masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles’ bullpen gave up six runs in the seventh inning. That equals the total it allowed in the previous nine games spanning 18 innings.

Alfredo Simon, who hadn’t pitched since Aug. 24, has surrendered home runs in five of his last eight outings.

Mark Hendrickson hadn’t pitched since Aug. 22, and it’s strange that I didn’t notice the layoff.

That’s what happens when your starters are going deep in games. Heck, Rick VandenHurk moved his locker after Jim Johnson returned and I…The Orioles’ bullpen gave up six runs in the seventh inning. That equals the total it allowed in the previous nine games spanning 18 innings.

Alfredo Simon, who hadn’t pitched since Aug. 24, has surrendered home runs in five of his last eight outings.

Mark Hendrickson hadn’t pitched since Aug. 22, and it’s strange that I didn’t notice the layoff.

That’s what happens when your starters are going deep in games. Heck, Rick VandenHurk moved his locker after Jim Johnson returned and I just assumed he left the city.

Hendrickson hadn’t allowed a run in eight straight appearances covering eight innings before tonight.

“Obviously, we had three guys we were trying to stay away from tonight,” manager Buck Showalter said. “If it had been a little later in the game…”

Jake Arrieta got the Orioles through the fifth before leaving the game at 95 pitches.

“He had a little trouble getting the ball away from his arm slot,” Showalter said. “He kept pulling the ball across, out and over. You’re not going to be able to make your pitches when you have to. He made some good pitches. His tempo is something we’ve got to get better with, too. Of course, Boston dictates that a lot, as much as they step out of the box and they talk to the umpire a lot about calls.”

Adam Jones didn’t injure his back on the catch against the fence. He felt some discomfort during an at-bat.

“The one swing really bit him,” Showalter said. “We talked after the at-bat – play defense, because it’s happened a couple times and it’s kind of loosened back up, but it didn’t tonight.”

Corey Patterson wasn’t available to pinch-hit. I wondered why Jake Fox batted for Jones.

“Patterson’s a little dinged up from the collision in Chicago with the fence, so we had some things there that weren’t as available as they normally are. Some others, too,” Showalter said.