masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgConsidering the Orioles had a record of 3-14 post All-Star game before Buck Showalter took over, the fans seem pretty excited about the club’s 4-0 mark with Showalter.

Beating a struggling Angels team was nice, but knocking off the first-place White Sox was more impressive. Chicago was a Major-League best 38-13 over its last 51 games when they got to town.

They were scoring 5.4 runs per game over the the last 33 games before getting shutdown by Brad Bergesen, Koji Uehara and Alfredo Simon…Considering the Orioles had a record of 3-14 post All-Star game before Buck Showalter took over, the fans seem pretty excited about the club’s 4-0 mark with Showalter.

Beating a struggling Angels team was nice, but knocking off the first-place White Sox was more impressive. Chicago was a Major-League best 38-13 over its last 51 games when they got to town.

They were scoring 5.4 runs per game over the the last 33 games before getting shutdown by Brad Bergesen, Koji Uehara and Alfredo Simon last night. They were held to eight hits and went 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position.

Here is a statistical look at the O’s before Showalter and with him at the helm:

Runs per game:
Before: 3.6
With: 5.5

Batting average:
Before: .256
With: .324

Average with runners in scoring position:
Before: .217
With: .405

Team ERA:
Before: 5.18
With: 3.65

Starters’ ERA:
Before: 5.61
With: 2.28

Tonight, the O’s will face Annapolis native Gavin Floyd (7-8, 3.54) who has been one of baseball’s best pitchers since early June. He has allowed one earned run or less over 10 of his past 11 starts and gave up just two runs in the other one. Over his last six starts he is 4-1 and his 0.89 ERA is the best in the Majors in that time. He has allowed just one earned run over his past three starts, covering 21 innings.

Floyd is 1-1, 2.53 in his career vs. his hometown Orioles and has given up just 2 ER in 14 innings in two career Camden Yards starts.

The O’s counter with struggling right-hander Kevin Millwood.

Millwood, 2010 season:
First 11 starts: 3.89 ERA
Last 10 starts: 9.18 ERA

Millwood continues to have first-inning trouble. He has given up 34 runs in the opening inning on the year for an ERA of 14.14. Millwood is 1-5, 3.30 lifetime vs. Chicago.

Based on those numbers, the pitching matchup certainly favors the Sox for game two of this series.

Tonight is Matt Wieters kids chest protector backpack night. The first 10,000 fans 14 and under will get a Wieters’ backpack.