It’s funny how things even out in baseball.
The Orioles destroyed the Rangers by a combined 18-1 in the first two games of the series. But with the chance to sweep the Rangers for the first time since 2000, the Orioles were pounded, 15-7, at Camden Yards.
And the Rangers produced a 20-hit attack against an unlikely source: Chris Waters, the journeyman pitcher who held the Angels — the best team in baseball — to only one hit in eight innings earlier this week.
But he wasn’t nearly as good against the Rangers (61-58), who scored six runs — all earned — on seven hits in just four innings to raise the right-hander’s earned-run average from zero to 4.50.
But at least Waters wasn’t Randor Bierd, who was rocked for five runs on four hits, as the Rangers’ six-run, fifth inning gave them a 12-6 lead they would not relinquish.
“Today we had two or three mistake pitches, and they were able to crush the ball,” third baseman Melvin Mora said. “It was just one out of three, so we feel pretty good about it.”
Right, it could have been worse for the Orioles (56-60). Remember last year when the Rangers clobbered them, 30-3?
On Sunday, Mora hit career home run No. 150 in the first inning, and Aubrey Huff hit one in the third inning to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 18 games. Brian Roberts was 4-for-4 with two doubles and three runs.
But back to Waters.
He didn’t provide high-quality H2O, but Waters wasn’t the waterboy, either.
The left-hander, making his second career start, left a brutal first inning in his wake as he lasted just four innings.
“You know right out of the gate I wasn’t really consistent with my fastball location,” Waters said. “In the big leagues you’ll notice, anywhere, that if you miss your spots bad things happen.”
But the man nicknamed “H20” by clubhouse comedian and first baseman Kevin Millar turned the game over to the bullpen in a 6-6 tie.
Bierd (0-2) put together quite possibly the worst performance by an Oriole this season when he allowed four hits, a walk and five runs without recording an out.
That’s hard to do.
Orioles shortstop Alex Cintron also was unimpressive. Cintron was the target of boos after three balls hit in his direction — all ruled hits by the official scorer — were deemed unacceptable botches by many in the crowd of 26,878. Cintron didn’t help his cause by going 0-for-4 and jogging during a double play while the team was trailing, 12-6, in the eighth.
“It’s probably one that he’d want to do over,” Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. “I think watching it speaks for itself. I’ve seen him have better days.”
The same can be said for the rest of the team.
