W – Kevin Millwood (4-16)     L – Jeff Niemann (11-8)     SV – Koji Uehara (11)

- This was a quick series. Last night’s game was the longest of the three coming in at 2 hours and 21 minutes. The other two clocked in at just over 2 hours. I guess that happens when the pitching is so good all around.
- It was Kevin Millwood’s turn to earn a win as a part of a shutout. He threw 7 scoreless innings, allowing 2 hits and 3 walks with 7 strikeouts. In what was most likely his last start as an Oriole, it might’ve been his best start of the season.
- Jim Johnson struck out a batter in a scoreless 8th and Koji Uehara struck out a pair of them in a perfect 9th to earn his 11th save of the season.
- The Orioles scoring consisted of a 2 RBI triple by Felix Pie in the top of the 7th inning that scored Nick Markakis and Adam Jones.
- Markakis singled and walked in the game. Jones, Corey Patterson, Matt Wieters, and Robert Andino each singled.

Player of the game: Kevin Millwood – 7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, W (4-16) (5.10 ERA)

The Orioles return home for the final series of the season against the Detroit Tigers. Jeremy Guthrie (10-14, 3.98) will try to finish strong against Jeremy Bonderman (8-9, 5.18).

W – David Price (19-6)     L – Brad Bergesen (8-11)

- David Price showed why he is in top consideration for AL Cy Young with a masterful 8 inning performance. The Orioles managed to record 6 hits but failed to score a run and struck out 8 times.
- Brad Bergesen continued to struggle against the Rays although this was his first appearance at Tropicana Field. He allowed two homeruns as Tampa Bay scored 5 times against him on 6 hits and 3 walks over 5 innings. He struck out 2 batters.
- Mark Hendrickson pitched two perfect innings in the 6th and 7th to hold the Rays to five runs and Pedro Viola struck out 2 batters in a perfect 8th.
- Nick Markakis was the only left handed batter in the game against the lefty Price and he proceeded to hit a single and a double. Matt Wieters also hit a double in the game, his 22nd.
- The other three hits were singles from Julio Lugo, Robert Andino, and Jake Fox.
- The Orioles were 0-6 with runners in scoring position. We had a few opportunities but Price was just on the top of his game.

Player of the game: Nick Markakis – 2-4, double (45) (.293 AVG)

The Rays clinched a playoff spot with the win last night, but they’re still fighting for the AL East division title. The Orioles will play them once more tonight as Kevin Millwood (3-16, 5.29) faces Jeff Niemann (11-7, 4.49).

W – Brian Matusz (9-12)     L – Wade Davis (12-10)

- Brian Matusz was very impressive against a team fighting for a division title, shutting out the Rays over 7 innings. He gave up 3 hits and walked 2 batters while striking out 8. Matusz is making steps to become the ace of the Orioles staff next season.
- Jim Johnson pitched a perfect 8th inning and then Koji Uehara struck out the side in order in the 9th to lock up the win for the O’s.
- The Orioles scored their first run in the top of the 5th inning. Cesar Izturis doubled with one out and then Nick Markakis tripled him in.
- Three more runs came in during the top of the 7th. Felix Pie singled to lead off the inning then Izturis was hit by a pitch. Markakis singled after Brian Roberts lined out to score Pie. Ty Wiggington lifted a sacrifice fly and then Luke Scott singled to score Markakis.
- Wiggington also doubled in the game. Scott had another single and a walk. Roberts and Matt Wieters each singled in the game.
- Buck Showalter served his one game suspension last night so the win goes to Jeff Datz officially.

Player of the game: Brian Matusz – 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, W (9-12) (4.40 ERA)

The series continues tonight in Tampa Bay. Brad Bergesen (8-10, 4.90) pitches against Cy Young candidate David Price (18-6, 2.84) in a rematch from April that Price handily won.

Game 1: Orioles 4, Blue Jays 6

W – Brett Cecil (14-7)     L – Chris Tillman (1-5)     SV – Jesse Carlson (1)

- Chris Tillman gave up 5 runs on 4 hits and a walk with 3 strikeouts but at least he was able to make it through 6 innings. Its a small victory but he has a ways to go and its nice to see improvement, no matter how small.
- David Hernandez pitched a scoreless 7th inning, striking out two. Matt Albers gave up a run on a hit and two walks to start the 8th, only getting one out, but Mark Hendrickson finished the inning.
- The O’s lashed out with 16 hits but only managed to score 4 runs. Nick Markakis, Ty Wiggington, and Nolan Reimold each had three hits in the game, all singles except for Markakis’ 44th double.
- Brian Roberts singled and doubled, Brandon Snyder singled and doubled, and Craig Tatum singled twice. Corey Patterson hit a pinch hit double for Snyder, his 15th of the season.

