Third Inning

Injured Olson The night wasn't going smoothly for Orioles rookie left-hander Garrett Olson. Then it became much shorter than he anticipated. Olson left after 3 2/3 innings with stiffness in his left forearm and is listed as day-to-day. He allowed five runs and five hits, with two walks and three strikeouts. Three runs scored on Coco Crisp's homer in the fourth inning that wiped out a 4-2 lead. Olson faced one more batter, striking out Kevin Cash. More breakdowns Olson had other issues besides his arm. Twice in the third inning, he threw to the wrong base, eliciting gestures of frustration from a few teammates.

Milestone for Tejada Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada collected his 1,000th career RBI in the third inning when he singled with two outs to score Kevin Millar and produce a 3-3 tie. The milestone should have arrived in the first inning, but Seattle Mariners shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt put it on hold. Betancourt made a sprawling stop of Tejada's grounder up the middle, holding him to an infield hit and preventing Nick Markakis from scoring. High and low Third baseman Melvin Mora had plenty of time to make two plays in the third inning.

The Orioles found a little bit of everything -- good, bad and worrisome -- in yesterday's 10-7 Opening Day win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.They rediscovered right fielder Albert Belle's bat and were rewarded with four RBIs, including a game-turning three-run homer in his second at-bat as an Oriole. They found the offense that had eluded them for much of an indifferent spring training.They happened upon more positive returns from new first baseman Will Clark. They even received a piece of clutch pitching from scrutinized closer Mike Timlin.

1: The Orioles paid an emotional tribute to former coach and manager Cal Ripken Sr., which included a video memorial, a moment of silence and the unveiling of a commemorative No. 7 in the third base coaching box.2: Right fielder Albert Belle hit a three-run homer during the Orioles' third-inning comeback and became the first Orioles player to receive a curtain call in 1999.3: Center fielder Brady Anderson, who had suffered through an injury-ravaged 1998 season, kicked off the new season with a home run and two singles.

A sense of calm returned to Ray Miller's office last night. No punches were thrown, no challenges issued. The post-game meal was eaten rather than used to decorate the walls.The only rumblings at Camden Yards came from an offense that vented as much frustration as Miller had two days earlier.The Orioles sent nine batters to the plate in the third inning, scoring five times, then kept sending Mike Mussina to the mound. The combination proved too much for the Kansas City Royals, who were beaten, 8-4, before 36,682.

Highlights and lowlights from the Orioles' 5-2 victory over the New York Mets yesterday in Port St. Lucie, Fla.Ups and downsUps: Eric Davis. Outfielder continued to hammer the ball, with two more hits -- a single and a long double -- and two runs scored. He raised his spring batting average to .484 and ranks among the league leaders in seven offensive categories.Ups: Rafael Palmeiro. First baseman also went 2-for-3 and lined his first home run of the spring off the right-field foul pole. The three-run shot off Brian Bohanon broke a 1-1 tie in the third inning.

HittingOtis Nixon, Twins: 4 hits, 2 SBs.Tony Fernandez, Blue Jays: 4-for-4, triple.Mo Vaughn, Red Sox: 2 HRs, 4 RBIs.PitchingChuck Finley, Angels: 7 innings, 0 runs, 3 hits.Rolando Arrojo, Devil Rays: 8 innings, 1 run, 4 hits.Jaret Wright, Indians: 7 2/3 innings, 1 run, 8 hits.FieldingMariners center fielder Ken Griffey made a leaping catch to rob the Tigers' Luis Gonzalez of a two-run homer in the third inning.Pub Date: 8/10/98

DETROIT -- Philosophical musings usually remain simple with Scott Erickson. He pitches wearing black shoes, black socks and an expressionless visage. Erickson makes "one start at a time." He frequently reminds a listener that he loses control of whatever happens as soon as the ball leaves his hand.Throw strikes. Keep the ball down. Do your job. Whatever happens, happens.But yesterday Erickson gave a more complicated performance against the Detroit Tigers, surviving 11 hits and two walks in 7 1/3 innings to take the decision in the Orioles' 6-3 win at Tiger Stadium.

CLEVELAND -- This hardly qualified as a dominant Mike Mussina performance. He gave up nine hits and three runs over seven innings yesterday, in a game that dragged on longer than a sixth-grade recital. The Indians may not have cuffed him around, but they got in a few licks.They just didn't land the usual barrage.Mussina picked up his third victory over the Indians in nine career decisions, as the Orioles awoke from Friday night's offensive slumber to post an 8-3 win at Jacobs Field, Mussina's personal house of horrors.

