The Orioles actually looked like a real baseball team today, scoring 11 runs on 17 hits as an effective bullpen helped save Kevin Millwood's shaky outing. The 11 runs by the O's was the second most they've scored this season and only the second time they've put up double digits.
Tonight's game started off like so many other Orioles games. Kevin Millwood wasn't getting the job done as he allowed 6 hits and 3 runs over the first two innings, racking up 50 pitches along the way. He got himself together for the 3rd and 4th innings, but started the 5th with back-to-back walks, one of which scored on a single by Dan Uggla. He got out of the inning but at 116 pitches on a disgustingly hot day in Baltimore, he was finished. And thanks to a rare offensive outburst by the Orioles, he had a 5-4 lead.
Four innings by the Orioles bullpen and a one run lead? Scary, right? I know. But first, the Orioles offense.
Nate Robertson didn't allow a hit through the first two innings, only Luke Scott reached base for the O's on a walk. But he fell apart in the third inning when faced with the force of nature that is Craig "Tater Tot" Tatum. Tater hit an automatic double to left center to lead off the inning, then naturally, Juan Samuel called on Cesar Izturis to bunt. He messed it up, though, and popped it up. It went over the pitcher's head for an infield single with Tatum moving to third. Those two hits were followed by four more as B2B, Miguel Tejada, Nick Markakis and Ty Wigginton each singled. That tied the game and a Luke Scott sac fly and Adam Jones double put the O's up by two and knocked Robertson out of the game. The reliever, Alejandro Sanabia, struck out Jake Fox and Tatum to end the inning.
5-4 was the score when Kevin Millwood exited the game, but the O's offense wasn't finished. Adam Jones homered for the second consecutive game in the bottom of the fifth and Miguel Tejada ended a 205 AB home run drought with a three run HR in the 7th. Scott and Tatum each had a RBI double.
Our bullpen hero, Jason Berken, relieved Millwood and pitched two good innings, allowing a hit and a walk in two innings. David Hernandez followed him with a perfect 8th, striking out two. Matt Albers closed things out and had a few problems (what's new), allowing the Marlins to get one more run before finishing things off.
It's nice to see a win every once in awhile, huh?