Winning Run

The usual axioms did not apply. The Orioles were not in a position to be choosy about the way in which they scored a 4-3 victory over the California Angels yesterday at Camden Yards. But manager Johnny Oates wasn't in a take-'em-anyway-you-can-get-'em frame of mind.Nothing had changed. The club missed several opportunities and at least a couple of signs. There was another potentially disastrous base-running mistake. There were too many similarities to the ugly loss of the day before."I'm not going to go in there and tell them they played a great game," Oates said.

Prior to losing a fumble on the Ravens' first possession of Sunday's 24-9 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Wildcard round, Ray Rice had gone 445 consecutive touches without losing the football. The three-time Pro Bowl running back hadn't lost a fumble since Dec. 11, 2011. So coughing up the ball twice Sunday was somewhat surprising. Rice owned up to the gaffes, but when pressed on whether he was trying to make a little more out of the play, he got a little defensive.

It was quite a week for C. Milton Wright outfielder Sean Bantner, but the senior saved his best -- defense and offense -- for the last.His outstanding running catch in the top of the seventh saved a run, and his line shot to right field led to the winning run in the bottom of the inning, as the Mustangs upset visiting Fallston, 8-7, in the Class 3A North regional final.Reliever Phillip Akens hit leadoff batter Nate Weigl in the seventh, and one out later, Bantner slashed his hit to right.

The dog days of August don't usually include three-hour, nine-minute rain delays, but a little more than 12 hours after their game against the Kansas City Royals ended early Sunday morning with a loss, the Orioles were back on the field at Camden Yards trying to salvage a series split. The Orioles' series finale against the Royals was the club's 30th game in 31 days since the All-Star break. Grinding through the yawns and tired eyes of Sunday would reward the Orioles with a much-welcomed off day Monday.

Senior designated hitter/first baseman Lenny Kagan drove in the winning run with a two-out single in the eighth inning as No. 13 Gilman (5-0) edged top-ranked and host Calvert Hall, 7-6, yesterday.Gilman scored three runs in the third and fourth innings to build a 6-1 lead. Calvert Hall (11-1) then rallied with five runs in the sixth to tie the game at 6.With runners on first and second in the eighth, Kagan singled up the middle of the infield for the winning run. Greyhounds relief pitcher Bobby Proutt pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing only one hit, to record the win.The defending A Conference Cardinals had won 32 of their previous 36 games.

Senior designated hitter/first baseman Lenny Kagan drove in the winning run with a two-out single in the eighth inning as No. 13 Gilman (5-0) edged top-ranked and host Calvert Hall, 7-6, yesterday.K? Gilman scored three runs in the third and fourth innings tobuild a 6-1 lead. Calvert Hall (11-1) then rallied with five runs in the sixth to tie the game at 6.With runners on first and second in the eighth, Kagan singled up the middle of the infield for the winning run. Greyhounds relief pitcher Bobby Proutt pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing only one hit, to record the win.The defending A Conference Cardinals had won 32 of their previous 36 games.

Hitting Brent Mayne, Giants: Game-winning grand slam vs. Marlins.Mark Loretta, Brewers: RBI double in ninth beats Padres.Bob Abreu, Phillies: 4-for-5 with three RBIs, singled home the winning run in the 10th.PitchingKerry Wood, Cubs: Tied major-league record with 20 strikeouts in 1-0 win.Greg Maddux, Braves: 7 innings, 5 hits, O runsPub Date: 5/07/98

BATTING LINE OF THE DAY Kelly Johnson, Braves LF AB R H RBI BB 3 3 2 3 2 PITCHING LINE OF THE DAY Carlos Zambrano, Cubs IP H R BB SO 8 1/3 3 2 3 10 WHO'S HOT Noah Lowry, who won his third straight start for the Giants, also drove in yesterday's tying run and scored the winning run. WHO'S NOT The Royals have given up 10 or more runs seven times during their club-record 18-game losing streak.

4 Hits for South Carroll third baseman Matt Greene in Friday's season-opening 3-2 win over county rival Westminster. Greene scored the winning run on a bases-loaded walk in the seventh. 5 Goals for Liberty's Kelly Davis on Saturday against the Dulaney girls, but it wasn't enough in a 16-7 loss. 24-0 Final score of Francis Scott Key's season-opening win over Smithsburg in softball. Joanna Gilford had three hits, including a home run, for the Eagles.

