masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgOnce again, here are three things from tonight’s game that jumped out at me, got me in a headlock and gave me a noogie.

1. The Orioles swung at the first two pitches from Cliff Lee and took a 1-0 lead. Corey Patterson doubled and Miguel Tejada singled. That’s it. If you blinked, you missed it. The crowd erupted when Lee’s third pitch didn’t produce a hit. Talk about a short honeymoon.

2. Cesar Izturis hit a home run, which is about as rare as Mark Hendrickson not meeting the height…Once again, here are three things from tonight’s game that jumped out at me, got me in a headlock and gave me a noogie.

1. The Orioles swung at the first two pitches from Cliff Lee and took a 1-0 lead. Corey Patterson doubled and Miguel Tejada singled. That’s it. If you blinked, you missed it. The crowd erupted when Lee’s third pitch didn’t produce a hit. Talk about a short honeymoon.

2. Cesar Izturis hit a home run, which is about as rare as Mark Hendrickson not meeting the height requirement on a Disney ride or Will Ohman taking a vow of silence. Izturis lined a ball to left that snuck inside the foul pole, giving the Orioles a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning. Unfortunately, it’s too late for Izturis to be invited to participate in next week’s Home Run Derby. And Barry Bonds’ career record remains safe.

3. Chris Tillman threw a one-hit shutout in his last game at Triple-A Norfolk. The Rangers would settle for that much production. They have one baserunner through the fifth, on Elvis Andrus’ leadoff walk in the fourth. Tillman had Andrus picked off, but first baseman Jake Fox was called for obstruction. Andrus slammed on the brakes and initiated the contact, a smart play that got him to second base, but no further.

Tillman has thrown 68 pitches. He cranked three straight 92 mph fastballs to Matt Treanor before getting a sharp ground ball on an 86 mph slider to end the fifth.