Orioles take lead, lose Jones (and lose lead)

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  Roch Kubatko

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  May 29, 2011 5:25 pm

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The Orioles have gotten pretty good at loading the bases with no outs.

This time, they did more than come away frustrated. They’re taking a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth.

J.J. Hardy reached on an infield hit to open the fifth. Mark Reynolds grounded a single into left field and Robert Andino reached on a fielder’s choice after laying down a bunt that was meant to advance two runners. Oakland starter Guillermo Moscoso tried unsuccessfully for the out at third.

Felix Pie followed…The Orioles have gotten pretty good at loading the bases with no outs.

This time, they did more than come away frustrated. They’re taking a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth.

J.J. Hardy reached on an infield hit to open the fifth. Mark Reynolds grounded a single into left field and Robert Andino reached on a fielder’s choice after laying down a bunt that was meant to advance two runners. Oakland starter Guillermo Moscoso tried unsuccessfully for the out at third.

Felix Pie followed with a run-scoring single into right-center field and Nolan Reimold walked to force in the go-ahead run.

Nolan Reimold?

Yes, he entered the game in left field in the bottom of the fourth inning, with Pie shifting to center and Adam Jones exiting with a sore right shoulder.

Two more runs scored on grounders from Nick Markakis and Vladimir Guerrero

Zach Britton isn’t used to working with a three-run lead. He isn’t used to the Orioles scoring any runs for him.

Let’s see how he adjusts.

Update: The A’s scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth, the last three on Josh Willingham’s two-out homer with the count full. Oakland 5, Orioles 4.

So much for a quality start by Britton.

Oakland has 17 two-out hits in this series.

Down on the farm, Jason Berken didn’t get the decision in Triple-A Norfolk’s 6-5, 10-inning loss to Columbus. Berken allowed three runs and three hits, with four walks, two strikeouts and a hit batter, in 2 2/3 innings. He threw 67 pitches, 36 for strikes.

First baseman Brandon Snyder, back in the Tides’ lineup, went 2-for-5.