Player of the game: Nick Markakis – 3-5, R, RBI, double (44) (.293 AVG)

Game 2: Orioles 4, Blue Jays 5

W – David Purcey (1-1)     L – Mark Hendrickson (1-6)

- Jeremy Guthrie righted the ship a little bit but gave up three homeruns. His final line was 6.1 innings, 7 innings, 4 runs, and 6 strikeouts. Not terrible but not good enough on this night.
- Mike Gonzalez finished the 7th inning for Guthrie. Jim Johnson pitched two scoreless innings to send it to extras and Koji Uehara pitched a scoreless 10th. Unfortunately Mark Hendrickson only got to throw two pitches before he served  up the game winning homerun to Lyle Overbay.
- Ty Wiggington hit his 22nd homerun of the season, a solo shot, in the 7th inning to give the O’s a very brief lead.
- Brandon Snyder hit an RBI double and Jake Fox singled and doubled. Brian Roberts singled, walked twice, and stole his 12th base of the season.
- Nick Markakis hit an RBI single and walked. Adam Jones and Cesar Izturis each singled in the game.

Player of the game: Ty Wiggington – 1-4, BB, solo HR (22) (.255 AVG)

Game 3: Orioles 2, Blue Jays 5

W – Shaun Marcum (13-8)     L – Rick VandenHurk (0-1)     SV – Jason Frasor (4)

- Rick VandenHurk made his first start as an Oriole, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts over 4 innings. Hes going to have to do better than that to get a shot at making the pitching staff next year.
- Alfredo Simon got one out in the 5th inning before being thrown out of the game for hitting Jose Bautista with a pitch. It was the second time in the game Bautista was hit. Simon got a three game suspension and Buck Showalter received a one game suspension of his own.
- Matt Albers gave up two runs over 1.2 innings spanning the 5th and 6th innings. David Hernandez continued his recent success by throwing scoreless innings in the 7th and 8th.
- The Orioles only runs came on a single by Adam Jones (he had three in the game, as well as his 6th stolen base) and a Matt Wieters sacrifice fly.
- Ty Wiggington and Luke Scott each singled and walked, Scott was also hit by a pitch. Robert Andino and Cesar Izturis also singled in the game.

Player of the game: Adam Jones – 3-4, R, RBI, SB (6) (.284 AVG)

Game 1: Orioles 4, Red Sox 2

W – David Hernandez (8-8)     L – Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-6)     SV – Koji Uehara (10)

- Brian Matusz held the Red Sox to one run over 5 innings 4 strikeouts. He threw too many pitches, walking 3 and giving up 3 hits, but was able to keep Boston off the board for the most part.
- David Hernandez gave up a run in the 6th but pitched a scoreless 7th and was rewarded with the win after the Orioles took the lead in the 7th inning. Jim Johnson pitched a scoreless 8th and Koji Uehara got the save in the 9th, striking out two.
- Brian Roberts singled and walked twice. Nick Markakis doubled twice and walked.
- Luke Scott hit an RBI single, walked and had another single, and hit a sacrifice fly. Ty Wiggington also hit a sacrifice fly.
- Felix Pie, Cesar Izturis, and Josh Bell each hit singles in the game.

Player of the game: Nick Markakis – 2-4, R, BB, 2 doubles (43) (.290 AVG)

Game 2: Orioles 9, Red Sox 1

W – Brad Bergesen (8-10)     L – Scott Atchison (2-3)

- Brad Bergesen continued to prove that the first half of this season was a fluke by holding the Red Sox to one run on 5 hits and 4 walks with 2 strikeouts over 6 innings.
- It took three pitchers to complete the 7th inning. Mark Hendrickson got the first two outs but gave up a hit. Alfredo Simon came in, walked the first batter he faced, and was immediately pulled from the game. Mike Gonzalez finished the inning and went on to pitch a scoreless 8th.
- Matt Albers gave up two hits in the 9th but was able to finish the game without allowing a run to come in.
- Brian Roberts continued his consistency, again going 1-3 with two runs and two walks. Nick Markakis singled twice, Luke Scott and Cesar Izturis singled once.
- Ty Wiggington and Adam Jones each had three hits. Wiggington hit his 21st homerun of the season, scored two runs, had three RBI, and walked. Jones doubled and scored twice.
- Matt Wieters doubled, Felix Pie tripled, and Robert Andino hit a sacrifice fly.

