The Orioles scored 19 runs in their three game series this week against the Devil Rays and they took two of those three games. The first game on Monday was the most impressive hitting display as the Orioles racked up nine runs. Freddie Bynum, Melvin Mora and Aubrey Huff all went yard in the game. Mora drove in three runs as did Bynum in the 9-7 win. Adam Loewen was roughed up but the pen and the hitters picked him up. Jeremy Guthrie picked up the win and Chris Ray saved it with a perfect ninth.
Yesterday was the loss and while the Orioles pitching threw eight solid innings, it was that one where things weren’t right that caused the problems. All six Devil Rays runs came in the fourth inning and Steve Trachsel gave up all of them in the 6-4 loss. Jon Knott hit a three run pinch hit homer in the eighth inning to make the game look closer then what it was.
Today, Erik Bedard had a tough time and he was tagged for single runs in each of the first three innings but two runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth gave the Orioles the lead for good. Bedard struck out eight in just 5 2/3 innings and he improved to 3-1 on the season. Nick Markakis hit homerun number three and Miguel Tejada went three for four with two runs in the 6-4 win.
So the Orioles are 8-7. If you had asked me at the beginning of the year whether I’d take an 8-7 record after 15 games, I would have been all over it. Next is the Blue Jays as the roll into town for three games. Danny Cabrera will take on A.J. Burnett in the opener.
