July 21, 2012|By Dan Connolly | The Baltimore Sun
McAllister (4-2) made just one other mistake, serving up a 430-foot blast to rookie Ryan Flaherty in the eighth. It was Flaherty's fourth homer of the season and second in two games here. The ball landed in the trees behind center field; he thinks it was the longest of his career but he doesn't know for sure. His head was down as he raced around the bases.
“We were in the locker room earlier today and someone was joking that, “You are only 607 behind [Thome],'” Flaherty said. “So I guess [I'll] try to keep pace. I'm still 607 behind him.”
The 24-year-old McAllister, who retired 12 consecutive batters after allowing Markakis' single to start the game, lasted a career-high 7 2/3 innings. He allowed just five hits, no walks and struck out six, but was victimized by the home runs.
And by a 24-year-old righty on the other side who threw strikes and escaped the first inning with minimal damage.
“I thought McAllister was throwing a great game; Tilly was doing a great job for us,” Thome said. “It was a very efficient game, I thought. The game was moving quick and when games go like that, when you get a chance to get a big hit and you do, with our bullpen, we felt pretty good about where we were at.”
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