Game 80 Recap-
Nationals INF Ronnie Belliard hit a 2 run walk off homer to propel Washington to a thrilling 3-2 win in 12 innings over the Baltimore Orioles Sunday afternoon at Nationals Park in DC. The win came with 2 outs and the Os 1 stike away from a win(and taking 2 of 3 in the series).
“It’s too bad it ended up the way it did,”Orioles Manager Dave Trembley said. “I thought our guys gave it everything they had. We were one pitch away from getting it done. It didn’t happen.”
Both teams got great starts from young pitchers, Os LH Jeremy Guthrie(4-7,3.50) continued to be snakebitten with luck but was outstanding over 7 with 4 hits & 1 run allowed,(1st inning fielders choice) He struck out 4 with 3 walks. Nationals RH Jason Bergmann(1-5,4.26) matched Guthrie. His lone mistake over 7 innings was a solo shot by LF Luke Scott(#14) tied the game at 1.
The game became a battle of the bullpens with the Orioles taking the lead in the 12th vs Luis Ayala and RH Joel Hanrahan. CF Adam Jones singled in RF Nick Markakis to put them up 3-2. Closer George Sherrill got 2 quick outs and then a walk and the killer homerun to Belliard.
Star of the Game-
Belliard- I have a rule- walk offs win this award!
Orioles Notes-
Markakis & Scott led the team with 2 hits apiece…. Rookie reliever RH Jim Johnson pitched 2 innings to lower his ERA 1.20 over 45 innings
Store this Away-
Walk off or no walk off, Sherrill(2-3,3.03,26 saves, 4 blown) has been outstanding for this club. This team is in last place without him. To get this talent as well as Jones and other prospects for injury prone Erik Bedard was a great move by this front office. The Mariners are in the sewer and this move is a big reason why.
Next Game-
Monday,7:05
Start a 3 game series with the Kansas City Royals at Camden Yards
Os LH Brian Burres(6-5,5.29) vs Royals RH Zack Greinke(7-4,3.40)