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. -- Gregg Zaun's single in the top of the 14th inning scored Jim Wawruck with the winning run as the Bowie Baysox defeated the New Britain Red Sox, 5-4, in a Double-A Eastern League game last night.Wawruck opened the inning with a single, then was sacrificed to second by Bo Ortiz. Brad Tyler and Brent Miller walked to load the bases before Zaun's single to right scored Wawruck.The Baysox trailed 4-2 entering the top of the ninth, but theyreceived RBI from Jimmy Roso and Wawruck to tie the game at 4.

For much of the past decade, the season finale at Camden Yards has been a simple affair, several thousand fans politely ushering in autumn with another lost season completed. On Wednesday, in the Orioles' 4-3, come-from-behind, no-way-that-happened win over the Boston Red Sox, the vibe at Camden Yards was different -- tense moments, jump-to-your-feet excitement, a pennant-race atmosphere for a cellar-dwelling club that began the night 29 games out of first place. The Orioles' season ended with walk-off single by Robert Andino against Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, who struck out his first two batters before giving up the 3-2 lead on consecutive doubles by Chris Davis and Nolan Reimold.

Orioles Baysox's Johnson allows one hit in 8 innings in 4-2 win Steve Johnson (St. Paul's) threw eight one-hit innings as the Bowie Baysox, the Orioles' Double-A Eastern League affiliate, ended their five-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over the visiting Richmond Flying Squirrels. Johnson's eight innings were a season high, and he tied his season-high with seven strikeouts. "I was able to throw all my pitches for strikes; I was consistent with my fastball and I was able to put it where I wanted it," he said.

Jake Arrieta did everything that Chris Tillman couldn't do a night earlier. He threw strikes, made big pitches when he had to and wasn't overwhelmed by the moment or the opposition. When the Orioles knocked around Phil Hughes and took a five-run lead by the fifth inning, it appeared that the young starter would be rewarded for his effort. But such assumptions should never be made when the Orioles are playing the New York Yankees, especially at Yankee Stadium. Brought on to convert a one-run lead into a victory, Orioles closer Kevin Gregg allowed a game-tying home run on his first pitch of the ninth inning to Jorge Posada.

For one night, the concerns about young starter Chris Tillman proved unfounded. He not only kept the Orioles in the game, he didn't allow a hit or a run over six tedious yet effective innings Saturday. The Orioles' offense, however, was shut down until one big swing from an unlikely power source. In a scoreless game in the eighth inning, Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon removed a dominant James Shields and replaced him with left-hander Jake McGee. Brian Roberts sent his third pitch deep into the left-field seats.

Justin Duchscherer accomplished his one goal Tuesday, walking off the mound without pain in his left hip. Duchscherer threw two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and walking one in his first Grapefruit League start and first game action since April 29. The Orioles lost to the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-3, before an announced 9,039 at Bright House Field. They are 4-4-2 on the exhibition season. They took a one-run lead into the ninth, but Rule 5 pick Adrian Rosario failed to get an out in the inning, allowing two walks, a bunt single and a game-winning two-run single to Carlos Rivero.

Adopting a win one for Juan Samuel mantra, the Orioles rallied to tie the score in the eighth inning on Corey Patterson's solo homer and then won it in the 11th on Ty Wigginton's sacrifice fly. But not everyone in the visiting clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium was thrilled after the Orioles' 6-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals before an announced 17,220, a win that broke a five-game losing streak and was just the Orioles' third in 14 games since...

Braves: Atlanta is 6-2 against the Cardinals, including 4-1 at Busch Stadium. Tom Glavine is 12-4 against St. Louis.Dodgers: Outfielder Gary Sheffield left the game in the fifth due to a sprained left thumb. He was listed as day-to-day. Los Angeles has played six straight one-run games, going 3-3.Giants: Joe Carter passed Graig Nettles for 30th place on the career home run list with his 391st. Jeff Kent has 15 home runs and 43 RBIs over his past 44 games. Despite missing 30 games, he is on pace for a 30-homer, 120-RBI season.

The Orioles ran out of comebacks. A day after erasing a four-run deficit and winning in the 13th inning, the Orioles dug themselves out of an early four-run hole to tie the game before falling, 5-4, to the Tampa Bay Rays before an announced 19,286 today at sun-drenched Camden Yards. The Rays scored the winning run in the sixth inning when Jason Berken issued a bases-loaded, two-out walk to Evan Longoria. It was the Orioles' fifth loss in six games since the All-Star break, and they are just 2-7 against Tampa Bay this season.