W – Matt Albers (3-6, 5.51) L – Brandon League (3-6, 4.58)

Jeremy Guthrie started the game for the Orioles and worked hard to get the win, but the game went into extra innings. He pitched 7.2 innings, giving up 4 runs on 9 hits and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts. He gave up three homeruns in the game to give him 35 for the season. That number has to come down next season if he wants to improve. Guthrie ends the season having pitched exactly 200 innings, which is the most for his career. Alberto Castillo replaced Guthrie in the 8th and struck out the only batter he faced. Dennis Sarfate pitched the 9th and 10th. He was very effective, walking one batter and striking out two. Albers pitched a perfect 11th, striking out two, to earn the victory.

In the first inning Brian Roberts led off with a single and would come around to score on Nick Markakis’ 18th homerun of the season. The two RBIs gave Markakis 101 on the year, his second time breaking the 100 RBI barrier. We loaded the bases in the 6th when Jeff Fiorentino and Roberts singled, followed by a Robert Andino walk. After Matt Wieters and Markakis got out, Justin Turner pinch hit for Melvin Mora and singled in two more runs. The offense stalled until the bottom of the 11th. By then Blue Jays reliever Brandon League must have had enough of the season because he singlehandedly gave the game to the Orioles. Michael Aubrey led off with a single. Lou Montanez attempted a sacrifice bunt and was safe at first because League threw the ball away. The next batter was Jeff Fiorentino, who also put down a sacrifice bunt. And, again, League threw the ball away allowing the game winning run to come in.

Player of the game: Brian Roberts (2-3, 2 R, 2 BB, SB (30) (.283 AVG))

That wraps it up for the 2009 season, but keep checking back here at The Oriole Report all throughout the offseason. I’ll be analyzing any transactions to go along with 2009 reviews/2010 outlooks for each position and a top 25 prospect list. In the meantime, enjoy the playoffs and the football season. I already can’t wait for spring training 2010.

W – Mark Hendrickson (6-5, 4.37) L – Scott Richmond (8-11, 5.52) SV – Jim Johnson (10)

The Orioles should go ahead and re-sign Hendrickson now. I think its a lock that he signs a one year deal in the offseason to remain an Oriole next season, and hes earned it. He pitched 6.1 innings last night, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks with 3 strikeouts. Thats a quality start and the bullpen finished the job. Cla Meredith came in for Hendrickson and finished off the 7th inning. Danys Baez pitched a clean 8th and Jim Johnson got the save with a scoreless 9th. We have officially avoided 100 loses with the win, something I’m sure the players and coaches are glad of.

It was an early 2-0 deficit heading into the bottom of the 2nd. We cut the lead in half when Jeff Fiorentino singled in Lou Montanez after he doubled. The O’s took control in the 4th. Nick Markakis led off the inning with his 45th double and came in to score on Ty Wiggington’s single. Michael Aubrey walked and Montanez singled to load the bases. Back to back RBI ground outs by Fiorentino and Guillermo Rodriguez gave us a two run lead and an RBI single by Brian Roberts made it three. Rodriguez and Roberts both walked in the 6th and Rodriguez scored when Cesar Izturis doubled to give us an insurance run.

Player of the game: Ty Wiggington (2-4, R, RBI, double (19) (.273 AVG))

The opening day starter takes the mound for the last game of the season. Jeremy Guthrie (10-17, 5.05) faces off against Ricky Romero (13-9, 4.26) in the final game of a long season.

W – Jason Berken (6-12, 6.54) L – David Purcey (1-3, 6.19)

Well the Orioles are bringing back Dave Trembley to manage the team in 2010. They picked up his option and the team celebrated in style, unlike last time when they went on to lose 30-3. We put a beating on the Blue Jays. Berken pitched like anybody could’ve guessed. 5 innings, 5 hits, 4 runs, a walk, and a strikeout. Thats classic Berken for you. But it was enough tonight, since the offense put up 13 runs on the board. Matt Albers pitched 2 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and 2 walks while striking out 2. Dennis Sarfate pitched a scoreless 8th. Chris Ray tried to end it in the 9th but couldn’t get anybody out before being removed. He gave up 3 runs on 3 hits and a walk. Alberto Castillo came in, struck out the first batter he faced and got the next one to ground into a game ending double play.

