September 26: Yankees vs Orioles

[riverside sluggers]

Orioles Look to Spoil Yankee's Playoffs Chances

New York (91-64) at Baltimore (70-85), 7:05 p.m. ET

 

The Red Sox took advantage of a critical Miguel Tejada error in the first inning to score five times and never trailed in a 9-3 win over the Orioles on Sunday. The O's have now lost eight straight games and head into a four-game series with the New York Yankees with the Bombers tied with Boston for first place in the American League East. The Orioles are 0-7 in this 11-game stretch against the Yankees and Sox. For the third time, right-hander Rodrigo Lopez is trying to tie his career high win total of 15, set as a rookie in 2002. He pitched well enough to win Wednesday against the Yankees, allowing just a two-run homer to Matt Lawton in the second inning, but that was all the Yankees needed for a 2-1 win.

 

Left-hander Randy Johnson was solid Wednesday against the Orioles, but not his usual dominant self. Many Orioles were irked that they weren't able to score more runs off the five-time Cy Young Award winner. Still, he held the Orioles to one run and three hits in eight innings. Johnson, however, has struggled on the road this season, going just 4-6 with a 5.04 ERA. Johnson is 2-3 with a 4.47 ERA lifetime at Camden Yards.

 

The Orioles' offense has produced just 12 home runs this month, tied with Toronto for the fewest in the Major Leagues. Sunday was the first multi-homer game for the O's since Sept. 1. If the Orioles finish the season without a 30-homer player, it would be the third time in the past six years that has occurred. Tejada leads the team with 26.

 

Pitching matchup

BAL: RHP Rodrigo Lopez

• 14-11, 4.79 ERA in 2005

• 1-2, 4.94 ERA vs. NYY in 2005

 

NYY: LHP Randy Johnson

• 15-8, 3.90 ERA in 2005

2-0, 3.00 ERA vs BAL in 2005

 

Quotable

"I don't get it. How do they get all of these tickets? I thought Oriole fans bought most of the season tickets." -- Right fielder Jay Gibbons, on the Boston fans at Camden Yards

 

Quick hits

With his first-inning home run off John Maine on Sunday, Manny Ramirez tied Cal Ripken for 34th all-time with 431. ... Melvin Mora's solo homer in the first inning on Sunday was the 99th of his career. Jay Gibbons also has 99 career home runs. ... The Orioles have lost five straight games to Boston, and the Sox won the season series, 10-8. ... It was Boston's first sweep at Camden Yard since September 2002 and the O's are 18-41 against Boston at home since 1999.

[riverside sluggers]

pitcher vs batter matchups

 

Randy Johnson vs: (career against Orioles in 25 games a 7-7 record with a 4.16 ERA, career at Camden yards in 7 games a 2-3 record with a 4.47 ERA)

Eric Byrnes, 1 for 6 (.167 avg) K

Bernie Castro, 1 for 4 (.250 avg) K

Sal Fasano, 2 for 5 (.400 avg) 2 Ks

Alejandro Freire, 0 for 3, 2 Ks

Geronimo Gil, 2 for 3 (.667 avg) RBI

Chris Gomez, 8 for 30 (.267 avg) Double, HR, 4 RBIs, 5 Walks, 5 Ks, SB

Javy Lopez, 7 for 31 (.226 avg) 2 Doubles, 2 HRs, 5 RBIs, 10 Ks

Eli Marrero, 5 for 17 (.294 avg) HR, 2 RBIs, 2 Walks, 8 Ks

Luis, Matos, 2 for 10 (.200 avg) RBI, 2 Ks

Melvin Mora, 3 for 17 (.176 avg) Double, HR, 2 RBIs, 5 Ks

David Newhan, 0 for 3, K

B.J. Surhoff, 3 for 18 (.167 avg) 3 Walks, 3 Ks, 3 SBs

Miguel Tejada, 4 for 21 (.190 avg) Double, 3 RBIs, 5 Walks, 5 Ks

 

Rodrigo Lopez vs: (career against Yankees in 16 games a 5-5 record with a 6.22 ERA, career at Camden Yards in 65 games a 26-17 record with a 4.08 ERA)

