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May 29, 2006
Orioles rally to avoid sweep

In a standard office scenario, the Orioles did some of their best work when their boss wasn't watching.

Baltimore manager Sam Perlozzo got ejected Sunday after a disputed call in the fifth inning, and the O's scored four runs in the seventh to earn a 7-6 win over the Angels. Chris Ray got his first six-out save, coaxing a double play with the bases loaded in the ninth to seal the deal. Baltimore improved to 3-24 when trailing after six innings and 9-4 in one-run games.

"I wasn't sure if I fired the club up or they were just glad to get me out of the dugout," said Perlozzo, who claimed he was in 'hollering range' at the end of the game. "It's really big. I'm not going to downplay it. It was a big win, especially going into the off-day and the homestand."

Ray's performance overshadowed the ejection and the comeback. The right-hander notched his 13th save of the season in as many opportunities, and it was also his third straight multi-inning appearance. Ray came in during the eighth with two men on base and a two-run lead, and he got a popup and a double-play to end the threat.

The ninth was a little trickier. Rookie Erick Aybar hit a leadoff triple and scored on a ground ball, and then Ray walked a batter and gave up a hit, bringing Vladimir Guerrero to the plate. The Orioles (23-28) elected to stay away from the former MVP, walking him on four pitches, and Garret Anderson hit a first-pitch ground ball to second baseman Brian Roberts.

"The funny thing is I was joking with Garret earlier in the game," said Roberts, who turned two to end the game. "It never fails, every series I play against him. I move over one way, he hits it the other way. I move over the other way, he hits it another way. We were laughing about it. I took a guess [this] time and it worked out."

"I guess I'm not going to say anything anymore," said Perlozzo, who told reporters earlier in the week that he doesn't want to keep using Ray for multi-inning stints. "We are certainly not going to abuse Chris. When the pitch totals for one inning peek up, we're not going to run him back out there."

When Perlozzo got the gate, the Orioles were locked in a tie game. The bases were loaded, the result of a Chone Figgins bunt along the third-base line that was ruled fair by home-plate umpire Tim Timmons. After the call, Perlozzo sprinted out of the dugout and didn't waste much time making his point, and neither did Timmons, who ejected him on the spot.

"I saw my catcher knock the ball away like it was foul. Then I saw my infielder and pitcher react, and that was good enough for me," Perlozzo said after the game. "I don't know that he got a good view and I didn't see a replay. They are out there trying to do the best they can. In the heat of the game, you do what you have to do."

"It was foul," said Baltimore starter Kris Benson. "I think the umpire was blocked out of the play. When I looked back on the replay, they didn't really have any good angles of it on TV. But as far as my angle toward the ball and [Melvin] Mora's angle toward the ball, you could tell there was dirt between the ball and the line.

"From where [Timmons] was, he was kind of blocked out by Ramon's leg. I think that was the cause of the call."

Los Angeles (21-29) took advantage by pushing home two runs -- one on a fielder's choice and the other on a sacrifice fly -- to take a 4-2 lead. Benson got out of the inning on a popup, and he got out of the decision by virtue of his team's late comeback. Kurt Birkins got four outs and got his first big-league win, thanks in part to the performance from Ray.

"Every save is just as important as the other one. We need every one we can take," Ray said. "Obviously, this gives us a little momentum going into the homestand. But as far as most important, I don't have a most important one. I wasn't going to give in to [Guerrero], give him a pitch to hit. That's not the guy you want to do that to."

"If he's going to sign a contract, he's going to ask for $40 million. He should ask for $80 [million]," said Mora, who has the same agent -- Lon Babby -- as Ray. "To throw eight and nine, that's not easy. He's doing a double-job.

"It's amazing. You bring this guy in in the eighth inning. I hope he stays healthy to the end of the season, so he can help us."

Corey Patterson started the winning rally with a single and moved to third on a check-swing roller from Kevin Millar. One out later, Roberts drilled a run-scoring single, and Mora put Baltimore ahead for good with a two-run double up the right-field line. Scot Shields (2-4) allowed the last hit, and the Orioles scored an insurance run in the eighth.

Baltimore went 4-6 on the road trip and has won just 15 of its last 20 road games. Next up is a 10-game homestand at Camden Yards, a three-series stretch that will bring Tampa Bay, New York and Toronto as opponents.

"I think most teams' goal is to play .500 on the road," said Roberts. "If you play .500 on the road, you're doing OK for the year. This was big to help us to end the thing, going back home, for an off-day."


Posted at 10:45 am by Pioneertoms3
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Nov 7, 2005
Baseball's Best Pitching Coach Re-unites With Oriole's Manager

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles officially announced Friday that Leo Mazzone has agreed to a three-year contract to become the team's pitching coach.

Mazzone had been with the Atlanta organization since 1979 and served as the Braves pitching coach since 1990, helping the club claim one championship, 14 straight division titles and five World Series appearances. Over those 16 seasons, the Atlanta pitching staff has led the National League in team ERA 10 times and was second twice.

Baltimore manager Sam Perlozzo and Mazzone are longtime friends, having grown up together in Western Maryland.

"Leo and I have been best friends for a long time and have always said that if I get the chance to manage, he would be my pitching coach," said Perlozzo. "I'm glad for us that it will happen, but I'm really happy for the Orioles organization that Leo has joined the club. His record speaks for itself and I have no doubt he will help our pitchers and the ballclub reach the next level."

The Orioles current pitching coach Ray Miller called Baltimore executive vice president Mike Flanagan to give his blessing to hire another pitching coach. Miller's status for the 2006 season was already uncertain, as he is recovering from surgery to remove an aneurysm.

