More photos » by Gail Burton - AP

about 1 month ago: Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Brandon League reacts after making his second throwing error in the 11th inning of a baseball game allowing Baltimore Orioles Michael Aubrey, pictured at right, to score the winning run Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009, in Baltimore. The Orioles won 5-4. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

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The Orioles ended the season on a high note as they swept the Blue Jays for their fourth win in a row. It took 11 innings and a few errors by the Blue Jays, but they got it done. When I said prior to the first game that I wanted a sweep I didn't actually think it would happen, but I'm glad they listened.

Jeremy Guthrie had a personal goal this year of reaching 200 innings pitched, and going into today's game he was at 192.1. He ended up pitching 7.2 innings to give him 200 innings on the nose. He didn't pitch horribly, but he did do what we all expect him to: give up home runs. Three of them, to be exact. Overall he allowed 4 runs on 9 hits. I have high hopes that Guthrie will be able to bounce back in 2010. I don't have anything on which to base that, but I have those hopes all the same.

Nick Markakis had a good final game, collecting 2 hits to make his total on the year 188, the most on the team in 2009. With Brian Roberts on 2nd base in the first inning, Nick hit his 18th home run to give the O's a 2-1 lead. Guthrie gave back that lead with single runs in the 4th and 5th innings. In the bottom of the 6th inning the Orioles loaded the bases with zero outs but after a Matt Wieters ground out and a Markakis strike out it looked like they might waste their opportunity. With two outs Dave Trembley sent Justin Turner in to pinch hit for Melvein Mora. It seemed strange to pull Mora on his last game as an Oriole, but Melvin didn't seem upset at all. He was grinning on the bench receiving congratulations from his teammates, and it turned out to be a good move. Turner lined the first pitch he saw right up the middle to score Roberts and Andino and give the O's a 4-3 lead.

Between innings the fans gave Melvin Mora a standing ovation in appreciation of his years of service to the Orioles. I didn't see the entire game as I mostly checked in during commercials during the Ravens game. I did happen to see the ovation as well as Melvin's teammates giving him hugs and handshakes, and I admit I got a little emotional.

Just after all that, however, Guthrie unfortunately gave up the lead in the top of the 7th inning with another home run. After light hitting John McDonald hit his 4th HR of the year (and 2nd against the Orioles), the score remained tied at 4-4 until the bottom of the 11th, when the O's walked off with a little help from Toronto's pitcher Brandon League.

Michael Aubrey led off the 11th inning with a single, and Lou Montanez followed with a very good bunt up the first base line. League fielded with plenty of time to get Montanez, but threw the ball away. With runners on first and second with on zero outs, Jeff Fiorentino bunted in an attempt to get the winning run to third. Again League fielded, and AGAIN he made a throwing error. Michael Aubrey raced home to score the winning run and end the Orioles season.

-Stacey

More photos » by Gail Burton - AP

SCREECH. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

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Tonight was a fun game. Wieters Weiners, Eat More Esskay, the fix is in, duck, and myself met up for the game and we weren't disappointed. Mark Hendrickson pitched another good game, allowing 3 ER in 6.1 innings.

Jeff Fiorentino was the hero tonight with two  hits and 2 RBI. Lou Montanez also had two hits. DEAL WITH IT.

I said on Friday that I wanted the sweep and the O's are poised to do just that. Jeremy Guthrie will take the mound as the O's go for their fourth win in a row.

Time to stop calling him New Aubrey. Michael Aubrey owned the game tonight, hitting two home runs, a 2 run shot and his first career grand slam. And he continues to rock the awesome high socks. Since coming up from AAA he's held his own with the bat and he plays a heck of a first base. Per FanGraphs he's accumulated a WAR of 0.2 in his 28 games (not including tonight). In 110 games with the Orioles this year, the Original Aubrey's WAR was -0.5. I think it's fair that we disassociate the Aubreys. 

