The Yankees lineup capitalizes on mistakes and opportunities.
Sunday, the Orioles lineup didn?t. And that was the difference.
The Orioles lost, 6-1, Sunday before a divided crowd of 45,693 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Jaret Wright (8-6) earned the win, while Lopez (8-12) took the loss and Mariano Rivera was credited with his 28th save.
The Orioles have now lost five of seven series since the All-Star break, and Sunday, the Orioles went 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
“I think that was pretty much the key to the ball game,” Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo said. “Not being able to put any runs on the board early when we had a chance to, and actually throughout the game.”
“We just couldn?t come up with the big hit when we needed it,” Perlozzo said.
Lopez allowed four home runs, including blasts that led off both the third and fourth innings.
“He left some balls out over the plate, and hung a few breaking balls,” Perlozzo said. “But when he went down and away with his fastball, he was really good.”
Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi and Melky Cabrera all hit solo home runs off the O?s starter.
“I felt like I had pretty good command, and every mistake, they just took advantage of,” Lopez said. “They?ve been hot lately.”
Lopez struck out seven, but the four home runs were too much for the Orioles? offense to overcome.
For the first three innings, the Orioles lead-off batter reached base, only to be stranded at third base on every occasion. Nick Markakis finally broke the streak with a fourth-inning single to plate Jeff Conine, who was 3-for-3.
Orioles? right-hander Winston Abreu made his major league debut in the ninth, and struck out Alex Rodriguez on a knee-bending slider.
“He had some balls up, but he had some nice breaking balls,” Perlozzo said. “It was nice to see him get a chance in the big leagues.”
Recently signed catcher Chris Widger made his first start with the Orioles Sunday. He caught Rodrigo Lopez, who had been throwing exclusively to Javy Lopez before the catcher was dealt to the Red Sox Friday.
While Perlozzo would not hold judgment on the pairing?s future, Widger seemed to be open to serving as Lopez?s personal catcher.
Widger, 35, was excited after seeing his name on the lineup card.
“Oh yeah. I think if you don?t have that excitement, then you shouldn?t be here,” said Widger, who occupies both Javy Lopez?s old jersey number and locker. “It?s not so much nervous about the game, but about getting out there with your newest team.”
More changes could be on the horizon.
Perlozzo announced before Sunday?s game that Russ Ortiz would make a spot start tomorrow in Toronto. Erik Bedard, pushed back from his scheduled start Monday, is set to throw Wednesday. The other starter is still up in the air, and Perlozzo indicated that Daniel Cabrera could return to the Orioles during the Toronto series.
“We need to get our rotation back in order, and I think he?s a part of our rotation,” Perlozzo said Sunday. “He? a part of our future, and he needs to get back up here and pitch for us and straighten it out back here.”
