Weaver defeats Orioles, Hammel and Markakis

What can you say about the Orioles? For the past few weeks, they’ve been lackluster and on the left coast last night – in Anaheim – their struggles at the plate continued.

Jered Weaver and the Angels defeated the Orioles again, this time by a score of 3-0. Once again, Weaver treated the Orioles like garbage, as he went eight innings, allowed only three hits and struck out five in eight innings of work.

Only Wilson Betemit, Jim Thome and Robert Andino mustered a hit against one of the best pitchers in baseball – despite Weaver not throwing extremely hard. The Orioles just didn’t show a particularly good approach at the plate and seemingly can’t do much at all if they can’t hit homers.

The offense needs to badly get their stuff together if they are to stay in the race – even with the addition of Jim Thome, who frankly has not done much.

If that does not happen, the Orioles will fade from the playoff race.

Jason Hammel pitched very well for Baltimore on the mound and took the loss. He went 6 2/3 innings and gave up three runs. The Angels can hit and do all the little things right at the plate. They chipped away at Hammel, little by little, and leading 1-0 in the seventh inning, they scored twice in the frame to send him to the showers.

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