Just when the Orioles had begun to believe things couldn't get any worse, they received an uplifting lesson in perspective last night. Bad is the Philadelphia Phillies.With Cal Ripken's third-inning grand slam as their hammer and Mike Mussina (10-2) presenting himself a career highlight, the Orioles slammed the Phillies, 8-1, in interleague action. The Orioles represented the American League. Harder to determine was whether the Phillies were playing for the National or International League.

TORONTO - -There are bound to be other days like this in Brian Matusz's career. Even Matusz's counterpart Sunday, the great Roy Halladay, has had games in which his pitches miss the strike zone or are pounded around the ballpark. By the middle of the third inning of his team's 7-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays before an announced 27,464 at Rogers Centre, Orioles manager Dave Trembley had concluded that he had seen enough damage inflicted on his prized rookie pitcher. Matusz had already given up three home runs, walked two batters and watched Alex Rios' line single whiz over his head and into center field.

OAKLAND, Calif. - -Just a week ago, the Orioles were feeling pretty good about themselves. They had won seven of eight games thanks to solid starting pitching, timely hitting and the contributions of several young players who injected enthusiasm and hope into a clubhouse in need of both. Now, after another blowout loss at the hands of the Oakland Athletics - this one by a 9-4 score Saturday at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum - they appear to be a team in total disarray. Their starters have given up 15 earned runs and gotten just 12 outs over the past two nights, with Jason Berken becoming the latest to falter as he allowed nine earned runs and a franchise-record tying seven doubles in just 3 1/3 innings.

Not a good start Several of the Orioles auditioning for spots in the rotation had poor beginnings to the Grapefruit League season. Brad Hennessey allowed five base runners and two runs in 1 1/3 innings and was lifted because of right elbow soreness. Chris Waters surrendered three hits and a run in 1 2/3 innings, and David Pauley managed to get just one out en route to allowing four earned runs on five hits and a walk. Brian Bass also struggled, giving up four hits and two runs in two innings.

Jeremy Guthrie says it doesn't matter, as long as the result is an Orioles victory. The Orioles right-hander is content working with a big lead and with the luxury of knowing that one mistake is not going to cost him a win. But there is something about a tense pitcher's duel that Guthrie has learned to enjoy, and he had had plenty of experience over the past three months in such situations. The Orioles, however, would prefer games like yesterday's 10-4 victory over the Texas Rangers in front of an announced holiday crowd of 21,363 at Camden Yards every time.

A recap of the Orioles' 7-5 win over the Astros last night: On the offensive The Orioles knocked around Astros starter Shawn Chacon for six earned runs in five innings. Chacon walked Kevin Millar with the bases loaded to put the Orioles on the board in the third inning. In the fourth, Ramon Hernandez and Alex Cintron connected for long home runs off Chacon as the Orioles built a lead they wouldn't relinquish. The Orioles totaled 11 hits and also got a home run from Aubrey Huff. A painful at-bat Facing former teammate Brian Burres in the third inning, Miguel Tejada lined a ball off his left knee.

Injured Olson The night wasn't going smoothly for Orioles rookie left-hander Garrett Olson. Then it became much shorter than he anticipated. Olson left after 3 2/3 innings with stiffness in his left forearm and is listed as day-to-day. He allowed five runs and five hits, with two walks and three strikeouts. Three runs scored on Coco Crisp's homer in the fourth inning that wiped out a 4-2 lead. Olson faced one more batter, striking out Kevin Cash. More breakdowns Olson had other issues besides his arm. Twice in the third inning, he threw to the wrong base, eliciting gestures of frustration from a few teammates.

Milestone for Tejada Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada collected his 1,000th career RBI in the third inning when he singled with two outs to score Kevin Millar and produce a 3-3 tie. The milestone should have arrived in the first inning, but Seattle Mariners shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt put it on hold. Betancourt made a sprawling stop of Tejada's grounder up the middle, holding him to an infield hit and preventing Nick Markakis from scoring. High and low Third baseman Melvin Mora had plenty of time to make two plays in the third inning.

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.

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.

NEW YORK - Unable to tolerate another error yesterday, the count rising to three in the first three innings, Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli gathered his players on the mound at Yankee Stadium for an impromptu group therapy session. All four infielders attended it, as did the starting pitcher and catcher. It seemed like the right time for them to get in touch with his feelings. "He told us to keep our heads up, to keep plugging," second baseman Brian Roberts said. "You just can't overcome mistake after mistake after mistake against a good team.