The Youngsters Come Through

I attended last night’s game, and when I arrived to the park in the opening inning, things looked bad for Baltimore. They were already down 4-0 to a Tampa team trying to find its way back after an 11-game skid. Jason Berken – who started the game for Baltimore – gave up two singles to start off the game, allowed Ben Zobrist to plate in a run with a double, and then gave up a three-run shot to Pat Burrell.

It looked like all hope would be lost in opening frame; however, the Orioles fought back thanks to a gutsy outing by Jason Berken along with a five-RBI night by Matt Wieters. In the end, Baltimore ended up defeating Tampa, 10-5.

Berken earned his 5^th win on the season; meanwhile, Jeff Niemann – a Rookie of the Year candidate – labored, and struggled as he took the loss, lasting only four 4 1/3 innings on the mound. Also, Brian Roberts passed a milestone with Orioles as he hit his 52^nd double with the team in a season – breaking his own record of 51.

It looked like certain doom for the Orioles, but perhaps something clicked in Berken, and he ended up going 6 1/3 innings, giving up five runs; however, after the first inning, he’d only give up one run. The only other run Berken gave up was in the third inning as Burrell struck again with an RBI-single.

Baltimore finally got on the board in the third inning to make the score, 5-2, thanks an RBI-double by Brian Roberts and a groundout by Nick Markakis. They got another run in the fourth as Cesar Iztruis had an RBI-single.

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