BSR Clicks: August 1, 2014

They say streaks are meant to be broken.

And that’s exactly what happened last night at the Yard as the Orioles lost their first extra inning game in their last seven 1-0 in 13 innings. Albert Pujols singled home Kohl Calhoun in the top of the 13th to provide the Angels with the only run they would need to avoid a sweep. And Pujols is lucky the winning single wasn’t in the vicinity of 3rd basemen Manny Machado, as he had robbed the future HOF of at least two hits earlier in the game with some outstanding defense.

Angels starter Tyler Skaggs (awful last name) was dominate before he left with 2 out in the bottom of the 4th inning with forearm tightness. He didn’t give up a hit and struck out 7 before exiting. The free swinging Orioles struck out 16 times overall in the 4 hr and 33 minute affair. Orioles starter Bud Norris was his normal stingy self vs. the Angels as he went 7 innings of shutout ball with 4 K’s before handed it over to the bullpen who was outstanding once again (outside Ryan Webb, who took the loss).

The loss on the last day of July gave the Orioles a 17-8 month and they still lead the white-hot Blue Jays by a 1.5 in the AL East.

Earlier in the day, the Rays of Tampa decided they were “out of it” and sent their ace David Price to the Tigers in a three team trade. One of those traded in this deal, Austin Jackson, will be making his Mariners debut tonight at the Yard . The hated Red Sox were busy early and often as they sent LH SP Jon Lester and OF/DH Johnny Gomes West to the “all in” Oakland A’s for Yoenis Cespedes. They also shipped that awful person, John Lackey, to the St. Louis Cards for Allen Craig and Joe Kelly.

The Orioles were also a player in the BoSox’ fire sale as they acquired left handed specialist Andrew Miller for minor leaguer Eduardo Rodriguez straight up. ERod had been one of the “untouchable” pitchers in the Orioles organization, but the team had soured of him this year which made this deal appealing. Miller is a FA at the end of the year.

The Orioles have won 8 out of their last 9 series’ overall and tonight start another 3 game series with the afromentioned Mariners. Wei-Yin Chen (11-3, 3.92 ERA) takes the ball and will be opposed by Roenis Elias (8-6, 4.31 ERA). Elias picked up the no-decision in his last start (vs. the Orioles) scattering four hits and one run over five innings in the Mariners 3-2 loss in 10 innings. Chen is working on an extra day of rest and coming off one of his best outings of the season.