Michael Aubrey wasn't the only Oriole to pound the Blue Jays pitching tonight. Matt Wieters had two hits, including a line drive 3 run HR to left field. Cesar Izturis added three hits and scored three runs, and Nick Markakis had a great night as well. Nick hit his 44th double of the year and was on base four times with three hits and a walk.

Jason Berken made his final start of the year for the Orioles and gave up 4 runs in 5 innings. It wasn't a great outing, but it was enough to get his 6th win. Matt Albers and Dennis Sarfate combined for three scoreless innings, and after a brief rain delay Chris Ray came in to pitch the 9th. He stank. He didn't record an out and allowed 3 runs, forcing Dave Trembley to bring in Alberto Castillo to close out the game.

O's win their second in a row with two games left in the season. Tomorrow's matchup is Mark Hendrickson vs. Scott Richmond. It's also Camden Chat night at the park, so if you want to meet up with us shoot me an email and I'll give you the details.

More photos » by Chris O'Meara - AP

Good job, Chris. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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Our long national nightmare is over! The Orioles won their first game since September 16th. I couldn't even remember that game, so I looked back at the recap. Wow. I was happy back then. Sadly, even then Jim Johnson pitched poorly as he blew the save that night and was saved by Matt Wieters' walk off home run.

Matt Garza made the start for the Rays and pitched 6 innings, giving up three runs. He didn't pitch poorly by any means. The only extra base hit he allowed was a first inning double to Cesar Izturis, who would score on a single by Nick Markakis that deflected off of Jason Bartlett's glove. The O's other two runs were scored on singles by Melvin Mora and Jeff Fiorentino. Most days 3 runs wouldn't be enough for this team and its pitching staff, but tonight it held up.

Chris Waters made his first start of the year and came through in a big way. He pitched 5 innings, allowing 1 run on just two hits. He was rolling after 5 innings, but since he hadn't started a game since September 5th in Norfolk, he probably didn't have much left. The effective and decidedly un-Oriole like pitching continued as Cla Meredith, Alberto Castillo, and Danys Baez pitched the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings without allowing a hit.

The O's entered the 9th with a 3-1 lead when poor, sad, awful Jim Johnson came into the game. The perfect way for this losing streak to end would be if JJ had been strong and looked good. If he'd thrown that sinker we all know he's capable of, struck a few guys out, and restored our faith in him.

Yeah, that didn't happen. Johnson allowed a lead off double to Ben Zobrist, who is pretty much my least favorite Ray ever. He retired Upton on a popout, and Willy Aybar hit a fly ball to center field. It wasn't hit deep and Jeff Fiorentino, who was playing on the warning track, couldn't get to it. Zobrist moved to third and then scored on Pat Burrell's sac fly. Gregg Zaun hit a pinch hit ground ball single that just eluded Brian Roberts and the tying run was on third with two outs. Jim Johnson looked miserable. He and Matt Wieters couldn't agree on any pitches so Wieters had to go to the mound. Kranitz also went out for good measure. I've never seen anyone sweat more in a temperature controlled dome than Jim Johnson. But he ultimately got the job done, getting Iwamura to ground out right back to him.

O's win! It wasn't pretty, but it worked. They now head home for the final three games of the season where Jason Berken, Mark Hendrickson, and Jeremy Guthrie will do their best to go out on a good note.

More photos » by Chris O'Meara - AP

(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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David Hernandez did what David Hernandez does, give up home runs. A 3 run HR off the bat of Ben Zobrist (both runners on were walked) and a solo shot by Carl Crawford, to be exact. He left the game with one out in the fifth and in a rare turn of events, the bullpen didn't allow any runs. Brian Bass pitched 2.2 innings and Jim Johnson pitched 1 inning and walked two.

