Fifth Inning

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The Orioles did most of their damage offensively yesterday when they were doing the very least.Four consecutive walks by Florida Marlins left-hander Armando Almanza in the fifth inning followed leadoff singles by B. J. Surhoff and Lenny Webster and helped the Orioles to a 6-1 victory in their home exhibition opener.The game was scoreless when Almanza entered and shook up the proceedings. A balk moved Surhoff to second, and Webster's single gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead.

For the fourth consecutive time this season, Orioles starter Jake Arrieta couldn't make it to the sixth inning. Arrieta allowed five runs, all of them earned, against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. He was pulled from the game with the Orioles leading, 4-3, in the top of the fifth inning at Camden Yards. The Dodgers had runners on the corners and no outs when he left. Those two runners scored after T.J. McFarland entered the game, but they were credited to Arrieta, who is in line for the loss if the Orioles don't erase this one-run lead.

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The Bowie Baysox's five-game winning streak ended last night when they lost to the Albany-Colonie Yankees, 11-9, in a Triple-A International League contest.The Yankees (66-64) put together consecutive four-run innings in the fourth and fifth to overcome a 2-1 deficit. Run-scoring singles by Jason Robertson, Mike Picca and Calvin Rodriguez highlighted the fourth, and a two-run double by Andy Fox led the fifth inning.

NEW YORK - Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has said repeatedly that he is just soaking up the playoff atmosphere, trying to have fun and not do too much. He's here to do what he can to contribute, not be a savior. That sentiment works, until you start making history. Machado led off the fifth inning Wednesday by hitting a slider from New York Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda into the visiting bullpen to give the Orioles a 2-1 lead in Game 3 of the American League Division Series.

Hitting Mark McGwire, Cardinals: Hit his major-leading 10th home run, a 2-run shot.Vinny Castilla, Rockies: Hit his ninth homer.Matt Williams, Diamondbacks: 4-for-5, 2 HRs, 3 RBIs.Ryan Klesko, Braves: 4 RBIs.PitchingKirk Rueter, Giants: 6 2/3 innings, 0 earned runs, 3 hits.David Weathers, Reds: 8 innings, 0 runs, 6 hits.FieldingTony Eusebio, Astros: Threw out 3 Expos trying to steal second, two in the fifth inning.Pub Date: 4/26/98

GETTING WET The game's originally-scheduled first pitch was delayed 42 minutes after the rains hit before the game. The Orioles and Twins were able to play 1 1/2 innings before the tarp was applied again with one out in the bottom of the second. The two teams sat through a 40-minute delay before the game re-started. This time, they were able to make it into the top of the fourth before crew chief Randy Marsh called for the tarp after Mark Hendrickson had thrown two pitches. It stayed on for an hour, 27 minutes before play resumed IN NICK OF TIME If the game had been postponed before the top of the fifth inning, Nick Markakis would have lost his fifth home run. Markakis hit a two-run shot off the foul pole in right field in the first inning.

BOSTON -- Wally Joyner lined a two-run double in a four-run fifth inning and Mark Langston earned his ninth victory as the California Angels avoided a four-game sweep by beating the Boston Red Sox, 4-2, last night.Langston, now 9-2 after going 10-17 last season, held the Red Sox hitless for for four innings, gave up two runs in the fifth and left after allowing six hits in seven innings. Mark Eichhorn took over to start the eighth but was replaced after Wade Boggs' two-out single by Bryan Harvey, who got the last four outs for his 16th save as the Angels ended a season-high four-game losing streak.

Centennial sophomore Brad Loveless admitted his first varsity start made him a little nervous yesterday. The short fences at Hammond and the Bears' home-run hitting lineup can give the most veteran of high school pitchers a case of jitters. But his offense treated him to a four-run first inning to ease his nerves, and the sharp-looking right-hander turned in a sound performance, leading the No. 8-ranked Eagles (2-0 overall, 2-0 league) to a key 8-5 victory over No. 12-ranked Hammond. Both teams had opened their seasons Thursday with no-hit pitching performances.

Southern of Anne Arundel pitcher Ken Misal had just 14 hours to rest his arm before he took the mound again in yesterday's continuation of the Class 2A state baseball semifinal against James M. Bennett. Given the way the Bennett hitters swung the bat in the fifth inning yesterday at Arundel High, it's possible no amount of rest would have sufficed. After managing one base runner in three innings against Misal on Tuesday, the Clippers broke loose for five runs on four hits against him in the fifth inning of yesterday's rain-forced continuation, rolling to a 5-1 win over the Bulldogs and securing a spot in Saturday's state championship game against Liberty.

CLEVELAND -- Orioles manager Davey Johnson reiterated yesterday that he has no regrets about sticking with a 10-man pitching staff over an 11-man alignment in the American League Championship Series.The issue became magnified during Sunday night's 8-7 loss to the Cleveland Indians in Game 4, when Johnson managed as if hamstrung while Scott Erickson and his bullpen struggled early.Johnson allowed Erickson to surrender 11 hits and seven runs (six earned) in 4 2/3 troubled innings. He then left right-hander Terry Mathews to stew in the bullpen while left-hander Arthur Rhodes threw a wild pitch against right-handed hitter Marquis Grissom, a critical play on which the Indians scored twice to take a 7-5 lead in the fifth inning.

