Ervin Santana

A recap of the Orioles' 11-6 loss to the Angels last night: Fewer than six again Orioles starter Radhames Liz was pulled in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and two outs and the Orioles trailing 6-3. It was the sixth time in his past seven starts that he failed to get through six innings. He's not alone. Orioles starters have pitched six innings only twice in 10 games since the All-Star break and have an ERA of 8.35 in that span. Liz was charged with six runs on seven hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings.

Today Angels, 7:05 p.m., MASN * Starters: Angels' Joe Saunders (12-5, 3.05) vs. Brian Burres (7-6, 5.02) Tomorrow Angels, 7:05 p.m., MASN *Starters: Angels' Jon Garland (8-6, 4.12) vs. Radhames Liz (4-2, 7.19) Sunday Angels, 1:35 p.m., MASN , Ch. 13 *Starters: Angels' Ervin Santana (11-4, 3.37) vs. Garrett Olson (6-5, 6.11) Monday @Yankees, 7:05 p.m., MASN *Starters: Jeremy Guthrie (6-8, 3.58) vs. Yankees' Darrell Rasner (5-7, 4.83) Tuesday @Yankees, 7:05 p.m., Ch. 13 *Starters: Daniel Cabrera (6-6, 4.86)

It doesn't take the deepest insight to say that baseball is a surprising, even confounding game. But it's healthy for us as fantasy players to step back every so often and recognize how much the game flips our expectations on their heads. Smart preparation helps in broad strokes, but by June, I inevitably feel that the season has scattered my rational expectations all about. I consider myself a not-stupid observer of the sport. But Milton Bradley, Ryan Ludwick, Nate McLouth and J.D. Drew ranking among the best hitters in baseball?

GIVING IT UP The Orioles felt pretty good about themselves after the top of the second when Ramon Hernandez's double gave them a 2-0 lead. But Steve Trachsel gave the runs and the lead back immediately, allowing three second-inning runs on three hits and three walks. The Angels were just getting started. They scored two more in the third on catcher Mike Napoli's long home run. Trachsel's night ended after the third inning, as he gave up five earned runs on five hits and four walks. WEB GEM Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis made one of the catches of the year in the third inning last night, robbing Angels second baseman Erick Aybar of a two-run home run. Markakis ran the ball down, slammed into the wall and had half his body over it to make the catch.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Nick Markakis jogged a few strides toward the wall before realizing there was no hope of another miraculous catch. So he stopped and watched Mike Napoli's drive disappear into the right-center-field seats. A batter earlier, Markakis made a daring dive over the wall in right field, his arm seemingly extending into the second row to take away a two-run home run from Erick Aybar. But he was powerless to do anything else to save starting pitcher Steve Trachsel last night.

Orioles (26-27)@Angels (33-21) Day ...................... Time ......................... TV ........................... Starters Tonight ............... 10:05 .................. MASN2 .............. Brian Burres (2-2, 3.27) ........................................ ............................................... vs. Kelvim Escobar (6-2, 2.64) Tomorrow ........... 10:05 ................. MASN2 ............... Daniel Cabrera (4-5, 4.78) ........................................ .......

Anaheim, Calif. -- The Orioles walked a dangerous line all night, leaving 14 runners on, including eight in scoring position. They finally paid for it in the 10th inning when Adam Kennedy's three-run homer off Julio Manon sent the Orioles to a 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels last night before 43,658 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Orioles@Angels Today, 3:35 p.m., Ch. 54, 1090 AM Starters: Orioles' Daniel Cabrera (7-9, 4.74) vs. Angels' Ervin Santana (13-7, 4.50)

The Orioles still contend that they aren't shopping Miguel Tejada, but they are listening to offers and one club source acknowledged that the front office received calls from "multiple teams" yesterday about the star shortstop. Among those who continue to show interest are the Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers, the source confirmed. The Chicago White Sox, who were at Camden Yards last night, and the Minnesota Twins have not recently discussed acquiring Tejada, the source said.