Player of the game: Ty Wiggington – 3-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB, HR (21) (.252 AVG)

Game 3: Orioles 1, Red Sox 6

W – John Lackey (13-11)     L – Kevin Millwood (3-16)

- Kevin Millwood failed to match his previous start, getting roughed up for 6 runs on 7 hits and a walk with 5 strikeouts over 5 innings. He gave up a pair of homeruns in the game.
- David Hernandez pitched an inning and a third without allowing a run. He struck out three batters.
- Troy Patton finally made his Orioles debut, throwing 0.2 scoreless innings – allowing a hit and a walk while striking out a batter. Rick VandenHurk pitched a scoreless 9th, striking out two, but it was already too late at that point.
- The Orioles only run came in the 4th inning when Ty Wiggington doubled in Nick Markakis, who had singled.
- Luke Scott singled and doubled. Brian Roberts and Robert Andino each singled.

Player of the game: Luke Scott – 2-4, double (29) (.286 AVG)

Game 1: Orioles 3, Yankees 4

W – David Robertson (4-4)     L – Koji Uehara (1-2)     SV – Mariano Rivera (31)

- Kevin Millwood held the Yankees to one run over 7 innings with 6 strikeouts. He left the game in line for the win.
- Jim Johnson pitched a scoreless 8th but Koji Uehara gave up a three run homer to Alex Rodriguez with two outs to put New York ahead. It looked like he had strike three the pitch before but the call didn’t go his way.
- Adam Jones and Robert Andino each hit solo homeruns. The O’s other run came on a Nick Markakis sacrifice fly.
- Cesar Izturis had a pair of singles and was hit by a pitch. Felix Pie and Ty Wiggington also had singles.

Player of the game: Kevin Millwood – 7 IP, 5 H, ER, 4 BB, 6 K (5.14 ERA)

Game 2: Orioles 3, Yankees 11

W – CC Sabathia (20-6)     L – Jeremy Guthrie (10-14)

- Jeremy Guthrie just wasn’t effective from the very beginning. He hit Derek Jeter with the first pitch of the game and ended up giving up 6 runs over 5 innings on 7 hits and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts.
- The bullpen wasn’t any better. Other than David Hernandez’ scoreless inning – Mark Hendrickson gave up a run over the 6th, Alfredo Simon gave up a run over the 8th, and Rick VandenHurk gave up a three run homer in the 9th inning.
- Robert Andino picked up where he left off in game one and had three hits, including another homerun and a double. He also stole a base.
- Ty Wiggington and Cesar Izturis each had sacrifice flies to score runs.
- Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold each singled twice. Craig Tatum singled and walked and Nick Markakis singled.

Player of the game: Robert Andino – 3-4, 2 R, RBI, double (3), HR (2), SB (1) (.308 AVG)

Game 3: Orioles 4, Yankees 3

W – Mike Gonzalez (1-3)     L – David Robertson (4-5)

- Chris Tillman struggled mightily with his control. He walked 6 batters over 3.2 innings to go along with 3 hits and a strikeout to give up 3 runs.
- The bullpen did a great job of shutting down the Yankees from there, combining for 6.1 scoreless innings. Matt Albers for 2.1, Mark Hendrickson for 1.2, Jim Johnson for 1.1, Koji Uehara striking out the side in the 9th, and Mike Gonzalez pitched a scoreless 10th despite 3 walks (Two of which were intentional).
- Luke Scott came in for Jake Fox after two at bats and ended up hitting a double as well as his 27th homerun of the season.
- Ty Wiggington hit a game winning RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning.
- Adam Jones and Felix Pie each had RBI singles. Brian Roberts and Corey Patterson each had a pair of singles and a stolen base. Matt Wieters singled and walked.

