masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgMoments after the game ended, and the Orioles had fallen short by 8-7 to Boston, starting pitcher Zach Britton blamed himself for the loss and was disappointed he gave up two homers.

“It just came down to the execution of those two pitches,” Britton said. “I don’t think I threw the ball well, but if I execute those pitches it’s a different game.

“The energy was really good and the way we battled back just shows we weren’t down and out and that last inning was awesome too. I feel like…Moments after the game ended, and the Orioles had fallen short by 8-7 to Boston, starting pitcher Zach Britton blamed himself for the loss and was disappointed he gave up two homers.

“It just came down to the execution of those two pitches,” Britton said. “I don’t think I threw the ball well, but if I execute those pitches it’s a different game.

“The energy was really good and the way we battled back just shows we weren’t down and out and that last inning was awesome too. I feel like it comes down to starting pitching. If I can keep us in the game earlier, not allow those runs to score, you know we win that game.”

Britton gave up seven hits and five runs over 4 1/3 and threw 84 pitches. He ends the season going 11-11 with an ERA of 4.61 and was asked if he felt his rookie season was a success.

“For me, I don’t think I threw the ball as well as I should have. What I’m capable of. That is definitely frustrating, going into the offseason, knowing I could have done better. But it’s more motivation to work hard and take what I’ve learned from this season.”

In a variation of the above question, Britton was asked if he had had known he’d have these final stats back on opening day, would he have taken that?

“I think I still would have been disappointed at the beginning of the season. I didn’t know what the AL East was like, but I think I’m capable of better. So, I’m not going to be satisfied with those numbers, I think I can do a lot better,” Britton said.

Adam Jones was asked if it will help the Orioles down the road to play in a meaningful game this late in the year.

“Yeah, but they are meaningful for them, not for us,” he said. “It’d be different it we were playing meaningful games, this place would be rocking. It’d be a totally different atmosphere. But they need these games, all the pressure is on them.

“Tomorrow’s game is very important. Both they and Tampa need the W. We are standing in Boston’s way and New York is standing in Tampa’s way.”

For the Orioles, 14 of their last 22 games have been decided by two runs or less and they are 9-5 in those games.

With his homer in the fourth inning tonight, Matt Wieters became the fourth Oriole to hit 20 homers as a catcher. He has 22 overall on the year. He joins Chris Hoiles, Charles Johnson and Ramon Hernandez.