Game 60 Recap-
The resilient Baltimore Orioles once again came back, rallying for a 6 run eighth inning, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 Friday night at the Rogers Center. The Os, dominated all night by RH Shaun Marcum(5-3,2.52), punished the Jays relief corps and hit 3 homers in the 8th to hi-light the comeback, CF Adam Jones & 3b Melvin Mora hit 2 run homers and 1b Kevin Millar a solo shot.
Rookie LH Brian Burres(4-5,4.96) did not have his best game or stuff but he kept the damage to a minimum over his 4+ innings.(4 1/3 innings,5 hits, 3 runs with 3 walks and 1 strikeout) In the 2nd, Burres gave up rbi singles to C Rod Barajas and RF Brad Wilkerson. The Jays scored another run in the 3rd via a sacrifice fly by LF Kevin Mench. RH Lance Cormier worked the next 2 1/3 and allowed a run in the 6th on a sac fly from SS David Eckstein.
After Baltimore RH Dennis Sarfate(3-1,3.24) got an out to end the 7th, the Orioles rally was on. Marcum tired after 7 innings of 7 hit ball(1 run, 2 walks and 4 strike outs) and after allowing a double to 2b Brian Roberts to lead off the inning, he was gone. The Orioles destroyed LH Brian Tallet(1/3 innings,2 runs) and veteran ex Oriole RH Armando Benitez(2/3 innings,2 runs). RF Nick Markakis rbi single got the ball rolling and an error plus the 3 home runs made it 6-4 Orioles.
The Jays scored a run in the 8th vs veteran RH side-armer Chad Bradford(2.79 era) on this unusual combination:walk, bunt single,passed ball, ground out, 6-5 Baltimore. Orioles closer LH George Sherrill(1-1,2.93) struck out the 1st and last batters in the 9th for his 21 save in 23 chances.
Star of the Game-
How about the Erik Bedard twins? Jones and Sherrill came in that trade and have been big parts of this team. Game winning homer and a 21st save….. not a bad combo!
Orioles Notes-
Team is .500 at 30-30…. Club has 13 wins when trailing after 2 runs or more, tied for the most in the Majors(Philadelphia Phillies) … Markakis had 4 hits, Roberts and Millar 2
Next Game-
Saturday at Toronto
1:07
Orioles RH Jeremy Guthrie(2-6,3.58) vs Jays A.J. Burnett(5-5,4.32)
