W – Jeremy Guthrie (3-4)     L – Tyson Ross (1-3)

Jeremy Guthrie continued his resurrection last night, holding the A’s to one run over 6 innings. He worked hard, throwing 114 pitches and allowing 6 hits, 3 walks, and a hit batter but was able to get out of trouble nearly every time he was in it. In the 2nd inning Oakland got a run on an RBI groundout after a walk and a double left runners in scoring position but that was all they could muster. Guthrie is getting more movement on his pitches than I ever remember seeing and I don’t think his performance is a fluke. He might be a guy to hold onto for a little while longer unless somebody offers something really good (like a major league ready shortstop prospect). Hes under team control until 2012 and could be a veteran presence for the rotation. Mark Hendrickson pitched two scoreless innings in the 7th and 8th, allowing a hit and striking out a batter. Hes been better lately but I hope hes shipped out before the trade deadline. There just has to be a better option. Will Ohman pitched a dominant 9th inning with two strikeouts. It looks like he’ll be the closer for the time being and I liked the way he went right after the hitters. He could do good there.

The offense relied on the little things to get most of their runs last for what seemed like the first time all season. We tied the game in the 4th on an RBI groundout by Adam Jones after Nick Markakis and Miguel Tejada walked and advanced on Ty Wiggington’s groundout. The 6th inning started off the same way with Markakis and Tejada walking and advancing on a wild pitch. Back to back sacrifice flies by Wiggington and Jones made it 3-1. We got two runs in the 8th ina more traditional way. Markakis led off the inning with his first homerun since May 1st. He hadn’t homered in 81 at bats but he really hammered that ball. After a Wiggington walk Matt Wieters cranked a double off the wall in right field for his 15th RBI. Corey Patterson continued his steady play at the lead off spot with a single and a walk. Jones, Garrett Atkins, and Cesar Izturis each singled. Luke Scott was a late scratch from the lineup with a sore shoulder and is day to day. Hes been our hottest hitter so we can only hope he won’t be out long.

Player of the game: Nick Markakis – 2-2, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, HR (3) (.312 AVG)

Its gonna be a hot one tonight for the middle game of the series. Brian Matusz (2-4, 5.26) looks to rebound from his last start against Trevor Cahill (2-2, 3.68).

W – Doug Slaten (2-0)     L – Cla Meredith (0-2)

From the 2nd inning to the 8th inning it was a standstill. Neither team scored a run. The Orioles got a run in the first inning when Corey Patterson and Nick Markakis started the game with back to back singles. Patterson scored from third when Miguel Tejada grounded into a double play. Patterson singled again later in the game, he also walked and stole a base. Unfortunately he also cost us a run when he failed to tag up and advance from second on a deep fly ball by Markakis. Tejada followed with a groundball out up the middle that he would’ve been able to score on and since we lost by run in extra innings that could’ve been the ballgame. The Orioles tied the game up in the 9th inning, giving National’s closer Matt Capps his first blown save of the season. Luke Scott started it off with an infield single then Adam Jones followed it up with a line drive double down the right field line. Matt Wieters grounded out to score Scott and advance Jones to third. Julio Lugo shot a flare over the second baseman’s head to tie the game up before Garrett Atkins was retired in a pinch hitting appearance (surprise, surprise). We couldn’t do anything in the 10th before Washington scored in the bottom half of the inning. Wieters, Markakis, and Ty Wiggington each walked in the game.

Kevin Millwood gave up three runs in the first inning but fought back with 5.1 scoreless after that. Even the three he gave up probably never should’ve scored. The lead off batter singled then the next guy was credited with a bunt single but it was misplayed by the inexperienced Luke Scott at first base and should’ve gotten one out. Ryan Zimmerman bounced a double play ball to shortstop but the umpire blatantly missed the call at first base and it was turned into a fielders choice. Adam Dunn popped out and Josh Willingham was hit by a pitch but then Roger Bernadina hit a deep fly ball to center field that Adam Jones leaped for and had hit off his glove for a bases clearing triple. It was a ball Jones usually catches and I’m sure he’d admit himself that he should’ve made the play. But Millwood beared down after that finishing with 6.1 innings giving up those 3 runs on 8 hits and a walk while striking out 8 Nationals before Will Ohman relieved him in the 7th. He gave up a single but struck out two batters to get out of the inning. Matt Albers threw a scoreless 8th and then Alfredo Simon tossed a perfect 9th. Simon came back out for the 10th and got the first batter to ground out to first base but he strained his hamstring running over to cover the base and had to be removed from the game. Just the Orioles luck, hes day to day. So Cla Meredith is forced to come into the game and on his fourth pitch to the first batter he faced Josh Willingham crushed a walk off homerun to left center field. Can’t blame Dave Trembley for this one but it was yet another example of a game that a good team wins. We have to learn how to come up with victories in these kinds of games.

Player of the game: Kevin Millwood – 6.1 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, BB, 8 K (3.71 ERA)

Today is a much needed off day that should see the end of Dave Trembley’s managerial run come to an end but it doesn’t look like its going to happen. Tomorrow the Oakland A’s come to Baltimore and have Dallas Braden (4-4, 3.45) pitching in game one. The Orioles will send Jeremy Guthrie (2-4, 3.86) to the mound.

