O's-Nationals, Weekend Series Handicap The Team

Fresh of a series win in Chicago against the Cubs, the Birds went to DC to finish up this year's Beltway Series. The Orioles went 2-1 against the Nat's in Baltimore, and will need to do like-wise (at least) to finish with a winning roadtrip (they're 3-3).

June 27th: O's - 2, Nationals - 4

The Good: The team walked 7 times, to 6 K's; Adam Jones went 3-3; Daniel Cabrera extended his record for most career at bats with all of them ending in K's (it's at 14 now).

The Bad: Cabrera gave up 4 runs and 12 baserunners in 6.1 IP; the offense got shutdown pretty well by Odalis Perez and the Nat's bullpen.

As soon as the O's went down 2-0 in the first I stopped following the game. I had some things to do and just assumed that is was going to be on of those games where the O's had some chances to score but wouldn't.

June 28th: O's - 9, Nationals - 1

The Good: The offense scoring nine runs on 14 hits, including homers by Luuuke and Ramon; Garrett Olson only giving up one run despite allowing 9 baserunners in 5 IP; Lance Cormier shutting down the Nat's for the final four innings to pick up the save.

The Bad: Olson throwing 99 pitches in five innings.

June 29th: O's - 3, Nationals - 4

The Good: Jeremy Guthrie pitched well (7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 4 K); JJ, Bradford, and Sarfate pitching a total of four shutout innings from the pen; Luke Scott hitting another homer; Adam Jones driving in the go-ahead run in the top of the 12th inning.

The Bad: It was Sunday, though they made it close this time; the offense only getting that one solo home run against Jason Bergmann; George Sherrill giving up a walk-off two-run home run to Ronnie Belliard.

The O's drop the series to the Nationals, and end up with a losing roadtrip. They're still above .500 though at 41-39, and are coming home to host the Royals.