Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Birds Blown Out in Ninth

The O's were in the game until a disastrous ninth inning turned a nail-biter into a blowout, as the Yankees swept the O's after a 10-2 win on Wednesday night at Camden Yards.

Starter Jason Berken impressed, pitching into the sixth inning and allowing just one run...the bullpen surrendered the lead in the seventh but the O's headed into the ninth down by just one run. That's when it all fell apart.

Jim Johnson was unable to record a single out and was charged with five runs on three hits and two walks...Dennis Sarfate allowed another four hits and was charged with two runs...Brian Bass (in the role he is most comfortable in: a blowout) was able to record the final out with the O's trailing 10-2.

That pretty much sums it up...the O's have now dropped 10 straight to the Yankees and have been swept in consecutive series...they face NY one more time this season...in New York.

Honestly, this was a humbling series. Sure, the Yankees are nearly 40 games over .500 and the O's are close to 30 under the break-even mark, but I figured the team could win at least one game. Pettitte was untouchable on Monday, the Yankees were homer-happy on Tuesday, but the finale showed promise...until the ninth. So close, yet so far away, as the old saying goes.

The Birds (54-80) are realistically looking at a 100-loss season in 2009. WAY back in April, I posted a poll asking fans what would be acceptable this year, and well over half of the respondents stated that a .500 season would be a welcome refreshment (myself included). Just a few weeks ago, most of us had conceded that the Birds would wind up in the cellar once again...so my question is, have the O's improved? It has certainly been a disappointing season (again), but yet it was one filled with new hope and a belief that the franchise was heading in the right direction...

I'll be sticking around for the final month of the Orioles' season, and hopefully some of you will as well. It's tough, but (hopefully) it will be well worth it in the end...

Chris Tillman (1-2) takes the mound on Friday night as the Birds host the Texas Rangers for a 3-game series...Go O's!

2 comments:

  1. I saw your post on the o's site, and came here. I hope Tillman makes a bright spot for the beginning of the Texas series

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  2. Thanks for the comment Kakes...I feel the same way. At least watching the young kids pitch is still fun...

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