 at the time. Unfortunately thats all the offensive support we could muster. Nick Markakis and Fiorentino added singles and Reimold had a 2nd single in the game.

Player of the game: Nolan Reimold (2-4, R, double (18) (.279 AVG))

We return home to face the fading Tampa Bay Rays tomorrow night. David Hernandez (4-7, 5.05) goes up against David Price (7-7, 4.65).

W – Brian Matusz (5-2, 4.63) L – AJ Burnett (11-9, 4.33)

Matusz has been great in his last 4 starts now, going 7 innings in his last 3. He went 7 innings yesterday and only allowed 1 run on 4 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 3 batters. Its pretty impressive to shut down the hot Yankees at the bandbox that is new Yankee Stadium in only your 8th major league start. They keep saying they’re going to shut down Matusz after another start or two, but hes pitching like he wants none of that. Spring Training is going to be fun to watch as Matusz, Brad Bergesen, Jeremy Guthrie, and maybe a free agent starter battle it out for the opening day nod. Back to the game, Danys Baez pitched a perfect 8th with a strike out. Jim Johnson pitched the 9th and struggled, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits, but was able to end the game with the birds in the win column.

It was really over after the 2nd inning when the Orioles scored 6 runs and never looked back. Nolan Reimold led off the inning with his 15th homerun. Matt Wieters walked, Ty Wiggington singled, and Michael Aubrey singled to load the bases. Robert Andino singled to score Wieters, then Brian Roberts hit a grand slam to bust the game wide open. We tacked on another run in the 9th on a Jeff Fiorentino sacrifice fly after Wiggington singled and Andino doubled. Roberts also had a single, double, and a walk in the game. Reimold added a single and a walk to his resume.

Player of the game: Brian Roberts (3-4, R, 4 RBI, SB (29), double (51), HR (15) (.286 AVG))

The Orioles will try to sweep the Yankees today with Jeremy Guthrie (10-13, 4.96) on the mound. Cy Young candidate CC Sabathia (16-7, 3.40) pitches for New York.