Player of the game: Luke Scott – 2-3, 2 R, RBI, double (28), HR (27) (.282 AVG)

W – Brad Bergesen (7-10)     L – Kyle Drabek (0-1)

-  Brad Bergesen was spectacular last night. Not only did he hold the Blue Jays to one run over all 9 innings allowing 7 hits and striking out 3, but he worked fast and was a big reason why the game only last an hour and 55 minutes. Talk about a quick win.
- The only run Bergesen allowed was in the top of the 1st on a Jose Bautista homerun and the Orioles got it right back in the bottom of the frame. Back to back singles by Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis started the inning. Roberts and Markakis then pulled off a double steal before Luke Scott hit an RBI groundout.
- The winning runs came in during the bottom of the 4th inning. Felix Pie led off with a single, advanced to second on a ground out, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on a Corey Patterson single after Matt Wieters walked. Cesar Izturis singled to load the bases and the third run scored on a double play hit into by Roberts.
- Roberts also doubled in the game and Ty Wiggington had two singles. Luke Scott and Matt Wieters also singled.
- After losing the first 12 games of the season series against Toronto, the Orioles swept this three game series. What a difference a manager can make.

Player of the game: Brad Bergesen – 9 IP, 7 H, ER, 3 K, W (7-10) (5.03 ERA)

The Orioles are off today before the Yankees come into town for a three game set. Kevin Millwood (3-15, 5.30) pitches in game one, as does AJ Burnett (10-13, 5.13) for New York.

W – Jake Arrieta (6-6)     L – Shawn Hill (0-2)

- Jake Arrieta was excellent pitching 6 shutout innings, allowing 4 hits and a walk with 5 strikeouts. Hes been better lately and should definitely get a spot in next years rotation.
- Matt Albers pitched an inning and two thirds giving up a run. After a month long stretch without allowing a run hes now allowed four over his last two appearances.
- Pedro Viola made his Oriole debut and didn’t look too good. A walk and a two run homer before he could get the last out of the 8th inning. Alfredo Simon pitched a scoreless 9th.
- The offense exploded for 11 runs on 16 hits. Everybody in the starting lineup had at least one hit. Nick Markakis and Adam Jones each homered and Luke Scott, Ty Wiggington, and Robert Andino each doubled.
- Felix Pie singled twice and walked twice, scoring two runs. Matt Wieters singled three times to continue his hot month of September.

Player of the game: Felix Pie – 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB (.280 AVG)

Brad Bergesen will try and help the Orioles sweep the Blue Jays tomorrow against Kyle Drabek, who will be making his major league debut.

W – David Hernandez (7-8)     L – Brian Tallet (2-6)

- Brian Matusz started but only lasted one inning due to a triceps injury after being hit with a line drive. He finished the inning without allowing a run on two hits and a strikeout but was taken out for precautionary reasons. He should make his next start.
- Rick VandenHurk replaced Matusz and retired the first 12 batters he faced before giving up a solo homerun to lead off the 6th inning. Overall he pitched 5.1 innings and struck out three batters. It was the first time VandenHurk had pitched in 10 days and he was impressive. He should receive a couple of starts as the season closes.
- Mark Hendrickson finished the 7th inning but was removed after giving up a single to lead off the 8th. Jim Johnson came in and gave up a few hits of his own, ending with a two run single that tied the game up.
- The bullpen buckled down after that. Koji Uehara pitched a perfect 9th with a strikeout, Mike Gonzalez struck out the side in the 10th inning and got the first out of the 11th, and David Hernandez finished off the 11th earning the win after the O’s walked off with the win in the bottom of the inning.
- Brian Roberts hit a lead off homerun to give the Orioles a very quick lead. He also singled but was later removed from the game after being hit by a pitch. Brandon Snyder got the first hit of his MLB career in the 2nd, an infield single that scored a run. Adam Jones got an RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 7th to make it 3-1. He also doubled, singled, and walked.
- The Orioles won the game in the bottom of the 11th when Luke Scott singled in Nick Markakis. Markakis singled three times and walked in the game, scoring two of the O’s runs.

Player of the game: Nick Markakis – 3-5, 2 R, BB (.291 AVG)

Jake Arrieta (5-6, 4.96) will try to make the most of the few starts he has left. Tonight he faces Toronto and Shawn Hill (0-1, 5.06) in game two of the three game series.