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09-03-2006, 08:23 AM
Wow! Apparently they almost blew this one!
Adam Loewen was cruising along, and then sort of lost it in the 5th. I blame the homeplate umpire, who decided he would lecture Adam in the middle of an inning. :angry: Apparently Loewen went downhill after that.
But they won! :cheer:
And this little :group vapor lock" with the whole infield starting to run off the field with only 2 outs must have been funny to watch. :rotf:
Orioles 6, Athletics 5
Orioles hang on for win over A's
Loewen strong early before faltering; O's almost blow 5-0 lead
By Jeff Zrebiec
Sun Reporter
Originally published September 3, 2006
OAKLAND, CALIF. // When Frank Thomas lined out to left field in the eighth inning yesterday, several Orioles infielders started running toward to the visiting dugout.
Eventually, they stopped, realized their gaffe and headed back to the infield after what manager Sam Perlozzo described as "group vapor lock." Thomas was only the second out. After a season filled with bullpen meltdowns, including one the previous night, could you really blame the Orioles for trying?
Closer Chris Ray , the most reliable member of the bullpen all season, created some anxious moments, but got the last four outs in the Orioles' 6-5 victory over the Oakland Athletics before 24,383 at McAfee Coliseum.
It was hardly a thing of beauty - the Orioles nearly blew a 5-0 sixth-inning lead when starter Adam Loewen lost his command and seemingly his composure and Thomas hit another clutch home run - but Perlozzo found plenty of reasons to smile and laugh afterward.
"There was so many [players coming off the field], I didn't know which one to look at first," said Perlozzo of the incident in the eighth inning. "I just slid my hat down over my face. I've seen one guy [do it]. I've not seen that many guys coming off the field. I don't know if we just got a little anxious to get back in or what."
Nobody seemed to know whom to blame for the premature exit, though shortstop Miguel Tejada did take some accountability, saluting the fans' mock applause when he returned to his position.
"I was not committed ever to running off the field, by the way," first baseman Chris Gomez said. "I was facing the field, and you see the whole team running off and it's like, 'What am I supposed to do?' But I didn't commit to a full-on run to the dugout. I think I'm off the hook."
Prior to the bottom of the sixth inning, it had all been going so well for the Orioles (61-74). Loewen (5-4) was mowing through Oakland's lineup, throwing strikes with all three of his pitches and keeping the A's off balance.
A makeshift lineup, a result of both injuries and Perlozzo's desire to get some of his regulars rest, pounded Oakland starter Dan Haren (12-11) for five runs through five innings.
Starting his second straight game, Gomez had RBI doubles in the first and third innings, while Tejada had an RBI single in the first and a run-scoring fielder's choice in the third. Rookie Nick Markakis extended the Orioles' lead to 5-0 in the fifth inning with an RBI double.
With the way Loewen was going, retiring 13 straight A's after Mark Kotsay's one-out infield single in the first, including six on strikeouts, the five-run bulge looked plenty comfortable.
But after getting two outs in the fifth, Loewen completely lost his control, angering home plate umpire Bob Davidson in the process. The 22-year-old left-hander walked Mark Ellis and Marco Scutaro and then received a stern lecture from Davidson, who apparently took issue with Loewen's reaction to one of his ball calls.
Davidson started the game as the second base umpire, but moved behind the plate when Marvin Hudson was hit by Scutaro's backswing in the third inning.
"I guess he thought I was showing him up, but that wasn't my intention at all," Loewen said. "Maybe I did it with my body language a little bit. It really didn't bother me, but obviously it bothered him a little bit."
Perlozzo, who yelled at Davidson from the bench, wasn't sure what effect the situation had on Loewen, but he acknowledged that the pitcher "went downhill after that."
After striking out Antonio Perez to get out of the fifth, Loewen walked two more to start the sixth before Milton Bradley's broken-bat single to center field cut the Orioles' lead to 5-1. With two men on and still no outs, Loewen's afternoon was over.
"It just looked like he quit turning the ball loose a little," Perlozzo said. "It usually doesn't leave that quickly on him. He's usually able to still make some pitches. He just kind of lost it. I think he was just feeling for the plate instead of just going ahead and attacking it."
Said Loewen: "It was difficult for me coming out of the game at that point, when I knew I let things get out of control."
Julio Manon came in and allowed a three-run homer to Thomas, who beat the Orioles in Friday night's series opener with a two-run homer off Todd Williams in the seventh inning. Thomas sent Manon's full-count belt-high fastball into the left-field stands for his 30th homer of the season.
Their lead down to 5-4, the Orioles got an insurance run in the seventh when Oakland center fielder Jay Payton misplayed Brian Roberts ' knuckling triple, allowing catcher Danny Ardoin to score.
In the ninth inning, Ray's throwing error on Ellis' come-backer helped Oakland cut the Orioles' lead to 6-5. But the Orioles closer struck out Nick Swisher with a runner on to end the game and earn his 31st save in 34 opportunities. The loss broke the A's 10-game home winning streak.
