Brad Bergesen improved his record to 7-5.
Bergesen pitched an excellent game yesterday. He held the Kansas City Royals to only 1 run on 7 hits and 2 walks over 7 innings while striking out 6 batters. He also didn’t give up that run until the 7th inning, when the game was already in hand with a 7-0 lead. Unfortunately he was hit by a line drive against the last batter he faced, although Matt Wieters turned into an out by firing to first to get the runner. The ball hit Bergesen on the upper shin and he had to limp off the field. He was definitely in pain. Mark Hendrickson pitched the last 2 innings and struck out 3 batters, but he gave up 2 runs on homerun in the 8th inning.
Ty Wiggington got the offense going in the 2nd inning, hitting his 7th homerun, a solo shot, into the stands in left center field. The O’s broke the game open in the 5th. Matt Wieters started it off with a double. After a pop out and a strikeout, Felix Pie singled and Adam Jones walked to load the bases. Nick Markakis singled in one of the runners, still leaving the bases loaded. That wouldn’t last long as Aubrey Huff cleared them with 21st double of the year. Back to back doubles by Cesar Izturis and Brian Roberts put another run on the board, then a Pie single scored the 7th run. Pie has had an OPS just over .800 since his struggles in April.
Player of the game: Brad Bergesen (7 IP, 7 H, ER, 2 BB, 6 K, W (7-5) (3.43 ERA))
We start a 3 game series with the Boston Red Sox tonight. Jeremy Guthrie (7-9, 5.21) vs. John Smoltz (1-4, 7.04) is the match up in game 1.