When Jake Arrieta cruised into the fifth inning Saturday night after retiring a dozen consecutive Los Angeles Angels, the Orioles right-hander looked as if he would pick up his third quality start in four outings this young season. By the time his head stopped spinning in the fifth at Angel Stadium, however, Arrieta was in the Orioles dugout smarting from his shortest stint since July. The Angels collected five singles, three walks and five runs in the fifth to chase Arrieta on their way to a 6-3 win and a series victory against the Orioles (8-7)

With Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Orioles completed their third and final disastrous trip north of the border this season, something the resurgent club is hoping to quickly expunge from its collective memory. The Blue Jays, however, aren't going to forget this one easily. Not after their star slugger and potential Most Valuable Player candidate, Jose Bautista, was twice hit in the left arm with pitches -- leading to the ejections of Orioles manager Buck Showalter and reliever Alfredo Simon.

GETTING WET The game's originally-scheduled first pitch was delayed 42 minutes after the rains hit before the game. The Orioles and Twins were able to play 1 1/2 innings before the tarp was applied again with one out in the bottom of the second. The two teams sat through a 40-minute delay before the game re-started. This time, they were able to make it into the top of the fourth before crew chief Randy Marsh called for the tarp after Mark Hendrickson had thrown two pitches. It stayed on for an hour, 27 minutes before play resumed IN NICK OF TIME If the game had been postponed before the top of the fifth inning, Nick Markakis would have lost his fifth home run. Markakis hit a two-run shot off the foul pole in right field in the first inning.

NOT HIS FAULT Before leaving the park after Tuesday night's 12-0 loss, Orioles manager Dave Trembley sought out Brian Burres and told him that he would pitch well the next night. Burres proved his manager prophetic, going 7 1/3 innings and allowing only two runs on five hits and three walks. He also struck out seven. It was a strong follow-up to his seven shutout innings against the Toronto Blue Jays in his previous outing. Burres gave up his only runs on a bases-empty homer to Hideki Matsui in the second inning and a wild pitch in the fifth inning that scored Doug Mientkiewicz from third base.

Rodrigo Lopez's first pitch Friday night was ripped down the left-field line for a double. His second one was rocketed to center field and one-hopped the wall for another double. It simply amounted to foreshadowing on an otherwise insignificant September night where two teams far removed from the playoff picture went about the arduous task of playing out their schedule. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays had 11 hits and touched Lopez and reliever Aaron Rakers for three home runs, two by Jorge Cantu, to beat the Orioles, 6-1, before 19,972.

Rodrigo Lopez's first pitch last night was ripped down the left-field line for a double. His second one was rocketed to center field and one-hopped the wall for another double. It simply amounted to foreshadowing on an otherwise insignificant September night where two teams far removed from the playoff picture went about the arduous task of playing out their schedule. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays had 11 hits and touched Lopez and reliever Aaron Rakers for three home runs, two by Jorge Cantu, to beat the Orioles, 6-1, before 19,972.

When she's at the plate, Severna Park junior pitcher Kaila Jenkins is at her best when she's a little upset. Just ask Northeast. After the visiting Eagles scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning yesterday to tie the game, Jenkins had a quick chance to respond in the bottom of the inning. She connected on Northeast pitcher Lauren Hart's first pitch with a shot to left-center field to score two runs and send the top-ranked Falcons to a 5-3 win over the No. 6 Eagles in the season opener for both teams.

NOT HIS FAULT Before leaving the park after Tuesday night's 12-0 loss, Orioles manager Dave Trembley sought out Brian Burres and told him that he would pitch well the next night. Burres proved his manager prophetic, going 7 1/3 innings and allowing only two runs on five hits and three walks. He also struck out seven. It was a strong follow-up to his seven shutout innings against the Toronto Blue Jays in his previous outing. Burres gave up his only runs on a bases-empty homer to Hideki Matsui in the second inning and a wild pitch in the fifth inning that scored Doug Mientkiewicz from third base.

TORONTO -- It can be a slight twitch or a subtle gesture that's almost imperceptible to the naked eye. A pitcher moves his glove a fraction of an inch, turns his shoulders, bends a knee, does something that the plate umpire rules an attempt to deceive the base runner. The Orioles are regular offenders, and it's becoming costly. Starter Daniel Cabrera committed a balk in the fifth inning last night with the bases loaded and two outs, rocking forward slightly and allowing Russ Adams to score the tiebreaking run in the Toronto Blue Jays' 3-2 victory at Rogers Centre.

COLLEGE PARK - The Huntingtown softball team never had the look of a first-year program this season and C. Milton Wright ended up being the last of a long list of opponents to see that in yesterday's Class 3A state championship game. The No. 15 Mustangs were able to stay close through four innings before the Hurricanes from softball-rich Calvert County broke loose with five runs in the fifth, pulling away for a 6-1 win at the University of Maryland. The Mustangs ended with a 21-5 mark, while Huntingtown (22-1)