Mark Bellhorn, 2 for 17 (.118 avg) 3 Walks, 6 Ks

Robinson Cano, 1 for 6 (.167 avg) Double

Bubba Crosby, 3 for 5 (.600 avg) SB

John Flaherty, 1 for 7 (.143 avg) K

Jason Giambi, 8 for 27 (.296 avg) 2 Doubles, 2 HRs, 4 RBIs, 5 Walks, 9 Ks

Derek Jeter, 20 for 41 (.488 avg) 2 Doubles, 3 HRs, 8 RBIs, 2 Walks, 5 Ks, 3 SBs

Matt Lawton, 3 for 9 (.333 avg) Double, HR, 2 RBIs

Tino Martinez, 0 for 8, 3 Walks, 2 Ks

Hideki Matsui, 7 for 30 (.233 avg) Double, 4 RBIs, 4 Walks, 7 Ks

Jorge Posada, 7 for 25 (.280 avg) Double, 2 HRs, 3 RBIs, 6 Walks, 5 Ks

Alex Rodriguez, 11 for 31 (.355 avg) Double, 4 HRs, 8 RBIs, 5 Walks, 9 Ks, 3 SBs

Gary Sheffield, 5 for 24 (.208 avg) 3 HRs, 9 RBIs, 3 Walks, 5 Ks, SB

Ruben Sierra, 9 for 28 (.321 avg) 2 HRs, 6 RBIs, 2 Walks, 5 Ks

Bernie Williams, 0 for 15, 2 RBIs, Walk, 3 Ks

Tony Womack, 3 for 12 (.250 avg) Walk, 5 Ks

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

Its currently raining in baltimore. They should get the game in but it might start later.

[riverside sluggers]

same as it is in boston, i swear boston and ny this season have won or lost on the same exact days. and like today with rain outs for both of them

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

Its really coming down hard in Baltimore as they play. You have to wonder why they started this game like that. They have to see a window in which they can get this game in.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

and the tarp is coming out again. They really f***ed up. Why start the game if it was going to rain like this?

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

and they are starting the game yet again. It looks like late night Yankees baseball.

[Manny Goes Boom]

Are they still playing? If so, whats the score?

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

Are they still playing? If so, whats the score?

0-0

[yankeessuck013]

Bottom of the 3rd Inning:

 

0-0

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

double by "Alexander The Great" 3-0 Yankees.

[riverside sluggers]

giambi hmm... hits a HR, its 6-0---more pressure now on the Sox for the double header, i still like the Sox chances for the 1st game Wakefield will settle the Blue Jays bats, and Dave Bush well his stats suck against the Sox

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

So its going to be Bush vs Wake then Schill vs Chacin?

[riverside sluggers]

as reported on WEEI: yes Bush will pitch the first of the double header, they dont need to conserve their pitching staff like Boston has to do right now

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

as reported on WEEI: yes Bush will pitch the first of the double header, they dont need to conserve their pitching staff like Boston has to do right now

Bush can be hit. You guys will prob rack him up. The 2nd game should be intresting. Chacin is no push over and Schilling has been better of late.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

The Red Sox as a team have been great at home but Schilling at home has a 6.33 ERA.

[riverside sluggers]

only game that really has me biting my nails, is game 4 that clement pitches. this season the blue jays have been his daddy

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

only game that really has me biting my nails, is game 4 that clement pitches. this season the blue jays have been his daddy

Yeah Clement of late hasnt been that good. I know he shut out the O's the last time but he did walk 6 (I think). Who are the Jays throwing that day?

[riverside sluggers]

eh Scott Downs, sometimes he can be good, other times he can be blown out of the water

[riverside sluggers]

Boston hands down has to win each game vs the Blue Jays to be tied with NY--This Orioles bunch is just a sad bunch of players, i noticed it during the 3 game serie we just had against them. they really cant wait for the season to end. Need to look and learn from the d-rays, at least they are playing for pride

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

eh Scott Downs, sometimes he can be good, other times he can be blown out of the water

You guys should hit Downs in that ball park. The one thing that I will say about the Jays is that they play hard. They wont pack it in.

[riverside sluggers]

just one quick question for the yankee fans, isnt this considered as a jinx? these are already on sale online: http://shop.mlb.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2114173

 

falls in the lines with teh sox who had put the world series emblem behind home plate during game 7 of a playoff series couple of years ago

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

just one quick question for the yankee fans, isnt this considered as a jinx? these are already on sale online: http://shop.mlb.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2114173

 

falls in the lines with teh sox who had put the world series emblem behind home plate during game 7 of a playoff series couple of years ago

To be honest I dont think its a jinx. At the end of the day players win games not jinxes. I'm sure in some warehouse they have shirts already made for the Red Sox also.

[riverside sluggers]

why was randy johnson taken out after just 6 innings, he had thrown only 87 pitches

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

why was randy johnson taken out after just 6 innings, he had thrown only 87 pitches

They dont want to over overextend I guess. Keep him fresh for Saturday.

[Manny Goes Boom]

I remember that. 2003, FOX made a huge deal out of that. Definately premature, obviously we learned our lesson, and not try to predict the outcome of the game.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

11-2 Mr. Embree makes his impression.

[Manny Goes Boom]

11-2 Mr. Embree makes his impression.

 

Heh, is Joe prepping him for Papi this weekend?

[riverside sluggers]

They dont want to over overextend I guess. Keep him fresh for Saturday.

 

its still a 5 days wait for him, would 15 or 20 extra pitches really make him hittable for saturday's game

[riverside sluggers]

im sorry but a-rod deserves another glove in the face for being too cocky

 

And the Red Sox?

 

"Tonight we posted another win,'' Rodriguez said. ``Now they know where we're at.''