Gonzalez Blows Two Games On Four Pitches

Impossible? Maybe. We'll see what happens on Thursday night...

After the O's fell to the Yankees 4-1 in 15 innings on Wednesday night, Thursday's starting pitcher has yet to be determined.

Why?

Let's start at the beginning...

Zach Britton started for the Birds and went seven innings, allowing only one unearned run in the fourth. Britton allowed six hits (all singles) while walking three and fanning four, lowering his ERA to a team-best 2.14, yet was about to take the loss before the O's rallied in the ninth inning...

Down 1-0, the Birds rallied against Yankees' closer Mariano Rivera and tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with a sac fly off the bat of O's DH Vladimir Guerrero. It was Rivera's third blown save of the season...two have come against the Orioles.

The Birds' bullpen struggles in Boston weren't evident against New York on Wednesday night...six relievers combined for seven scoreless innings, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out eight.

The O's had plenty of chances in extra innings...the bases were loaded in the 11th and 12th but the Birds couldn't come up with the clutch hit to win the game, and eventually it cost them.

Jeremy Accardo pitched two scoreless frames but allowed back-to-back singles in the top of the 15th inning. The Orioles had just one reliever left...Michael Gonzalez.

Was it a coincidence that Gonzo was the last man standing in the 'pen? Who knows. One thing is certain...he blew it.

Gonzalez's first pitch went for a two-run double off the bat of Robinson Cano, giving the Yankees a 3-1 lead with none out (Cano advanced to third on a throwing error by Adam Jones). His fourth pitch hit Chris Dickerson in the helmet. Gonzalez was immediately ejected from the game, and with no one left in the 'pen, Jeremy Guthrie was forced to warm up and take the mound.

Guthrie allowed a sac fly and retired the Yankees in order, but the damage had been done. The Yankees scored three times in the 15th inning and won the game 4-1. Guthrie was scheduled to start on Thursday, but as of now it remains to be seen who will take the mound for the O's on Thursday night.

The O's (19-22) are now winless in five attempts against New York (22-19). Three of the games have gone into extra innings, but the Yankees have come out on top each time. It just goes to show...the Birds can hang with the best...they just don't know how to finish. Not yet, anyway.