The Orioles lost today in spite of themselves. Tim Lincecum's control was off; he threw 3 wild pitches and gave up 8 hits and 4 walks in 6 innings. The Orioles didn't take advantage, of course, as they scored just two runs on him. They left an embarrassing 13 runners on base in the game. Let's take a look at the players that matter:
Nick Markakis: Markakis had a good day, going 2-for-4 with a walk, but unfortunately struck out with one out and the tying run on third base in the 8th inning.
Adam Jones: Tough day for the good doctor. He went 0-for-5 with 2 strikeouts and left a whopping 7 men on base. Defensively he missed a fly ball in the first inning.
Matt Wieters: He got the day off, appearing just once as a pinch hitter. He struck out to end the game.
Jeremy Guthrie: He had a horrendous first inning, throwing 31 pitches in the first inning alone, allowing a single, a double, and two walks. He settled down after that. He didn't walk any more and gave up only two hits in innings 2-5. In the 6th, though back-to-back HR by Aubrey Huff and Juan Uribe put the O's down 4-2.
The other guys:
Corey Patterson struck out three times but drew a walk and stole a base in the 8th but couldn't score. Miguel Tejada had two hits, Luke Scott had a good day with a hit and two walks, Craig Tatum was on base three times with a single and two walks, and the B2B had three hits.
The Giants' 5th and 6th runs were thanks to the bullpen. Will Ohman gave up a single to Aubrey Huff to start the 8th inning, then Alfredo Simon made his triumphant return by giving up a couple hits and an intentional walk, only getting out of the inning when the Giants closer, Brian Wilson, grounded into a double play in his second AB of the year.
Speaking of Aubrey Huff, I expected him to handle the Orioles during this series but he waited until today to do so. He fell just a triple short of the cycle, knocked in two runs, and scored three.
Off day tomorrow, then the O's face the Padres for three before coming home and finishing their interleague play for 2010 with series against the Marlins and Nationals.