Game 71 Recap-
The Baltimore Orioles hit 3 home runs and got solid starting pitching from rookie LH Brian Burres, helping them finish a 3 game sweep of the Houston Astros 7-5 Thursday at Camden Yards. SS Alex Cintron, C Ramon Hernandez & 1b Aubrey Huff all hit homers to lead the 11 hit Oriole attack. Burres won his 6th game on the season(6-5,5.24) going 5 2/3 innings while allowing 7 hits and 3 runs with 2 walks and 3 strike outs.
This was a huge series for the Os, they now go on the road for 3 3 game series vs NL clubs in the Brewers, Cubs and Nationals. “When you get a sweep, I don’t care if it’s easy, hard, indifferent or whatever, you’ll take it,” Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. “It’s a positive occurrence around here. … So on we go to National League-style baseball for the next nine days and we’ll see what we got.”
Astros veteran starter, RH Shawn Chacon(2-3,5.04) had a rough night after being given a lead; Houston scored single runs in the 1st(1b Lance Berkman rbi single) & 2nd(HR by RF Hunter Pence). The Os started to peck away in the 3rd(Kevin Millar bases loaded walk) and 4th(Hernandez and Cintron homers) to take a 3-2 lead. Baltimore added 3 runs in the 6th via a Millar rbi double and OF Jay Payton’s 2 runs in single, quickly the spread was 6-2.
The teams exchanged homers in the 6th and 7th, as ex Oriole SS Miguel Tejada & Huff put one in the stands. The ‘Stros staged a mini rally in the 9th vs RH Dennis Sarfate but Os closer LH George Sherrill(2-2,3.31) kept the damage to a minimum and sealed the win at 7-5, thus earning his 24th save.
Star of the Game-
Orioles Notes-
Cintron lead the team with 3 hits, he might be in line for more playing time with rookie Freddie Bynum(.204) struggling….Os are 22-12 at home, 15-22 on the road
Next Game-
Friday, Start of a 3 game series at 8:05 vs the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park
Orioles RH Radhames Liz(1-0,4.32) vs Brewers RH Jeff Suppan(4-4, 3.68)
