O's Roughed-up in Texas

Wow. It's finally over. The O's lost to the Rangers 19-6.

This was a hard game to watch, and an even harder one to write about, but I've put it off long enough, so here goes...

O's starter Mark Hendrickson lasted just 3 2/3 innings and was tagged with the loss. He was charged with nine runs (only two earned), walked four and struck out two. He left the game with the bases loaded in the fourth...

Radhames Liz, recalled today from Triple-A, came on in relief...and gave up a grand slam on his very first pitch. Welcome back to the Bigs, Liz! In one inning of work, Liz gave up five hits and four runs. Brian Bass actually had the best outing of any Oriole pitcher, giving up just two runs in two innings of work. Matt Albers returned to the team today as well, and gave up four runs on four hits in just 1 1/3 innings of work.

The O's were a part of Texas history, as second baseman Ian Kinsler went 6-for-6 and hit for the cycle...

The Birds still won the series, but yet again missed out on the series sweep. Here's where it gets strange...in all three of the O's losses, they've been rocked...11-2 against the Yankees, 11-3 against the Rays and now 19-6 against Texas. Not only have all three losses been series finales, they share one other common thread...back-up catcher Chad Moeller behind the plate. Could it be possible that Moeller is calling the wrong pitches, or is this just a crazy coincidence? Here are the facts: in six wins the O's have scored 45 runs, but allowed only 28. In the three losses they've scored just 11 runs while allowing 41! At first I thought it might just be a lack of focus, but now I'm seriously wondering...

The O's are off Thursday before starting a four-game series at Boston. Jeremy Guthrie is slated to take the mound for the Birds Friday night...Go O's!

O Yeah...

• The O's allowed 19 hits and 19 runs...both season highs
• The Birds allowed 8 runs in the fourth inning, another season high
• Chad Moeller hit his first home run as an Oriole, a solo shot in the 6th
• Adam Jones went deep for the second consecutive game, a 2-run blast in the 9th