MVN - Most Valuable Network

Flat and breezy is back! O’s win.

George Sherrill probably did not expect to be used last night.  Coming into the ninth, nursing a four run lead, the Orioles went to Dennis Safarte to close out an effective start for Radhames Liz and relief performance from Adam Loewen.

Safarte ended up getting only one out and walking two batters - Trembley went to Sherrill.  George got the second out quickly, but then gave up a soft single that plated two runs.  Alex Gordon came to the plate representing the tying run.

Everyone in the stadium inhaled sharply.  Why?  Because in the top of the first, off of Liz, Gordon hit a homerun.  To say that this ball was hit hard is to say the Atlantic Ocean is “damp”.  I mean this was one prodigious homerun, it was like something out of the bible.  Gordon’s ball sailed over the flag court, landed just in front of the new Warehouse Bar, hit the sidewalk and hit a window on the warehouse on one bounce.

It was a shot.

So here is Gordon, a homerun away from spoiling Sherrill t-shirt night.  Fans were in full voice in support of George.  Chants of “let’s go George!” showered down from the stands.  It really was quite a sight.  And George delivered, after a steady diet of fastballs he got Gordon to chase a wicked slider and the game was over.  The crowd erupted.

Liz pitched well.  he was in control for most of his start last night.  He gave up two homeruns, both were solo shots, and things seem to fall apart in the fifth but he pitched out of trouble and finished with one to build on.

Adam Loewen pitched two solid, scoreless innings of relief.  The recovering starter got one strike out, one of six total for the O’s last night, gave up one walk and two hits.  His breaking stuff was working well and he was definitely getting rid of some rust but he looked good.

I know Dave Trembley said that the Orioles intend to keep Loewen in the pen for the rest of the year, but that was said when a healthy Matt Albers was sitting out in left-center field.  With Albers down you have to think that Loewen is the next man in line.

And frankly he should be.  The way that some people have given up on this guy is laughable.  My prediction Loewen is in the rotation by the end of the month, Burres heads back to his long-man/spot-starter role.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 at 7:57 am and is filed under Oriole Game Commentary, Oriole Players, commentary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.