W – Tyler Walker (1-0)     L – Mark Hendrickson (1-2)     SV – Matt Capps (16)

Dave Trembley strikes again. Brad Bergesen started the game yesterday and clearly didn’t have his best stuff. He had to work hard to get through 5 innings, throwing 99 pitches. After the top of the 6th the Orioles had a 6-3 lead. Seemed obvious to bring in Mark Hendrickson to start the bottom of the inning but Trembley decided to leave Bergesen in the game and he gave up a single, triple, and another single to start the inning before Hendrickson finally came in. A sac bunt, a hit batsman, and two more singles scored two more runs to give the Nationals the lead they wouldn’t give back up. Trembley’s reason for bringing Bergesen back out there was that his bullpen was taxed and he didn’t want to overuse anyone. Well guess what? They wouldn’t be in that condition if you knew how to manage it. He just used six pitchers to get through three innings the other day after pulling Jeremy Guthrie after 90 pitches through six innings when he was pitching great. You can’t use that excuse when you’re the reason for the bullpen being unnecessarily exhausted. Koji Uehara wasn’t available and will probably wind up back on the disabled list, but thats another story. There are still six other pitchers out there. Bergesen’s final line was 5 innings, 11 hits, 6 runs, a walk, and a strikeout. Hendrickson got saddled with the loss after pitching the final three innings allowing 1 run of his own on 4 hits and 3 walks. At least the bullpen should be well rested for tomorrow’s game…

The offense got started right away, scoring two runs in the first inning. Nick Markakis and Miguel Tejada hit back to back singles and Tejada moved to second on a wild pitch before Ty Wiggington singled them both in. We got two more in the 4th on a bizarre play. After Luke Scott reached on what was ruled an error but should’ve been a hit, Adam Jones hit a deep fly ball to the wall in center field. It should’ve been caught as the Nyjer Morgan leaped but it hit off his glove and fell onto the warning track. Morgan thought it went over the fence and turned away in anger, throwing his glove to the ground. The left fielder had to race all the way to the ball and fire it into the infield but Jones had already rounded the bases in time, sliding into home plate. It goes down in the scorebook as a two run homerun but thats a lucky way to hit homeruns in back to back games. I’m sure Jones will take it and so will I if it means he starts hitting. In the 6th Wiggington hit a real two run homer to score Tejada who singled again. Unfortunately we couldn’t muster any more runs to get back into the game. Markakis had a pair of singles. Matt Wieters, Cesar Izturis, and even Bergesen reached base on singles.

Player of the game: Ty Wiggington – 2-4, R, 4 RBI, HR (13) (.300 AVG)

In the rubber game Kevin Millwood (0-4, 3.65) continues to search for his first win of the season against John Lannan (1-2, 6.02).

W – David Hernandez (1-5)     L – Scott Olsen (2-2)     SV – Alfredo Simon (6)

Well David Hernandez finally gets his first win since August of last year. He was 0-11 between then and tonight. His control is still an issure (he walked five batters) but he only gave up one hit. He carried a no hitter into the 5th inning but couldn’t make it through the 6th because his pitch count was so high. He struck out three batters and the only run charged to him was an inherited runner that Matt Albers let score. Despite getting the win and having a decent line, tonight’s start didn’t do anything to change my mind that Hernandez should be moved to the bullpen. Chris Tillman and Jake Arrieta are highly touted prospects that have proved themselves worthy of a MLB look. Albers allowed the inherited runner to score and also two of his own runs on a Willie Harris homerun over 1.1 innings. I don’t understand why Dave Trembley leans on him so much, hes just not very good. Will Ohman faced his typical one batter to get the last out of the 7th before being replaced by Cla Meredith to start the 8th. He pitched a scoreless inning, working around a basehit. Alfredo Simon made fairly easy work of it in the 9th to get his 6th save of the season.

The offense put up some runs early and then went into cruise control. We got two runs in the 2nd inning on an Adam Jones homerun after Luke Scott singled. It was a bomb to right center field and probably the best swing hes put on a ball all year. He also drew a walk in the 3rd inning after Miguel Tejada singled and Scott walked, just his fifth of the season. Unfortunately he had to be removed from the game because of leg cramps and wouldn’t get another at bat. Hopefully thats all it is and he can come back soon. Craig Tatum singled after the bases were loaded to score two more runs. Tatum started behind the plate because Matt Wieters bruised his knee fouling a ball off of it last night in Texas. He thinks he’ll be ready to play tomorrow but we’ll see. He could use a little break anyway, playing in 40 of the 43 games and in the middle of a slump. We got an insurance run in the 8th when Tatum lead off with a walk, was sacrificed to second by Cesar Izturis (who walked twice), and singled home by Corey Patterson. Patterson had two hits in the game and a stolen base. Unfortunately he was also picked off of third base with one out when almost anything put in play would’ve scored him. Lou Montanez had an infield single after coming in for Jones.

Player of the game: Craig Tatum – 2-3, R, 2 RBI, BB (.250 AVG)

Its a four o’clock game tomorrow as Brad Bergesen (3-3, 5.45) meets Craig Stammen (1-2, 5.86) in game two of the beltway series.