masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgOrioles manager Buck Showalter brought Alexi Casilla into tonight’s game as a pinch-runner with the score tied in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Casilla was 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts this season, and 25-for-26 since the start of the 2012 season. Nice weapon to have on the bench, and Showalter picked the right time to use him.

Casilla, running for Ryan Flaherty, swiped second base and raced to third on a throwing error by Padres catcher Nick Hundley. Steve Pearce followed with an RBI…Orioles manager Buck Showalter brought Alexi Casilla into tonight’s game as a pinch-runner with the score tied in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Casilla was 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts this season, and 25-for-26 since the start of the 2012 season. Nice weapon to have on the bench, and Showalter picked the right time to use him.

Casilla, running for Ryan Flaherty, swiped second base and raced to third on a throwing error by Padres catcher Nick Hundley. Steve Pearce followed with an RBI single into left field to give the Orioles a 2-1 lead.

The Orioles used to play station-to-station baseball. Now they’re going all National League on the Padres.

Padres starter Andrew Cashner was cruising along, having retired nine in a row, before he walked Flaherty with one out in the eighth. Flaherty has come up big tonight with a home run and walk. He also hit that scorching line drive that first baseman Yonder Alonso turned into a double play.

Pearce drove in his seventh run of the season, all the RBIs coming since that 0-for-13 start. He’s collected 10 hits in his last 27 at-bats.

Pearce stole second – his first swipe in his first attempt this season.

Jim Johnson will work the ninth inning looking for his 36th consecutive save and his 15th this season.

Update: Johnson’s save streak ends at 35.

Chris Denorfia bounced a single up the middle with two outs to plate the tying run, and Everth Cabrera’s single after a hit batter gave San Diego a 3-2 lead.

Johnson allowed two runs and four hits in the inning, along with the hit batter. Before tonight, he had allowed three runs (two earned) in 19 innings.

Update II: The Orioles put the tying run on base with two outs after Chris Davis drew a walk off Padres closer Huston Street, but Matt Wieters struck out for the third time.

San Diego 3, Orioles 2.

Johnson’s last blown save in the regular season occurred on July 27, 2012 against the Oakland Athletics, when he allowed six earned runs in one-third of an inning.

To avoid any confusion, the Orioles’ streak of 109 consecutive wins when leading after the seventh inning remains intact. Tonight’s game was tied after seven innings.