Take That, Sunday

Congratulations to the O's on finally ending their Sunday skid with a 5-2 win over the Angels. I haven't written much about Orioles games recently for a few reasons: (1) the games have mostly been on MASN instead of MASN2 like they were earlier in the year, so I don't see very many of them live, (2) I haven't felt like writing quite as much anyway, and it's not much fun writing about losses, and (3) a 162 game season is a grind - there are only so many times I can write that Brian Roberts doubled, or Nick Markakis took a close pitch for a ball, or Daniel Cabrera walked a guy, or Ramon failed to effectively block a pitch or threw a ball into center on a steal. Anyway, to the game:

On the face of it, this didn't seem like a game the O's should have won. The Angels have the best record in baseball while the Orioles have been struggling mightily lately. Brandon Fahey, Juan Castro, Jay Payton, and Guillermo Quiroz were all in the starting line-up, and the pitching match-up was Ervin Santana (11-4, 3.37 ERA) vs. Garrett Olson (6-5, 6.11 ERA). Well, that's why they play the games, as they say.

Things got off to a great start, as Olson retired the Angels in order and the O's bats got to work in the first. Markakis doubled in Adam Jones for a quick 1-0 lead, and then Santana hit Luke Scott with the bases loaded to force Nick in. Payton and Quiroz were retired to leave the three stranded, though.

Olson rolled through three giving up just two hits and getting a double play. In the meantime, the O's extended the lead to 4-0 as they loaded the bases again and this time Q came through with a 2 RBI single.

In the fourth, Olson ran into a little bit of trouble giving up three singles and a walk. The Angels only scored one however (on a groundout).

Quiroz picked up another RBI in the sixth, singling in Payton after his lead-off triple.

After a pair of singles to start the seventh, Olson has removed in favor of Chad Bradford, who allowed on of the runners to score. That ended Garrett's line at 6 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 K. That's the best start he's had in almost a month.

JJ pitched a scoreless eighth (1 BB, 1 K) and George Sherrill pitched a perfect ninth for his 30th save of the year.

The Birds are now 49-55, and firmly in last place in the AL East. The team travels to New York to face the red-hot Yankees for three.