The offense was clicking on all cylinders from the outset. Brian Roberts led off with a walk, then Cesar Izturis singled. They both scored on Nick Markakis’ RBI double, his 44th. Markakis then stole 3rd base and scored on Ty Wiggington’s ground out. In the 3rd, Izturis and Markakis both singled. Cesar scored on Melvin Mora’s single. In the 4th it was a Matt Wieters 3 run homerun that did the damage. It was his 9th of the season and was set up by a Lou Montanez single and Izturis double. We got two more in the 5th when Michael Aubrey homered after Mora was hit by a pitch. It was Michael Aubrey again in the 6th, this time a grand slam after Wieters singled, Markakis walked, and Wiggington singled. It was Aubrey’s first career multi-homer game and it gives him a bit of a leg up on that first base competition next spring.

Player of the game: Michael Aubrey (2-4, 2 R, 6 RBI, 2 HR (4) (.293 AVG))

Game two features Mark Hendrickson (5-5, 4.38) versus Scott Richmond (8-10, 5.35) as the Orioles look for their 3rd win in a row.

W – Chris Waters (1-0, 5.40) L – Matt Garza (8-12, 3.95) SV – Jim Johnson (9)

I guess it was a reverse lock. On paper it looked like the Orioles were headed for their 14th loss in a row, but it didn’t turn out that way. Chris Waters deserves credit for pitching a solid game. I still don’t think he has a place on this team next year, but he was a big reason why we won the game. He gave up 1 run on 2 hits and 3 walks over 5 innings, striking out 2. Cla Meredith has been quietly pitching pretty well since coming over from San Diego, I think some people are overlooking him when figuring out our bullpen for next season. He pitched 1.2 scoreless innings to bridge the gap to Alberto Castillo, who got out the only batter he faced. Danys Baez pitched a perfect 8th setting up Jim Johnson to record the save. It wasn’t easy (when is it ever?), but he got the job done. He allowed a run on 3 hits but thankfully we had a two run lead.

Nick Markakis got his 97th RBI in the first inning when he singled in Cesar Izturis, who doubled. Markakis got us going in the 4th as well when he led off with a walk. Ty Wiggington followed with a single and both would wind up scoring on RBI singles by Melvin Mora and Jeff Fiorentino. That was it, but it was enough. Matt Wieters singled in the game. Izturis also had a single and a walk.

Player of the game: Cesar Izturis (2-3, R, BB, double (12) (.249 AVG))

The O’s return home for their final three games of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays. Jason Berken (5-12, 6.51) takes his last stab at contributing to the team this season against David Purcey (1-2, 5.28).

W – James Shields (11-12, 4.14) L – David Hernandez (4-10, 5.42)

The good news is: the Orioles have moved ahead of the Pirates for 2nd pick in the 2010 draft if the season ended today. Its all we have to root for at this point. Theres no difference between 98 losses and 102, or anything in between. Might as well get the 2nd overall pick if we’re going to be terrible. Hernandez pitched 4.1 innings, giving up 5 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 4 batters. Brian Bass pitched 2.2 scoreless innings from the 5th to the 7th, and Jim Johnson pitched a scoreless 8th. This was Hernandez’ last start of the season. He has some things to work on over the offseason, namely control of his pitches – especially his offspeed offerings. I think theres potential for him to be a back end of the rotation starter, or a dominant late inning reliever.

It was 5-0 until the 8th, when our offense tried to get back into the game. Melvin Mora singled, Michael Aubrey doubled, and Chad Moeller hit a sacrifice fly to score one run. Then Ty Wiggington hit a pinch hit 2 run homerun to make it 5-3. Unfortunately thats all we could manage to score. Mora had two hits in the game. Luke Scott, Matt Wieters, and Moeller each had singles in the game.

