First-half Highs And Lows

The Orioles Had A Frustrating First Half, Filled With Some Uplifting Victories And Even More Deflating Losses. Here's A Look At Some Of The Highs And Lows Before The Second Half Begins Tonight In Chicago.

Rangers 5, Orioles 4 (April 24):: The Orioles squandered a late lead and a strong start by Koji Uehara when closer George Sherrill allowed a two-run, go-ahead homer to Michael Young with two outs in the ninth inning at Camden Yards. The loss dropped the Orioles to 8-9, and they haven't been back at the .500 mark since.

Yankees 5, Orioles 3 (May 10): : This one might be remembered as the "Fist Pump Game," as Aubrey Huff mocked excitable Yankees starter Joba Chamberlain after his first-inning homer. But it was the Yankees who had the last laugh, overcoming a 3-1 seventh-inning deficit on Johnny Damon's homer off Jim Johnson. That started a four-game New York winning streak over the Orioles.

Athletics 3, Orioles 0 (June 7):: It started with a disastrous pitching performance by the enigmatic Rich Hill, who got only two outs while surrendering three first-inning runs. It ended with a feeble offensive effort against Oakland rookie Vin Mazzaro. The Orioles lost a game in which they allowed just two singles, capping a brutal three-game sweep by the A's.

Red Sox 6, Orioles 5, 11 innings (July 1): : Less than 24 hours after they erased a nine-run seventh-inning deficit and pulled off the biggest comeback in franchise history, the Orioles squandered a four-run ninth-inning lead and a brilliant pitching performance by rookie Brad Bergesen. Jim Johnson and George Sherrill, who both had strong first halves, were the culprits and then Danys Baez gave up a run in the top of the 11th.