Copyright © 2006, The Baltimore Sun |
Adam Loewen was cruising along, and then sort of lost it in the 5th. I blame the homeplate umpire, who decided he would lecture Adam in the middle of an inning. :angry: Apparently Loewen went downhill after that.
But they won! :cheer:
And this little :group vapor lock" with the whole infield starting to run off the field with only 2 outs must have been funny to watch. :rotf:
Orioles 6, Athletics 5
Orioles hang on for win over A's
Loewen strong early before faltering; O's almost blow 5-0 lead
By Jeff Zrebiec
Sun Reporter
Originally published September 3, 2006
OAKLAND, CALIF. // When Frank Thomas lined out to left field in the eighth inning yesterday, several Orioles infielders started running toward to the visiting dugout.
Eventually, they stopped, realized their gaffe and headed back to the infield after what manager Sam Perlozzo described as "group vapor lock." Thomas was only the second out. After a season filled with bullpen meltdowns, including one the previous night, could you really blame the Orioles for trying?
Closer Chris Ray , the most reliable member of the bullpen all season, created some anxious moments, but got the last four outs in the Orioles' 6-5 victory over the Oakland Athletics before 24,383 at McAfee Coliseum.
It was hardly a thing of beauty - the Orioles nearly blew a 5-0 sixth-inning lead when starter Adam Loewen lost his command and seemingly his composure and Thomas hit another clutch home run - but Perlozzo found plenty of reasons to smile and laugh afterward.
"There was so many [players coming off the field], I didn't know which one to look at first," said Perlozzo of the incident in the eighth inning. "I just slid my hat down over my face. I've seen one guy [do it]. I've not seen that many guys coming off the field. I don't know if we just got a little anxious to get back in or what."
Nobody seemed to know whom to blame for the premature exit, though shortstop Miguel Tejada did take some accountability, saluting the fans' mock applause when he returned to his position.
"I was not committed ever to running off the field, by the way," first baseman Chris Gomez said. "I was facing the field, and you see the whole team running off and it's like, 'What am I supposed to do?' But I didn't commit to a full-on run to the dugout. I think I'm off the hook."
Prior to the bottom of the sixth inning, it had all been going so well for the Orioles (61-74). Loewen (5-4) was mowing through Oakland's lineup, throwing strikes with all three of his pitches and keeping the A's off balance.
A makeshift lineup, a result of both injuries and Perlozzo's desire to get some of his regulars rest, pounded Oakland starter Dan Haren (12-11) for five runs through five innings.
Starting his second straight game, Gomez had RBI doubles in the first and third innings, while Tejada had an RBI single in the first and a run-scoring fielder's choice in the third. Rookie Nick Markakis extended the Orioles' lead to 5-0 in the fifth inning with an RBI double.
With the way Loewen was going, retiring 13 straight A's after Mark Kotsay's one-out infield single in the first, including six on strikeouts, the five-run bulge looked plenty comfortable.
But after getting two outs in the fifth, Loewen completely lost his control, angering home plate umpire Bob Davidson in the process. The 22-year-old left-hander walked Mark Ellis and Marco Scutaro and then received a stern lecture from Davidson, who apparently took issue with Loewen's reaction to one of his ball calls.
Davidson started the game as the second base umpire, but moved behind the plate when Marvin Hudson was hit by Scutaro's backswing in the third inning.
"I guess he thought I was showing him up, but that wasn't my intention at all," Loewen said. "Maybe I did it with my body language a little bit. It really didn't bother me, but obviously it bothered him a little bit."
Perlozzo, who yelled at Davidson from the bench, wasn't sure what effect the situation had on Loewen, but he acknowledged that the pitcher "went downhill after that."
After striking out Antonio Perez to get out of the fifth, Loewen walked two more to start the sixth before Milton Bradley's broken-bat single to center field cut the Orioles' lead to 5-1. With two men on and still no outs, Loewen's afternoon was over.
"It just looked like he quit turning the ball loose a little," Perlozzo said. "It usually doesn't leave that quickly on him. He's usually able to still make some pitches. He just kind of lost it. I think he was just feeling for the plate instead of just going ahead and attacking it."
Said Loewen: "It was difficult for me coming out of the game at that point, when I knew I let things get out of control."
Julio Manon came in and allowed a three-run homer to Thomas, who beat the Orioles in Friday night's series opener with a two-run homer off Todd Williams in the seventh inning. Thomas sent Manon's full-count belt-high fastball into the left-field stands for his 30th homer of the season.
Their lead down to 5-4, the Orioles got an insurance run in the seventh when Oakland center fielder Jay Payton misplayed Brian Roberts ' knuckling triple, allowing catcher Danny Ardoin to score.
In the ninth inning, Ray's throwing error on Ellis' come-backer helped Oakland cut the Orioles' lead to 6-5. But the Orioles closer struck out Nick Swisher with a runner on to end the game and earn his 31st save in 34 opportunities. The loss broke the A's 10-game home winning streak.
Copyright © 2006, The Baltimore Sun |