Game 155 Recap-
The playoff bound Tampa Rays needed only 3 hits to defeat the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 Monday night at Camden Yards. The opportunistic Rays bats managed to drive in 3 runs with 2 of those hits and got strong pitching all around. The win,combined with a Boston loss, reduced the Rays AL East magic number to 4. Baltimore lost their 6th straight game.
Orioles rookie RH Brian Bass(3-4,5.08) pitched well but hit a wall in the 5th. He allowed no hits in 4 2/3 innings and K-ed 5 but walked 4. He was gassed after walking the bases full in the inning, RH Randor Bierd(0-2,4.75) entered and allowed a 2 run single to 2b Akinori Iwamura for a 2-0 Tampa lead. The Os answered with 2 run of their own vs rookie phenom David Price(1st ML start,2.38 era in 11 1/3 innings)with a bases loaded walk to SS Juan Castro and 2b Brian Roberts sacrifice fly.
Tampa again was able to make the Orioles pay for walks when they took the game with a 7th inning rally. Bartlett’s ground rule double off of rookie rh Rocky Cherry(0-3,4.86) broke the tie and the 2nd bases loaded walk of the game(slugging 1b Carlos Pena) plated another run. The vastly improved Rays pen took over and collected 4 Ks over the last 2 innings of the game, as power arms LH J.P. Howell(2.26,14th hold) and RH Dan Wheeler(3.22,12th save) shut the game down.
Star of the Game-
Rays team- Unbelievable turnaround season, hope for Os fans?
Orioles Notes-
3b Melvin Mora missed the contest with a hamstring problem and might have played his last game in 08, according to Manager Dave Trembley… Team is 3-12 vs Tampa…C Ramon Hernandez had 2 hits
Oops…
Trembley was not pleased with rookie 1b Oscar Salazar, who was caught asleep in the 6th and doubled off on a rather routine fly ball. “To me, that’s a total mental breakdown on his part,” Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. “To be honest with you, that’s embarrassing to me and the club and the people watching the game. I’m just saying, it’s not right.”
Next Game-
Tuesday, Double Header
Game #1-5:05
Orioles LH Garrett Olson(9-9,6.75) vs Rays RH James Shields(13-8,3.61)
Game #2-8:35
Baltimore RH Alfredo Simon(No record, 8.10 era over 3 1/3 ML innings) vs. Tampa RH Mitch Talbot(12.00 over 3 ML innings)
