Another Wasted Effort

It doesn't get much uglier than this...

The Orioles squandered an 18-hit performance, scoring just four runs in an 8-4 defeat against the Washington Nationals on Friday night. That's not a typo...four runs on 18 hits. Unbelievable.

Sloppy defense and poor relief pitching wasted a fine effort by rookie starter Zach Britton. Britton (6-4) allowed just one hit through the first four innings before the game slowly unraveled in the fifth...

With the O's up 2-0 (one of the runs came on Britton's first Major League hit, an RBI double in the third) Britton allowed back-to-back singles to start the frame. The Nat's pitcher dropped a sacrifice bunt down the third base line, and Mark Reynolds scooped it up, glanced back at third to hold the runner, and then fired the ball past Derrek Lee, giving the Nationals their first run and some momentum. It was Reynolds' Major League-leading 15th error of the season, and by the end of the inning, the Nats had taken a 4-2 lead...Britton was charged with four runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks (one intentional) over his five innings of work, striking out three.

The O's scored two more in the sixth to tie the game at four, but that would be it offensively for the Birds...of their 18 hits on the night, 14 went for singles, and the team stranded 12 on base, going just 4-for-15 with runners in scoring position. It's futility at its finest, courtesy of your Baltimore Orioles.

Jeremy Accardo came on in the bottom of the sixth (Vladimir Guerrero pinch-hit for Britton in the fifth) and promptly gave up the lead. Accardo (3-3) took the loss after allowing three runs on two walks and one hit in 1/3 of an inning. Accardo actually walked the Nat's pitcher on four straight balls after the pitcher was attempting to give Accardo an out with a sac bunt...simply amazing. Accardo was designated for assignment after the game; Brad Bergesen will take his place on the roster.

The Birds (31-36) have now dropped two straight and are 10 games behind the division-leading Red Sox in the East. Brian Matusz takes the mound on Saturday afternoon. Here's hoping he can bounce back from his last start...