O's Head Into the Break on a High Note

The Birds closed out the first half of the season with a 4-2 win over the Blue Jays at Camden Yards on Sunday afternoon.

Starter Brad Bergesen (6-3) took the win, and has quickly emerged as the new ace of the staff. Bergesen went 6 2/3 strong innings, allowing two runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out three. Danys Baez, Jim Johnson and George Sherrill held the Jays scoreless through the final frames; Sherrill picked up his 20th save.

Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis both had RBIs in the second inning to give Bergesen an early lead, and Oscar Salazar hit his second homer of the season to give the Birds a 3-0 lead in the sixth. Bergesen gave up two runs in the seventh before being pulled with the lead...Roberts knocked in an insurance run in the bottom of the inning to give the O's a 4-2 advantage that they held on to.

That's it for the first half of the season...the O's are riding a two-game win streak and have won their past two series...truth be told, the Birds have actually won more series than they've lost this season (13-12-4) but are still eight games under .500 and in last place in the division...the AL East is a tough one.

I'll probably do a quick post on Adam Jones' performance Tuesday night at the All-Star Game (thanks again, Seattle!)...the Birds won't take the field again until Friday night in Chicago, the first of a grueling nine game road-trip that also takes them through New York and Boston...hopefully the rest will help and the Birds can start winning on the road...

Jason Berken (6-1) takes the mound Friday night...go O's!!!