It was a tough night on the mound for Orioles starter Brad Bergesen. Starting in place of ace Jeremy Guthrie, who is home from the hospital still recuperating from a bout with pneumonia, Bergesen was knocked around for four runs in 3 1/3 innings.
The Orioles woes began in the second when Brian Roberts dropped a two-out pop fly, opening the door for a two-run double by Alex Avila off the right-field scoreboard. Later in the fourth, a two-run homer by Avila would end the night for Bergesen. In the bottom of the fourth, Derek Lee hit a two-run homer off Justin Verlander with Nick Markakis on base. But Josh Rupe, in relief for Bergesen, wouldn’t have much better luck as Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth.
In the bottom of the sixth, the O’s showed a spark whE. Roberts walked, stole second and scored on a single by Vladimir Guerrero. The momentum for the birds ended when Guerrero was thrown out trying for two with two outs. Another RBI made the game 7-3, giving Avila his fifth of the game.
Chris Tillman will take the mound tomorrow as the Birds try to bounce back from their first loss of the year.