Player of the game: Ty Wiggington (1-1, R, 2 RBI, HR (11) (.272 AVG))

The last road game of the season is tonight, and its a mismatch. Chris Waters (0-0, 8.10) will make his first and only start of the season against Matt Garza (8-11, 3.93).

W – Wade Davis (2-1, 3.45) L – Jeremy Guthrie (10-17, 5.05)

Davis apparently owns the Orioles. He shut us out the first time we faced him, and last night he held us to one run over 7 innings. Our only run came on a Luke Scott RBI single in the 3rd. We had plenty of opportunities to score but we couldn’t get the job done. That seems to be a recurring theme here lately. Some good news, Brian Roberts hit his 56th double breaking the MLB record for doubles by a switch hitter in a season. Matt Wieters had a pair of singles to raise his average to .294. Nick Markakis, Ty Wiggington, and Melvin Mora each had a single and a walk. Michael Aubrey and Jeff Fiorentino each had singles as well.

Guthrie pitched a good game. He went 7 innings, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits and a walk. He struck out 4 batters and he didn’t give up a homerun for once. Thats a quality start and he didn’t deserve the loss, but thats what happens when you pitch for the Baltimore Orioles in the month of September. Dennis Sarfate pitched a scoreless 8th, striking out 2 in the process.

Player of the game: Jeremy Guthrie (7 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, BB, 4 K, L (10-17) (5.05 ERA))

David Hernandez (4-9, 5.20) will give it a shot tonight against James Shields (10-12, 4.17).

W – Lance Cormier (3-3, 3.23) L – Chris Ray (0-4, 6.65)

You have to give Mark Hendrickson credit. He was able to pitch 6 innings last night in his 3rd game since returning to the rotation and left the game with a 6-3 lead. He gave up 3 solo homeruns and a walk and that was it. He also struck out 3 batters. Of course as soon as he left the game, the bullpen blew up and gave up the lead. Matt Albers started it off in the 7th, giving up a 3 run homerun over 0.2 innings. Chris Ray finished off the inning with no more damage. Nope, he was waiting to lose the game in the 8th. He gave up the game winning run on a hit and 2 walks. He did get one out in the 8th, but Danys Baez came in and got the other two.

In the 3rd the Orioles tied the game at 2-2. Nick Markakis hit a double, Luke Scott walked, Matt Wieters singled in Markakis, and Melvin Mora grounded out to score the other run. We got two more runs in the 4th on Brian Roberts’ 16th homerun of the season after Jeff Fiorentino doubled. Fiorentino singled in a run in the 5th and Mora singled in a run in the 6th. Wieters had 3 singles and a walk in the game and Markakis had 3 walks to go with his double.

Player of the game: Matt Wieters (3-4, RBI, BB (.292 AVG))

Jeremy Guthrie (10-16, 5.10) takes the stage tonight against Wade Davis (1-1, 4.07), who shut down the Orioles the last time we faced him.

W – David Huff (11-8, 5.61) L – Chris Tillman (2-5, 5.40)

Well if this was Tillman’s last start of the season, he’ll be thinking about it all winter and how to never have a start like that again. He only lasted 2 innings, giving up 6 runs on 6 hits and a walk. Brian Bass came out for the 3rd and he didn’t fare that much better. He also went 2 innings, allowing 2 runs on a hit and 2 walks. Chris Lambert was next and he actually didn’t pitch bad. He tossed 3 innings, only letting in 1 run (on a solo homerun) on 4 hits. He struck out 5 batters. Dennis Sarfate pitched a perfect 8th.

Nothing was working at the plate either. The O’s only managed 5 hits and 2 walks in the game, against a rookie pitcher with an ERA at almost 6 entering the game. The hits were all single. Luke Scott had two, Chad Moeller and Jeff Fiorentino each had one. Brian Roberts had a single and a walk. Cesar Izturis also had a walk. This game was never close and was not fun to watch. Thank god for football season. I can’t wait for the year that I don’t have to say that…

Player of the game: Luke Scott (2-4 (.261 AVG))

The Orioles stop in Tampa Bay for the last series of their last road trip. Mark Hendrickson (5-5, 4.37) goes against Jeff Niemann (12-6, 3.81) in the opener.

