O's Offense Goes Quietly in Loss

The game was a lot closer than the final score suggests, but the Orioles were shut out 4-0 by the visiting Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.

Despite pitching one of his best games of the season, O's starter Kevin Millwood was charged with his AL-leading 13th loss of the year. Millwood allowed just one run off six hits through eight innings, walking three and fanning four, but the outcome remained the same: the offense abandoned him yet again. The O's average just under three runs every time Millwood is on the mound, and the results are typically the same each outing...another loss for the veteran pitcher.

The Birds managed just three hits all night, with two coming off the bat of rookie third baseman Josh Bell. The O's only real scoring threat came in the bottom of the eighth...trailing 1-0, the Birds had runners on the corners with two outs before Nick Markakis grounded out to end the inning.

In the only move I've questioned since Buck Showalter took control, Millwood sat out the ninth inning and was replaced in a very close (and highly winnable) game by rookie Armando Gabino. After a single and a walk, Gabino allowed a three-run bomb that put Seattle up 4-0 and effectively ended any hope of another ninth-inning comeback. Matt Albers needed to come on to record the final two outs, and five of Seattle's 11 hits came in the top of the ninth inning...

The Birds are now 10-5 under Showalter, but could take the series Wednesday night, as new staff ace Jeremy Guthrie takes the mound in search of his eighth win of the season...Let's Go, O's!