Friday night with the Birds

Luke Scott has homered for the Birds to tie the game at 3 in the fourth.

Garrett Olson hasn't been as sharp tonight as in earlier starts. But he wriggled out of a potential big inning in the top of this inning, limiting the Nats to one run after they loaded the bases with nobody out.

Adam Jones just got a two-out single for the Orioles. The impressive thing for the youngster was the hit came off a curveball.

Great play by Melvin Mora fielding deep in foul territory to throw Christian Guzman out at first by a couple of steps at first base. Fine play.

The Orioles have taken their first lead. Brian Roberts tripled to right field to start the fifth inning and then scored on Melvin Mora's gift double to right center. Mora's flyball was going to score Roberts, but it somehow fell between a diving Lastings Milledge and Elijah Dukes in right center. It's 4-3 with Mora in scoring position.

Kevin Millar singled home Aubrey Huff, after Huff reached on a fielder's choice to make it 5-3. But Millar was thrown out trying to get to second. It's the second time Millar has been thrown out on the basepaths tonight.

Frederick has taken a 3-1 lead on Lynchburg tonight as the catcher has hit a 2-run homer to give the Keys a lead. Many of you might be thinking its Matt Weiters again. But Justin Johnson is getting the start tonight and his homer has provided the difference in the fifth.

Matt Albers is on in relief for the Orioles. Garrett Olson is in line to get the win if the Orioles bullpen can hold on for him. Not his best work tonight. But a pretty good effort for a young guy to hang in there and give the O's a chance to win.

Albers gave the Orioles two solid innings of relief. He's done everything the Orioles have asked of him this year. Not sure if he could be equally effective in the rotation or not.

Terrible job by the defense on Dmitri Young's flyball to shallow left. The ball has to be caught and somehow nobody caught it. Looked like blaming Freddie Bynum was the right guy to blame on that one. But to Albers credit he struck the next guy out. Should they leave him out there for another inning? Hard to imagine Washington getting anything off of him, so I'd do it. I'm guessing the Orioles come with somebody else. Chad Bradford?

They left Albers out there. I think that is a good decision. He's throwing the ball very well. Jay Payton, remember him, is in for defense for Luke Scott. So why let Scott hit against the lefthander?

Albers surrenders a leadoff infield single to the hole at shortstop and Dave Trembley immediately turns to Jim Johnson. Opponents hitting just .145 against him. Don Sutton thought maybe that was a misprint in the notes. Nope, he's just been that good.

Johnson strikes out the first hitter and then fans Wily Mo Pena for the second out. Then he struck out Elijah Dukes to end the inning. Another great outing for Johnson.

George Sherrill is headed in to try to close this for the Orioles.

Good play by Millar and Sherrill to get the first out of the inning. Popup to Brian Roberts has gotten the second out.

Zimmerman lines out to Millar and the Orioles have won 5-3, their sixth win in seven games. Cue the music.....