Let's talk about Jim Johnson for a second. This poor guy. He has zero confidence and he looks just miserable at all times. I didn't hear about it until now, but after he blew the game on Saturday he told reporters, "If there is a way to allow a run, I will." The season cannot end soon enough for JJ. It's tougher to watch him struggle than the other guys in the bullpen because I know he can pitch. I just wish that he knew that.

You can add Luke Scott to the 2009 body count. He left the game with a strained foot and Ty Wigginton took his place. Nothing says September in Birdland like Wiggy lumbering around in left field. Can't hate on Wiggy too much, though, as his only AB in the game was a pinch hit, 2 run HR to bring the Orioles to within two. Melvin Mora struck out to end the game, which sucks, but he was also the only Oriole to get more than 1 hit. So there. 

This was the Orioles 98th loss of the year with four games left to go. You do the math, but the end result is likely going to be a 100 loss season.

More photos » by Chris O'Meara - AP

ZAUN trips Wiggy. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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Jeremy Guthrie pitched a pretty good game, going 7 innings and allowing three runs. Dennis Sarfate pitched a scoreless inning, making tonight the first game the bullpen hasn't allowed a run since September 23rd. Matt Wieters continues to look good at the plate. He had two more hits tonight and smoked another ball that was caught. Brian Roberts hit his 56th double of the year which is a record for most doubles by a switch hitter. Lance Berkman held the mark before him. It seems like a weird record to me.

FanGraphs tells the sad tale.

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You know how sometimes a person is in a relationship, and they want break up, but they're too lazy or non-confrontational to just do it, so they passive aggressively start acting like a jerk so that the other person will go ahead and break up with them and they don't have to deal with it? This is what the Baltimore Orioles are doing to me. I've said it before and I'll say it again: the Orioles are my abusive boyfriend.

Mark Hendrickson again pitched a good game. He allowed three hits, all solo home runs, in 6 innings, and left the game with a 6-3 lead. Matt Albers entered the game in the 7th inning and predictably the game went to hell as he allowed a 3 run HR to Willie Aybar to tie the game. The go ahead run scored in the 8th and was credited to Chris Ray although Danys Baez was in when it scored on a sacrifice fly.

The offense scored 6 runs which looks pretty good on paper, but they left men on base all over the place. First inning, 2 LOB. Second inning, 3 LOB. Fifth inning, 2 LOB. Sixth inning, 3 LOB. Seventh, 1 LOB. Eighth inning, 2 LOB. Ninth inning, 1 LOB. Jeff Niemann was a mess all night and they let him off the hook more than they should have. Andy Sonnanstine relieved him and wasn't much better. Yes, 6 runs is a lot. But it should have been more. If the Orioles loved me and weren't trying to get me to kick them to the curb, they would have scored at least 8 runs.

I watched the very beginning of the post game show and Jim Hunter and Rick Dempsey aren't doing so well. Hopefully someone is keeping an eye on them to make sure they don't start cutting themselves.

O's lose. They now need to go 3-3 over the final 6 games to avoid 100 losses on the year. Remember when they needed to go 3-14 to avoid 100 losses? Those were good times.

-Stacey

More photos » by Tony Dejak - AP

Chad: Damn Jim, you suck. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

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I didn't see the game today or last night. I barely have the heart (or stomach) to even read any recaps. In today's game Chris Tillman got knocked around, leaving after just two innings. The O's only managed 5 hits off of Indians starter David Huff. The grisly details can be found at the Sports Network Recap.

Last night's game was a little more exciting, I suppose. Jim Johnson continues to look like garbage. Jason Berken also. Here's the recap.

Prior to last week's series with the Red Sox the Orioles were playing hard and not looking half bad. Maybe they just couldn't recover from that, I don't know. All I know is they are getting more and more miserable every day.

The Orioles have now lost 10 in a row, their 95th of the year. They need to go 3-4 over their final 7 games to avoid 100 losses.

For the football fans in the crowd, I hope your team of choice is giving you some joy so far as your baseball team certainly isn't. My condolences to the Redskins fans.

-Stacey