The Orioles, playing in the Postseason at Camden Yards for the first time since 1997, fell to the Yankees 7-2 in front of a wild sell-out crowd on Sunday night.
With the score knotted at two, Jim Johnson came on in the ninth and gave up a homer to the first batter he faced. Johnson hadn't surrendered a home run in four months before the fatal blast. And it didn't stop there...Johnson was tagged for five runs (four earned) in just 1/3 of an inning. There was a lot of second-guessing after the fact (I was a bit guilty myself), but the fact is that Buck Showalter put his best option out on the mound in the ninth. Johnson has been a beast all year and led the Majors with 51 saves during the regular season...he's the main reason the O's are in the playoffs to begin with.
The offense couldn't solve the Yankees' CC Sabathia, who held the Birds to two runs on eight hits in 8 2/3 innings. Jason Hammel pitched well in his return but lasted just 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks.
The O's are down 1-0 in the best-of-five series, and host the Yankees Monday night before heading to New York for the final three games (if needed). Wei-Yin Chen will take the mound, and my wife and I will be there to rock the Yard! Let's Go O's!!!
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