Millwood Wins; Arrieta Takes First Loss
I actually had a post written for Saturday night’s game, but the “autosave” function betrayed me and I’d rather not write that post all over again…
Not that it wasn’t stellar…and a long time coming.
Kevin Millwood picked up his first win in an Orioles uniform on Saturday night…the O’s won 5-4.
The Orioles looked primed to keep the streak alive on Sunday afternoon, but fell to the San Diego Padres 9-4.
Jake Arrieta was unable to keep his win streak intact, and lost for the first time in the Majors…
Life is strange, isn’t it? Especially when it involves the 2010 Baltimore Orioles.
Millwood, a veteran, allowed three runs in the first inning on Saturday (although all three crossed the plate due to a defensive miscue by the O’s) but grinded out six innings and eventually took the win…it wasn’t easy…Alfredo Simon allowed a run and had the tying run on third base before picking up his first save since returning from the DL.
Arrieta, a rookie, had won his first two contests in the Major Leagues. Kevin Millwood was cursed with the worst run support a starting pitcher could imagine, while Arrieta basked in the glow of run support from the offensively-challenged Orioles offense.
Sunday afternoon was no different…the Birds scored four runs in the first inning, staking Arrieta to a 4-0 lead. I’ve been uneasy to believe in the Orioles lately, but this game was in the bag…Adam Jones hustled to first base on what could have been the third out of the inning, but an error (later ruled a hit) allowed a run to score. Slumping Matt Wieters slapped a 3-run double and the O’s were leading and raring to go…
Not so fast, Jack. The four runs scored would be the only runs the Birds put on the board all game, while Arrieta and the bullpen tried and failed to keep the Padres down…
Final score on Sunday…9-4 San Diego.
The O’s scored four times in the first before allowing NINE unanswered runs to cross the plate…yet another game gone awry.
The worst part? Besides the fact the O’s haven’t won a road series all season long? The Birds have now hit the 50-loss mark before winning 20 games…
Say it ain’t so…
