O's Finish First Half With A Thud

The first half of the season ended in familiar fashion for the Orioles and their fans...another loss.

After an 8-6 loss to the first-place Boston Red Sox on Sunday afternoon, the last place Orioles take a 36-52 record into the second half.

It actually looked like the O's were going to escape Boston with a win after taking a 6-2 lead with a strong six-run second inning, but starter Mitch Atkins allowed three home runs in the bottom of the frame, allowing the Sox to tie the game.

Jeremy Guthrie came on in relief, and despite allowing just one run (a bases-loaded walk) over 3 1/3 innings, took the loss. Guthrie (3-12) fell victim once again to no run support, as the Birds managed just one hit over the final seven innings. You read that right...the Birds scored six times in one inning before Guthrie took the mound, then went seven innings without scoring again. Adam Jones actually led-off the fifth inning with a triple but was stranded at third base, which pretty much sums up the O's season so far.

It was another interesting game in a strange series, with four more ejections and plenty of drama. Red Sox rookie starter Kyle Weiland hit two batters (Mark Reynolds in the third and Vladimir Guerrero in the fifth) before being ejected along with Boston's skipper Terry Francona. Both Reynolds and Guerrero left the game with hand injuries. Guthrie hit Kevin Youkilis in the fourth, loading the bases for DH David Ortiz, who walked to force home the go-ahead run. Guthrie was warned after the pitch, which set up Baltimore's ejections in the sixth inning. Michael Gonzalez came on in relief and struck out the first two batters he faced before throwing behind Ortiz, and was tossed along with Buck Showalter. Seriously Michael...if you're going to get tossed at least hit the guy! Remember, it was Ortiz that started this whole thing with his antics on Friday night.

So that about wraps up a dismal first half of baseball for the O's. The Birds are 16 games under .500 and 18 games out of first place. The starting rotation is in shambles and the hitting has been inconsistent, except with runners in scoring position, where the club has been horrifically consistent over the past month. The Orioles have dropped seven straight games, and unless something dramatic happens this season is pretty much over...

I'm hoping for a second-half miracle, but there hasn't been any reason for me to believe this season will end any differently than the past 13 years have. The Birds kick-off a 10-game homestand on Thursday night...here's hoping the club can put the past behind them and start fresh. Let's go O's!