masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgBud Norris had a seven-run lead tonight, a chance to give the Orioles a quality start and a reason to rest the bullpen.

Norris is now sitting on the bench after slamming his glove on it, the lead is down to four runs and manager Buck Showalter has used two relievers as we enter the bottom of the sixth.

Norris was charged with four runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings, with three walks, five strikeouts and a hit batter. He threw 95 pitches, 64 for strikes.

The Rockies scored twice in the sixth…Bud Norris had a seven-run lead tonight, a chance to give the Orioles a quality start and a reason to rest the bullpen.

Norris is now sitting on the bench after slamming his glove on it, the lead is down to four runs and manager Buck Showalter has used two relievers as we enter the bottom of the sixth.

Norris was charged with four runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings, with three walks, five strikeouts and a hit batter. He threw 95 pitches, 64 for strikes.

The Rockies scored twice in the sixth to climb within 8-4. A triple, two singles, and Norris was gone.

Norris registered quality starts in his first two outings with the Orioles, but he’s come up short in the next two, going five and 5 2/3 innings.

The nine hits, four runs and three walks are the most by Norris since being acquired from the Astros.

Left-hander Troy Patton walked the only batter he faced, Corey Dickerson, and Showalter signaled for Josh Stinson, recalled earlier today from Triple-A Norfolk. Stinson struck out Troy Tulowitzki to end the inning.

Nothing to it.

Patton hadn’t issued a walk in 26 consecutive appearances, the second-longest streak in club history. Koji Uehara holds the record with 36.

The Orioles have left 10 runners on base in five innings, again raising the question of whether it’s going to come back to haunt them.

Tonight’s attendance: 31,089

Update: The Orioles ended their four-game losing streak with an 8-4 win over the Rockies.

Showalter used four relievers, including Tommy Hunter, who pitched the ninth.

Don’t read anything into it.

Brian Matusz struck out two in a scoreless eighth.

The Orioles improve to 54-7 when leading after the seventh and 57-9 when leading after the eighth. They’re now 15-37 when outhit by their opponent and 1-0 when J.J. Hardy has back spasms.