(I know duck already wrote one, but it took me like a half hour and I'm too selfish to just delete it)

Orioles 5, Mariners 3: Jose Lopez Giveth, and Jose Lopez taketh away.

Most of the action today centered around Jose Lopez, both good and bad. In the bottom of the first his two run HR put the Mariners on top, where they'd stay until the top of the 9th inning. He also doubled in the bottom of the 8th inning and scored on Oscar Salazar's error, thus having a hand in all three Mariner runs that looked like they'd be enough to shut down the Orioles once again.

Happily for the Orioles and their fans, Jose Lopez wasn't done mixing things up when the O's came to bat in the top of the 9th. The offense had been stymied by Jason Vargas and his merry band of relievers, managing just four hits and zero runs going into the 9th inning. It looked as though David Hernandez's solid start would be wasted. Hernandez pitched 6 innings, giving up 5 hits and 2 runs while walking 2 and striking out 3. His start wasn't particularly efficient as he never had a 1-2-3 inning, but he was certainly effective. I'm still waiting to see the strike out artist that Hernandez was in the minors, but for now I'm happy enough with him.

I personally missed most of this game as I was having dinner with my grandfather for his 86th birthday, but as we finished up I flipped on the TV to see David Aardsma warming up and the Mariners with a 3-0 lead. Granddad and I looked at each other, shaking our heads at the Orioles ineptness, and sat down to watch the top of the 9th.

As it turns out, it was the perfect time to tune in. Melvin Mora doubled and my brother-in-law and I mockingly revered Melvin's power. Gregg Zaun walked and we made fun of Aardsma for being scared of the Mighty ZAUN. Oscar Salazar singled to left field, and suddenly we weren't laughing anymore. We were looking at each other thinking that the O's had a chance. When Adam Jones "singled" to third base we started shouting at the TV. Sure, it was tough play, but it could have been made. I crowed that Melvin would have had it as the man himself scored the O's first run. It was then that Jose Lopez decided to get in on the action. Markakis hit a high chopper to 2nd base. It wouldn't have been a double play unless Markakis fell down on his way to first, but in his haste to get it to 2nd, Lopez dropped the ball! We started laughing again and thanked Jose. All runners were safe as Zaun scored.

Next up was Ty Wigginton. Not wasting any time, Wiggy singled up the middle to score Adam Jones and Felix Pie and give the O's the lead. The living room erupted in cheers (ok, so most of them were mine). But it's fun watching winning baseball with other people, isn't it? The mustachioed Aubrey Huff grounded into a fielder's choice. As our good friend Jose Lopez took the throw at 2nd he was completely upended by Wigginton. Getting slid into that hard by a man with Wiggy's girth is no joke. Good job Wiggy!

Just to remind us that it was the Orioles batting in the 9th inning and not some other, more competent team, Aubrey Huff got picked off of first for the 2nd out. With two outs and Markakis on third base, the under the weather Brian Roberts stepped up to the plate. Now, I know it's a baseball game and not a beauty contest, but Brian did not look good. I suppose the paleness was due to his illness, as well as what appeared to be some sort of gross cold sore in the corner of his mouth. But to top it off, little Brian is also growing a mustache! Don't do it, Brian! Yuck.

Brian had a pretty good at bat, but ultimately grounded out to 2nd base where Jose Lopez made his 2nd error of the inning. The ball hit the dirt and skipped away from Russell Branyan as Markakis crossed home plate and sicky Brian Roberts was safe. Luke Scott wasn't ready to end the inning, singling to center field, but Melvin Mora was tired and ready to go home, so he grounded out to end the inning. Don't get too mad at him, though, since it was his double that started the rally.

With the two run lead, George Sherrill came in and did his thing. He allowed Ichiro to reach base, but who doesn't? With two outs the Mariners bizarrely sent Ken Griffey Jr. in to pinch hit. Not that Chris Woodward is a great hitter, but Sherrill eats lefties as a snack and this is 2009, not 1997. Griffey grounded out to end the game and the O's improbable win was complete.

Brian Bass got the win in relief, David Aarsdma took the loss, and George Sherrill earned his 19th save of the year. I hope the O's sent Jose Lopez a nice gift for his contribution to their win.