Play It Again

A recap of the Orioles' 9-4 loss to the Angels yesterday:

OLSON COMES UNDONE

The Orioles received several strong starting pitching performances on the nine-game road trip, but Garrett Olson's outing yesterday certainly didn't qualify. Unable to build off his previous performance, in which he came just two outs shy of a complete-game shutout, Olson allowed six earned runs, lasting just 2 2/3 innings, tying his shortest start of the season. Olson surrendered seven hits, including two home runs, walked two and threw a run-scoring wild pitch. He threw 65 pitches, and many of them were either hit hard or missed the strike zone.

QUITE A DEBUT

A day after Chris Waters pitched eight shutout innings and allowed just one hit to beat the Angels in his major league debut, outfielder Lou Montanez had a memorable first start of his own. In his first major league at-bat in the third inning and on just the second pitch he saw, Montanez took Ervin Santana over the left-center-field wall. He became the first Orioles position player to hit a home run in his first major league at-bat. The only other Oriole to do it was pitcher Buster Narum in 1963 at Detroit. Montanez also singled in the fifth and finished 2-for-4.

CAN'T FAULT THE DEFENSE

Adam Jones was playing Gold Glove-quality defense in center field when he went on the disabled list this week with a fractured left foot. Jay Payton, who will get the majority of starts in center for now, proved more than an adequate replacement yesterday with two highlight-reel catches. In the fifth inning, Payton drifted back to the wall and made a leaping catch, denying Juan Rivera a solo home run. It was the second time on this road trip Payton extended over the wall to take away a home run. He also denied the Seattle Mariners' Jose Lopez of a solo shot Saturday. In the sixth, Payton slammed into the wall to take away an extra-base hit from Erick Aybar.

ON DECK

The Orioles returned home last night and are off today before beginning a three-game series tomorrow night (7:05) with the Texas Rangers at Camden Yards. In Game 1 of the series., Orioles right-hander Jeremy Guthrie (8-8, 3.35) will oppose the Rangers' Luis Mendoza (3-4, 7.00). Guthrie is 1-0 with a 5.52 ERA in four career appearances against the Rangers, including two starts. Mendoza, a right-hander, 24, beat the Orioles last year, holding them to one earned run over five innings.