O’s Continue Slide, Lose 4th Straight, 2-5

Chris Ray blows his 2nd save and gets his second loss.

Adam Loewen pitched maybe his best game of the season so far. He carried a no hitter into the 4th inning and ended up only giving up 2 hits in his 6 innings pitched. He walked 5 batters, which still needs to improve, and gave up one run. Loewen retired the side in order in the first inning on 3 straight strikeouts. He finished with 5 on the game. Danys Baez came in for the 7th and retired 2 batters, but not before giving up a hit and walking a batter. John Parrish came in to get out of the inning, and promptly did, getting David Ortiz to ground out. Parrish got one out in the 8th before walking a batter and being pulled from the game in favor of Chris Ray. Ray gave up a single, walked a batter, then gave up a grand slam to give the Red Sox their first lead of the game. A lead that they would not surrender. Ray eventually got out of the inning striking out a batter, 3 of the runs were charged to him, the other to Parrish. Brian Burres pitched a solid 9th inning, giving up a hit, but striking somebody out.

The offense again couldn’t put up any runs, that makes 3 straight games. Brian Roberts led the game off with a double, then stole 3rd base, before scoring on a Nick Markakis ground out. It looked like a good start to get out of our funk. Melvin Mora had 2 doubles on the night, one drove in Ramon Hernandez. Speaking of Hernandez, he played in his first game of the season and played well. On the first pitch of his first at bat, he scorched a double to center field. He also hit a single and walked later on in the game. He was hitting the ball well all game. Welcome back Ramon, we need you. Aubrey Huff, Nick Markakis, and Jay Payton had singles in the game. But it wasn’t nearly enough after blowing the lead in the 8th. Jay Gibbons continues to struggle mightily, I have to wonder if somethings wrong with him (like an injury).

Player of the game: Ramon Hernandez -  2-3, 2B, R, BB

Tonight the O’s travel to Cleveland to face the Indians. Steve Trachsel (1-1, 4.37) will go for the O’s, while the offense looks to make a comeback against ground ball pitcher Jake Westbrook (0-2, 9.15). Go O’s.