ChrisBunting.com

I wasn’t going to write anything about this game, since it’s not being broadcast in my area, but I happened to catch the end of the game online through MLB.com’s Gameday. I wish I hadn’t seen any of it. I hate having to follow games through Gameday, because the updates are slow, and you end up staring at the screen during exciting innings waiting for some text to display to tell you what happened next. I don’t know why TBS didn’t cover the damn game today, they seem to have covered every other stinking Braves game this season. I can’t believe I get blacked out when Harrisonburg (30 minutes north) carries the station that covers the O’s on the weekend. I’m quite the frustrated fan. Anyway…

Jorge Julio really needs to get his stuff together, or it’s time to send him down. The guy has not been the dominant closer he could and should be, and he gave up 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th to give Atlanta their first runs and a healthy lead late in the game. Steve Kline replaced Julio in the 7th, but allowed one more run before finally getting out of the inning. The O’s were then only able to push across one run in the top of the 8th, despite having the bases loaded. That run was also thanks to the Atlanta pitcher, who walked Bigbie to force in the run. The excitement came, though, in the top of the 9th, when Sal Fasano and David Newhan led off with two singles. Brian Roberts followed with a single, scoring Fasano from second (surprisingly ). Luis Matos followed, and he too reached base with a bunt to the third baseman. Due to a throwing error, Newhan was able to score, and the O’s still had runners on first and second and nobody out.

Miguel Tejada was now coming to the plate. Normally, I would be very excited about Tejada being in this situation, but lately Miggy has been in quite a funk (for him). Miguel ended up grounding into a force out, but beat the throw to first, leaving runners on the corners and one out. Rafael Palmeiro came to the plate, and I knew things were going to be good. Raffy singled to center, and Roberts scored, tying the game. I couldn’t believe it! We were back to runners on first and second, and one out!

Next up, though, was Sammy Sosa, who should be a perfect person for this situation. Unfortunately, Sammy has also had his struggles as of late, usually grounding out or striking out. The count was quickly worked to 1 ball and 2 strikes. I feared the worst. Somehow, though, Sammy was thrown 3 more balls, and he walked! The O’s now had the bases loaded, and one out, with the game tied in the top of the ninth inning. I knew that we needed to push across another run, or we didn’t stand a chance of winning this one.

The next batter was supposed to be Larry Bigbie, who has been red hot recently. I thought for sure that he would bat and he would succeed in bringing in that go-ahead run. Lee Mazilli had other ideas, though. Geronimo Gil was sent in to pinch hit for Bigbie, and suddenly I had a very bad feeling. Geronimo worked the count to 2 and 2, taking a couple of good hacks at the ball. On the next pitch, though, Gil hit a ground ball to the Atlanta shortstop, who turned a double-play and ended the inning. Dammit.

I didn’t watch the rest of the game, and I’m glad I didn’t waste my time. When I came back later and checked on the final score, I saw that Todd Williams came in to replace B. J. Ryan for the bottom of the ninth (why??) and on the 4th pitch to Andruw Jones, gave up a game-winning home run. The O’s are slumping.

One last bit of bad news for the O’s from today’s game. Bruce Chen had to leave in the 5th inning due to an ankle or foot injury. His current status for his next start is unknown at this time.

The O’s record is now 42-32.