W – Kerry Wood (3-3, 4.33) L – Jim Johnson (4-6)

This was a high scoring, entertaining game. Unfortunately it resulted in another loss for the Orioles. Jason Berken started and got through the first three innings unscathed, but couldn’t get out of the 4th. He gave up 2 homeruns and 4 runs and could only get two outs before being removed. He gave up 8 hits, didn’t walk a batter, and struck out 3. Chris Waters finished the inning and pitched a perfect 5th. Cla Meredith pitched a scoreless 6th. Sean Henn started the 7th, but couldn’t record an out before giving up 3 runs on 2 hits and a walk. Chris Ray finished the inning, but gave up a run of his own on 2 hits and a walk. Danys Baez tossed a perfect 8th before Jim Johnson gave up the game winning run, only recording one out. Hes had his problems in the closers role and even though this wasn’t a save situation, it was a situation where he had to keep them off the board. He might be proving to the manager/front office that hes not capable as a closer.

Recently the pitching has been decent, but there just hasn’t been enough run support. Last night was the opposite. The offense put up 8 runs, but the pitching gave up 9. After a big 4th inning for the Indians had us own 4-0, we scored 5 in the top of the 5th. Robert Andino led off the inning with his 2nd homerun of the season. Brian Roberts singled and after a Lou Montanez fly out, Matt Wieters doubled to score Roberts. Nick Markakis grounded out, then Melvin Mora walked setting up Luke Scott to hit a 3 run homer and give us the lead. We got another run in the 6th on a Michael Aubrey solo homerun, his 2nd of the season and on this road trip. We were down two runs heading into the 9th and we tied it up. Roberts led off with a single, Jeff Fiorentino walked, and Wieters singled to load the bases. Back to back sacrifice flies by Markakis and Mora brought in Roberts and Fiorentino. The way we fought back made it all the more disappointing when Johnson let the Indians win it.

Player of the game: Luke Scott (3-5, R, 3 RBI, HR (25) (.259 AVG))

Can we avoid dropping our 10th game in a row? We’ll find out this afternoon as we’ll also try to avoid getting swept by the 4th worst team in baseball. Chris Tillman (2-4, 4.71) takes the mound for the Orioles against David Huff (10-8, 5.98).

W – Fausto Carmona (4-12, 6.62) L – David Hernandez (4-9, 5.20) SV – Kerry Wood (20)

Hernandez pitched well. He only allowed one hit through the first 4 innings, then got into a bit of trouble in the 5th. A lead off homerun started the inning badly, then back to back doubles scored another run. They got a third run on an error by Melvin Mora. Hernandez ended up going 6 innings, giving up those 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits and 1 walk, with 5 strikeouts. That David only gave up the one walk was most encouraging. As long as he has control, his stuff is good enough to be effective. Alberto Castillo pitched a scoreless 7th, striking out a batter. Matt Albers gave up a run over an inning in the 8th. He allowed a hit and walked 3 batters.

The offense continues to be unable to put enough runs on the board to help out our pitchers. Even when we get a solid outing out of our starters we can’t score enough runs to make it mean anything. We got a run in the 2nd inning on a Michael Aubrey RBI single. He also had a double in the game, his 6th. Nick Markakis finally did something about his power outage, hitting a solo homerun in the 6th inning. It was his 17th homerun of the year, but his first in September. He only needs 5 RBI to get to 100 for the season. Luke Scott and Felix Pie each had a single and a double. Unfortunately, Pie appeared to be seriously injured trying to beat out a double play. He collapsed on the ground writhing in pain. It looks like his season is over, hopefully its not too serious. Ty Wiggington had a pair of single and Cesar Izturis had one of his own. Brian Roberts walked twice, Melvin Mora and Matt Wieters once each.

Player of the game: David Hernandez (6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, BB, 5 K, L (4-9) (5.20 ERA))

The battle for worst record in the American League continues tomorrow night. Jason Berken (5-12, 6.41) pitches for the Orioles, Jeremy Sowers (6-10, 4.92) for the Indians.