Orioles Team Report Jun 13, 2008

In just one-third of a season, Luke Scott has proven to be a better version of Jay Gibbons. With a similar swing as that of the former Orioles outfielder, Scott has proven to be just as streaky.

Scott has gone on hitting streaks of at least four games on four different occasions this year, and on five occasions has put together streaks of three or more games without a hit.

The left-handed-swinging left fielder is batting .277 with 10 homers and 25 RBIs, but he has caught fire in June, hitting .382 with four home runs and six RBIs.

Scott did not play Thursday, with Boston left-hander Jon Lester on the mound.

Scott has homered three times in his past three games, and he is 7-for-16 (.438) in his last four games. In his three games prior to that stretch, though, he was 0-for-7 with a walk, a run and two strikeouts.

Scott entered his first season in Baltimore with the reputation for being a streaky power hitter with the 30-homer potential. He hasn’t disappointed, hitting at a 26-homer pace while providing an upgrade in left field defense.

Red Sox 9, Orioles 2: The Orioles opted to intentionally walk Manny Ramirez to load the bases in the fifth inning, and Mike Lowell made them pay. Lowell hit his second grand slam of the season off Jeremy Guthrie—the first of three Boston homers. Kevin Youkilis and J.D. Drew homered off Baltimore relievers, and the Orioles return home having gone 5-4 on the road trip.

Notes, Quotes

• 1B Kevin Millar left the game in the first inning after fouling a ball off his left knee. The injury was deemed a contusion, and X-rays were negative. Entering Thursday, Millar had a hit in nine of 10 games, batting .308 (12-for-39) with three doubles and three homers in that stretch.

• RHP Jeremy Guthrie had his shortest outing of the season, allowing five runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. The biggest blow was a grand slam by Boston’s Mike Lowell. Guthrie walked five, and he never seemed to find his comfort zone.

• INF Oscar Salazar entered in the first inning when Kevin Millar was injured and went 1-for-4 with his first run and RBI of the season. Salazar doubled home Brian Roberts in the sixth, and he scored when Aubrey Huff doubled.

• RF Nick Markakis went 0-for-4 Thursday, but he has a hit in 12 of 14 games, batting .414 (24-for-58) with six doubles in that stretch. His average has climbed from .249 to .289.

• LHP George Sherrill has converted 10 consecutive save opportunities. Sherrill, who went from May 17 until June 2 without a save, is on pace for 55 saves, which would be a team record.

By The Numbers: 14—One-run victories for the Orioles through June 10, one more than last year’s MLB low.

Quote To Note: “It’s going to be a little nerve-racking. I hated to leave her.”—RHP Dennis Sarfate on leaving his wife, Jada, who is nine months pregnant, on June 2.