masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgInterim manager Juan Samuel was asked about the Orioles’ failure to twice lay down sacrifice bunts tonight.

They came up small in the small-ball department.

“We need to do that if we are going to win some close ballgames,” Samuel said. “We need to play good defense and do the little things. A little bit disappointed that we didn’t get those down, so we’ve just got to continue to work on those little things. But if we are going to win the close ones, we need to do the little…Interim manager Juan Samuel was asked about the Orioles’ failure to twice lay down sacrifice bunts tonight.

They came up small in the small-ball department.

“We need to do that if we are going to win some close ballgames,” Samuel said. “We need to play good defense and do the little things. A little bit disappointed that we didn’t get those down, so we’ve just got to continue to work on those little things. But if we are going to win the close ones, we need to do the little things.”

Did Samuel consider pinch-hitting for Cesar Izturis with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth?

“No,” Samuel replied. “Izturis got the only two runs we got tonight, so you wanted him to come through there. But no, we didn’t think about it.”

Does Samuel have confidence in his bench?

“You do,” he replied, “but you also know the chances you have against who is out there. We thought Izturis was going to get the job done for us. He came up with a big hit for us with the bases loaded, so there was no doubt in my mind.”