O’s rally too little, too late

The Orioles lose to the Yankees in the first game of a (now) 2 game series 7-4.  The score didn’t always look like that, however.  The first 7 innings were brutal for the O’s. Let’s recap.

First inning, Brian Roberts gets a single and eventually gets to third on a wild pitch and then a pop fly.  But, Burnett got out of the inning. Bottom of the second looked good after Tillman gave up a lead-off single to Gardner who Wieters then threw out, brilliantly I might add, at second trying to steal.  But, it was all downhill from there.  After two singles by Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriquez hit a 3-run homer to take the Yankees up 3-0.  Tillman gave up 5 hits and 3 runs in the first inning. Ouch.

In the second inning, Mark Reynolds doubled and got to third on another wild pitch by Burnett.  Yet, again, the O’s did not score.  The Yanks did though.  Martin doubled and then scored on Jeter’s infield single.  Teixeira singled, ARod walked, and then Robinson Cano doubled sending in 2 more runs.  Tillman gave up 4 hits and 3 runs in 2/3 of the second inning.  He was taken out and looked completely depressed walking back to the bench with his head down (I felt bad for him), but he was just terrible.  So, Chris Jakubauskas ended up pitching tonight anyways even though I said he wouldn’t.  He had a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the 3rd, as did the O’s in the top of the 3rd and 4th.

Wieters doubled in the 5th, but again no one sent him home.  Bottom of the 5th, Jorge Posada hits a solo home run putting the Yankees up 7-0.  From then on, the pitching was actually really good.  It just didn’t matter at that point.  Bergesen was put in in the 6th inning and had a 1-2-3 inning and looked very good striking out two.  Top of the 7th, the O’s bats finally woke up.  Reynolds doubled again and got to third on a wild pitch again by Burnett.  Then, Wieters homered, his first on the season.  Robert Andino was walked and Brian Roberts hit a home run, making the score 7-4.  Burnett was taken out and that was it.  Bergesen pitched another 1-2-3 inning and Jeremy Accardo came in in the 8th and gave up a hit but got a double play ball.

Now, let’s analyze. The O’s starters simply cannot be able to pitch only 1 2/3 innings and give up 6 runs.  That’s just unacceptable.  The starters seem to be in a funk (or just going back to their old ways), but whatever it is, Showalter needs to get them to snap out of it.  I mean, seriously, not even two full innings.  That’s pathetic and I think I could pitch better than that.  This is the second of Tillman’s ugly starts this season.  I want to know what happened to his 6 hitless innings against Tampa Bay? I know the Rays are bad and the Yankees are good, but still.  It’s amazing that a pitcher can have such horrible starts.

Onto the offense: HELLO???? ARE YOU THERE?? DO YOU EXIST ANYMORE?? Only 4 hits in 6 innings.  Pitching wins games.  If the starting pitching blows (like it has the past few games), some sort of offense MUST be present.  But, it’s not. It finally came to say “hello” and to let us know it is somewhere in the ball park in the 7th inning but that’s it.

The only good thing about this game was the relief pitching, especially Bergesen.  He seems to be back on his feet and, as reported by the Baltimore Sun, is on track to start on Sunday.  Oh, if you’re wondering, he was obviously called up tonight (right before the game).  And J.J. Hardy was officially placed on the 15-day DL.

Tomorrow night concludes this series with Jake Arrieta getting the start.  He also had a rough last outing bringing his ERA up to 8.68.  However, he goes against Phil Hughes who’s had an even rougher start for the Yankees with a 16.50 ERA.  So, hopefully, both the O’s pitching and offense can come back strong tomorrow night.

See you at 7:05.