Friday, September 17, 2010

Koji Can't Get it Done Against Yankees

The O's were one strike away from a victory over the Yankees on Friday night at Camden Yards, but Koji Uehara gave up a mammoth home run to give New York the lead, and eventually the 4-3 win.

It's deja vu all over again...Uehara has just two blown saves this season, both coming against the Yankees on home runs with two outs and New York down to their final strike...

Last week, it was Nick Swisher that blasted a two-run walk-off shot against Uehara to deny the Birds a sweep in New York. On Friday night, A-Rod crushed a 2-2 pitch with two men on to erase the O's 3-1 lead and send Uehara to his knees on the mound...

While I certainly didn't like the outcome, I liked the fact that Showalter threw Koji out there with the game on the line and a chance at redemption against the Yanks...he was one strike away from doing just that and giving the O's a big win against their AL East rivals.

Sadly, Kevin Millwood was unable to pick up his fourth win this season after going seven strong innings, allowing just one run (a solo shot by A-Rod in the second inning) on five hits, four walks and six strikeouts...

Offensively, the Birds didn't get too much going against A.J. Burnett, but it looked like it was going to be enough...Nick Markakis put the O's on the board with a sac fly in the third, and Adam Jones went deep the next inning to give the Birds a 2-1 lead. Robert Andino connected for his first homer of the season in the seventh, and the O's took a 3-1 lead into the fateful ninth inning.

The loss snapped the Birds' win streak at three, and coupled with Tampa Bay's loss, propelled the Yankees into first place in the division. The Orioles can still play spoiler though, with two games left against New York this season. Jeremy Guthrie takes on CC Sabathia on Saturday night...

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