O's Ninth-Inning Rally Falls Short

The Orioles made it interesting, scoring four runs in the bottom of the ninth, but eventually fell to the Rays 8-6 Wednesday night.

O's starter Brad Bergesen (1-1) was charged with the loss, but pitched well enough to win the game. Bergesen went 5 and 2/3, giving up four runs on nine hits with one walk and three strikeouts. The bullpen held up until the ninth inning, when rookie Bob McCrory allowed four runs to cross the plate on three hits, three walks and a wild pitch...McCrory was expected to be sent down for starter Rich Hill, but was demoted after the game to make room for outfielder Nolan Reimold.

Ty Wigginton was the O's "Player of the Game," going 3-for-5 with a solo home run and falling just a triple shy of the cycle...Wigginton made the final out of the game...

Adam Jones was pulled from the game due to a mild hamstring pull and is listed as day-to-day; Luke Scott is in the same situation, which is why the O's promoted Reimold...Felix Pie came in for Jones and went 2-for-2 with a single and a solo home run.

The Birds looked real good in the bottom of the ninth...the first time this season that I actually believed that they might pull out a come-from-behind victory...Izzy led-off with a double before Brian Roberts' fifth homer of the season drove him in...Pie stepped to the plate and smacked a solo shot (I believe this is the first time the O's have gone back-to-back all season). Aubrey Huff extended the rally with another double before Melvin Mora's single knocked him in, and all of the sudden the Birds had the tying run at the plate with just one out...unfortunately, that's where the story ends...

Regardless, the Orioles went 4-3 on the homestand and played well...now, here comes another test...the Birds embark on a 10-game road trip, starting Thursday night against the surprising Kansas City Royals...Jeremy Guthrie takes the mound...Go O's!