Orioles Blow 3-0 Lead: Rangers Win 30-3
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by Niteowl049
Baseball Notebook
Rangers Comeback to Win 30-3
The Texas Rangers came back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Baltimore Orioles 30-3 in the wildest game in the major leagues this season. In a game that had no bearing whatsoever on the playoffs the Baltimore Orioles blew an early 3-0 lead as the Rangers scored 30 unanswered runs. Travis Metcalf and Marlon Byrd both hit grand slam home runs in the contest. Metcalf drove in four more runs in the nightcap for a total of eight RBI's in the doubleheader.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ramon Vasquez (the 8th and 9th hitters in the Rangers batting order) were a combined 8 for 14 and hit four home runs and drove in 14 runs then when you add the hitting of the No. 7 hitter, David Murphy, who had a 5 for 5 game and drove in two runs the three Rangers had a 13 for 19 night with 16 RBI's from their 7-8-9 hitters. Murphy's speed was impressive as he beat out two grounders to the second baseman on plays that major league second basemen usually throw out the runners. Murphy was 1 for 1 in the second game so had a 6 for 6 night in the doubleheader.
Murphy came to the Rangers from the Boston Red Sox in the Eric Gagne trade along with pitcher Kason Gabbard (6-1), who was the winning pitcher. One of the most amazing aspects of the game was that Wes Littleton picked up the save in the contest for the Rangers despite coming into the game with the Rangers ahead 14-3 after six innings. The rules committee needs to reexamine the saves rule. It looks ridiculous for a pitcher to get a save when his team wins 30-3.
The Rangers went on to win the second game of the doubleheader 9-7 and outscored the Orioles 39-10 in the doubleheader and outhit them 40-19. The Orioles bullpen had the nightmare of a night that all bullpens dread. Daniel Cabrera 9-13 allowed six runs to score but compared to the bullpen he pitched an excellent game. The bullpen allowed 24 more runs to cross the plate. It was surprising that the Orioles would not use a position player to pitch in this game since they only used three relievers in the contest. Brian Burres could only get two batters out and allowed 8 runs, 8 hits and a walk. The first game only took 3:21 to complete mainly because the Orioles didn't change pitchers often despite the runaway score. The second game actually took longer lasting 3:28.
Around the Bases
Esteban Loaiza (1-0) pitched the Oakland Athletics to a 4-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. It makes you wonder how much better the A's could have been if Loaiza had been healthy all season....The Cleveland Indians extended their lead in the AL Central to a game and a half with their 11-8 win over the Detroit Tigers....Daisuke Matsuzaka (13-10) lost his second game in a row for only the second time this season as the Rays won 2-1. In his last eleven starts, Matsuzaka had alternated winning and losing games four times then a no decision and now the two losses in a row. Three of his last four losses have come at the hands of the Rays.
Jose Contreras (6-16) still has an outside shot of losing 20 games. If he accomplishes the feat he would be only the second pitcher since 1980 to lose 20 games in a season. Mike Maroth lost 21 games in 2003 and Brian Kingman lost 20 in 1980. If he is really lucky he could lose 22 games and be the first pitcher since 1974 to lose 22 games when Steve Rogers, Bill Bonham and Randy Jones lost 22 games each that season. In 1962, Roger Craig lost 24 games and tried to equal that total the next season but fell short losing only 22 games for a two year record of 15-46.
Andy Pettitte (11-7) outpitched John Lackey (15-8) as the New York Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Angels 8-2. Joba Chamberlain struck out three batters in an inning of relief. Chamberlain has struck out 14 batters in 8 innings this season and has allowed only 3 hits. The win moved the Yankees to within five games of the Red Sox in the AL East. The series at this end of the month between Red Sox and Yankees is looming larger and larger and could make or break either team. In contrast, Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth inning and gave up three hits in one inning.
The Mets, Phillies, and Braves all lost in the NL East. In fact, all the NL East teams lost yesterday. The beleaguered Phillies bullpen took them out of the game allowing ten runs to score after J.D. Durbin (5-3) left the game....The Braves got another loss from the No. 5 slot in their rotation as Lance Cormier (0-4) took the loss. No Braves pitcher pitching out of the fifth slot in rotation has won since the All Star game, almost insuring the Braves will not have any long winning streaks. They have two three game winning streaks since the All Star game. Braves are going to have to defeat teams with losing records if they are going to playoffs this season and hope to even series with the Cincinnati Reds tonight.
Jake Peavy 14-5 struck out eleven Mets enroute to a 7-5 victory. He leads the NL in strikeouts with 186 with Brandon Webb second with 166. Carlos Beltran has really been hitting since coming off the disabled list. He came off the disabled list on the 10th of August and since then he has hit six home runs and drove in 21 runs while hitting .366, slugging .927 and has an on base percentage of .449....Brandon Webb (14-8) saw his 42 inning scoreless streak come to an end, but still won over the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2. Jeff Suppan (8-11) had a quality start but took the loss.
Albert Pujols homered in his fifth straight game as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Florida Marlins 6-4. The win moved the Cardinals to two games back of the second place Brewers in the NL Central....The Chicago Cubs scored twice in the tenth inning to defeat the Giants 4-2 and take over sole possession of first place in the NL Central.
500 Homers Milestone
Frank Thomas: 508
Alex Rodriguez: 506
Jim Thome: 493 (tied with Lou Gehrig and Fred McGriff)
Manny Ramirez: 489
Gary Sheffield: 479