"I want to thank Ray Miller for all he did, for his support and his professionalism. Ray did an outstanding job and we remain good friends," said Perlozzo.


Posted at 06:39 pm by Pioneertoms3
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Ravens' Boller Will Back Up Again In The Pocket

Owings Mills, MD (Sports Network) - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller will start on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars after missing the previous seven games with a hyperextended right big toe.

Boller was hurt in the third quarter of the team's 24-7 season-opening loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The team has gone 2-5 in his absence.

Boller's injury occurred when he was sacked by the Colts' Larry Triplett. He was helped off the field and did not return. He finished the Colts game 15- of-23 for 141 yards and an interception.

Anthony Wright has served as quarterback for the Ravens during Boller's absence. He has completed 164-of-266 passes for 1582 yards with six touchdowns and nine interceptions while at the helm.

11/07 18:00:13 ET


Posted at 06:35 pm by Pioneertoms3
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NFL Best Bengals Banish Ravens To Division Basement

BALTIMORE (AP) -- It didn't take a brilliant mathematician to figure out why the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Baltimore Ravens.

It was over when ...
The Bengals' defense took the field. It held the Ravens to three field goals and limited Jamal Lewis to 49 yards rushing.
Game ball goes to ...
The Bengals' D, although honorable mention goes to Carson Palmer, Rudi Johnson and Chad Johnson for combining for three TDs.

Each team had three scoring drives Sunday. Cincinnati scored touchdowns; the Ravens settled for field goals. As a result, the Bengals remained in first place in the AFC North with a 21-9 victory.

Carson Palmer threw two touchdown passes and directed touchdown drives of 80, 31 and 91 yards for Cincinnati (7-2). Rudi Johnson ran for 97 yards and a score, Chad Johnson had five catches for 91 yards and the Bengals averaged 5.2 yards per offensive play.

Baltimore (2-6) got only 49 yards rushing from Jamal Lewis, averaged 4.1 yards per play and managed only three field goals by Matt Stover.

"I can do the math. You can't trade sevens for three, plain and simple," Ravens coach Brian Billick said. "If you get an opportunity to score or stop them, you can't trade touchdowns for field goals, and that's what we did today."

It all added up to a feel-good victory for the surprising Bengals.

"I'm happy where we are at 7-2," Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis said. "I don't think we had any major injuries today. When we come out of the bye, it looks like we should be at full strength."

Cincinnati was nursing a 14-6 lead before Palmer capped the 91-yard drive with a 3-yard TD pass to Chris Henry with 6:05 to go. That was enough of a cushion to dispatch the Ravens, who haven't scored more than 19 points in any game this season.

Lewis averaged 3.3 yards per carry and Anthony Wright averaged just 8 yards per completion for the Ravens. It was the first time in eight games against Cincinnati that Lewis failed to run for at least 100 yards.

"We didn't make up any special recipes or do any witchcraft before the game," Bengals linebacker Brian Simmons said. "Guys just went out there and played team ball."

The Bengals had lost seven straight in Baltimore until last year, when Palmer brought Cincinnati back from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter. This time, the Bengals held the lead over the final 36 minutes, thanks to a defense that limited Baltimore to 240 yards.

Wright went 19-for-30 for 153 yards, and the Ravens' flickering playoff hopes took another hit. Baltimore's 2-6 start is the worst in franchise history, matching the mark of the 1998 team.

Wright left the game in the third quarter with an injured left ankle after being tackled by John Thornton. Kordell Stewart came in and revived the Baltimore offense, running four times for 23 yards on a 13-play drive and even going out for a pass on a trick play.

The throw to Stewart, from wide receiver Randy Hymes, ticked off the quarterback's fingertips. Minutes later, Stover kicked a 31-yard field goal to bring Baltimore to 14-9 with 12:46 left.

But Palmer answered with a 12-play march that included a 48-yard pass to Chad Johnson.

"That says a lot about this team and its offense," said Palmer, who went 19-for-26 for 248 yards. "We answer when we need to, even it's not always perfect and not always pretty."

Wright returned the next series, but by then the Ravens were in too big of a hole.

An inadvertent referee's whistle cost Baltimore an apparent touchdown early in the third quarter with Cincinnati holding a 14-6 lead. Bengals tight end Matt Schobel fumbled when hit by Adalius Thomas, and Will Demps picked up the ball and went the distance.

But officials ruled the play dead as Demps picked up the ball at the Baltimore 42, and the Ravens went nowhere before punting.

"It was an error," referee Jeff Triplette said of the quick whistle. "By rule, there is nothing we can do."

Baltimore outgained Cincinnati 160-138 in the first half, but the Bengals used a long drive and cashed in a turnover to take a 14-6 lead.

A 1-yard touchdown run by Rudi Johnson put Cincinnati up 7-3 in the second quarter. Todd Heap lost a fumble on the third play after the kickoff, and the Bengals recovered on the Baltimore 31.

Four straight runs by Johnson moved the ball to the 8, where Palmer flipped a shovel pass to rookie Tab Perry, who scored his first NFL touchdown on his second reception of the season.

Stover then ended a beat-the-clock march with a 32-yard field goal.

Game notes
Ravens defensive back Dale Carter hurt his hamstring and did not return. ... Heap passed Travis Taylor as the most prolific receiver in franchise history. Heap now has 205 career receptions. ... Cincinnati's Shayne Graham hit his 104th consecutive PAT, surpassing Doug Pelfry's team record of 103.


Posted at 06:31 pm by Pioneertoms3
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