Game 22 Recap-
Baltimore Orioles 8- Seattle Mariners 7
The Orioles continued to show spunk and fire, rallying from a 5-0 deficit to win the game and series,8-7. Baltimore scored 3 big runs in the 7th and all star 2b Brian Roberts hit the decisive homer in the 8th.
Orioles SP LH Adam Loewen was lit up over 2 2/3 innings of work, allowing 4 hits,3 walks and 5 runs. Seattle 3b Adrian Beltre took him deep in the 2nd for a 1-0 lead. The Ms added 4 more runs in the 3rd on 2 sac flies and a 2 run double by DH Jose Vidro.
To make matters worse, post game Loewen admitted to pitching with forearm stiffness and might be DLed or face further tests. He said he would travel with the team to Chicago and maybe return to Baltimore for more evaluation. The promising LH is coming off of elbow surgery and any injury to him would be devastating to Orioles long and short term. However, if he is hurt, they need to shut him down and get this fixed.
The Orioles showed signs of life off of Mariners LH SP Jarrod Washburn with LF Jay Payton hitting a solo shot to make it 5-1. They scored again in the 5th to chase Washburn, then added another run in the 6th for a 5-3 score. Ex O’s LH RP Arthur Rhodes entered the game in the 7th and allowed all 3 batters to reach with 2 hits and walk. He was relieved by RH Mark Lowe and as Seattle Manager John McLaren went to the mound, he was ejected for arguing balls and strikes.
Baltimore then errupted for 4 runs with a sac fly(1b Kevin Millar),run scoring single (DH Aubrey Huff) and double(CF Adam Jones) to make it 7-5, Os. RH Sean Green entered the mess and got two outs to escape any further damage.
After some great pen work by the Orioles relief corps,RH Matt Albers tired and was picked up by LH Jamie Walker. Unfortunately, Mariners superstar RF Ichiro picked up his pitch to the right field stands with a 2 run homer to tie the game at 7. However, Roberts came thru huge with his lead off homer in the 8th for the decisive run. RH Chad Bradford gave up a hit in the 8th but got 3 outs. Closer LH George Sherrill allowed a lead off hit but got a quick double play and then another ground out to end the game and get his 8th save .
Star of the Game- The Orioles pen… allowed only a homer to Ichiro over 6 2/3 innings….hats off to RH Randor Bierd, Albers, Walker, Bradford and Sherrill.
Orioles Notes-
Loewen has a career 10.80 era in 4 games vs Seattle… CF Jones had 3 hits and 3 rbi
Next Game-
8:11 US Cellular Field-Chicago
Baltimore LH Brian Burress(2-1) vs White Sox LH Mark Buehrle(1-2)
