Game 69 Recap-
The Comeback kids,aka the 2008 Baltimore Orioles, scored the last 3 runs of the game in the 7th & 8th to win the opener of a 3 game interleague series vs Houston Astros 6-5 Tuesday night at Camden Yards. RF Nick Markakis homered in the 7th for the 1st run and 3b Mevlin Mora doubled in the winning runs in the 8th for the final blow of the rally. Rookie RH RP Jim Johnson(2-2,1.1) pitched the 8th for the win(2 Ks) and closer LH George Sherrill(2-2,3.37) K-ed a batter in the 9th to help get his 23rd save.
Comebacks have become old hat for this club. It is almost expected! ” When Nick hit the home run,” manager Dave Trembley said, “that told me we were going to do it again.”
The clubs went after both starting pitchers early and they competed. Os starter, rookie LH Garrett Olson(5-2,4.80) gave up a run in the 1st via a ground out, he was chased in the after CF Michael Bourn(single) and 2b Kazuo Matsui(2 run double) drove in runs in the 5th. His final stat line? 4 2/3 innings, 6 hits, 4 earned runs with 4 strike outs and 1 walk.
Astros RH Brandon Backe(4-8.4.99) was effective over his 5 2/3 innings. Dh Aubrey Huff hit a 2 run homer in the 3rd and rookie SS Freddie Bynum singled in another run in the 4th for a 3-1 Baltimore lead. Houston scored the runs in the big 5th inning and LF Carlos Lee homered off of RH Matt Albers(3-2,2.96) to put the lead at 5-3 before the Os 7th and 8th inning heroics.
Star of the Game-
Lets go with the entire Os team- at the 69 game mark 35-34 and highly competitive. Many writers(including this one!) thought this team would be horrid. Great job by the players, front office and Manager Dave Trembley.
Orioles Notes-
Sherrill pitched great after complaining of a tired arm after Sunday’s game, apparently Monday’s day off did him wonderrs, “I think George turned it up a notch tonight,” Trembley said…. Markakis tied Luke Scott, Huff and Kevin Millar for the team lead with his 12th homer…Markakis, Huff,Ramon Hernandez and Adam Jones led the team with 2 hits apiece.
Next Game-
Wednesday-7:05 Camden Yards
Orioles RH Jeremy Guthrie(3-7,3.71) vs Astros RH Brian Moehler(3-3,4.76)
