masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgJason Berken took the loss tonight after allowing two runs in 1 1/3 innings. He’s surrendered 13 earned runs in his last 16 2/3 innings over 13 appearances. In his first 27 outings, he gave up eight runs in 45 innings.

Berken was kicking himself for walking Alexei Ramirez with two outs in the seventh after Nick Markakis threw out Mark Kotsay trying to stretch a single into a double.

“Stuff like that you can control. It’s just not acceptable at that point for me to do that,” he said.

“I…Jason Berken took the loss tonight after allowing two runs in 1 1/3 innings. He’s surrendered 13 earned runs in his last 16 2/3 innings over 13 appearances. In his first 27 outings, he gave up eight runs in 45 innings.

Berken was kicking himself for walking Alexei Ramirez with two outs in the seventh after Nick Markakis threw out Mark Kotsay trying to stretch a single into a double.

“Stuff like that you can control. It’s just not acceptable at that point for me to do that,” he said.

“I just have to stay mentally sharp and mentally strong and get ready for the next outing.”

Alex Rios singled in the eighth to score Juan Pierre and give Chicago the lead.

“It’s the pitch that I wanted to throw in that situation, it’s the pitch I’ve gone to all year,” Berken said. “You just have to tip your cap. It’s one of those things where he put a good swing on it, and base hit.

“Kevin pitched a great game tonight. He deserved better. I’ve got to hold up my end of the bargain.”

Showalter has seen the good and bad in Berken in a very short amount of time.

“They didn’t really center him up much at all,” Showalter said, noting that A.J. Pierzynski’s RBI double in the seventh came on a chopper over Ty Wigginton’s head. “He got a ball out over the plate to Pierre. He shouldn’t have gotten it in that spot. But I can see why he’s had success. I can also see why fate’s not in his favor.”