--LHP George Sherrill was one strike away from his 27th save Sunday. But Ronnie Belliard's walk-off home run on a hanging slider instead gave the Orioles closer his fourth blown save of the season, and dropped his record to 2-3.
--RHP Jeremy Guthrie got his first big league hit in the fifth inning Sunday. Guthrie's double was the second hit by an Orioles pitcher this season. Garrett Olson was 1-for-2 with a sac fly Saturday. Guthrie was picked off second base after his double. --LF Luke Scott hit his 14th home run of the season Sunday. The solo shot with one out in the top of the seventh was Scott's eighth in the month of June. --LHP Brian Burres is expected to make Monday's start against Kansas City. Burres missed his last start, Wednesday in Chicago, with a stomach ailment, only to throw an inning the following day.
--CF Adam Jones stole his seventh base of the season Saturday. Despite being incredibly athletic and fleet in the field, Jones is more of a free swinger than a small-ball, base-stealing type. Still, don't be surprised if he steals 15-20 bases on his tools alone.
--SS Alex Cintron made the best of his Saturday start, going 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI, raising his average to .279. Cintron will likely serve as the reserve shortstop with Brandon Fahey earning most of the starts.
BY THE NUMBERS: .087 -- Batting average by Orioles pitchers this season, with two hits in 23 at bats. Both hits came this past weekend in Washington.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I don't think you'll find anybody in here who doesn't think we can compete this year. We're a 12-2 streak away from being in the thick of everything." --1B Kevin Millar, on the team's midseason confidence despite it's rebuilding process.
