Opportunities lost
The Orioles loaded the bases in the seventh inning with one out after a walk by Kevin Millar and singles by Paul Bako and Brian Roberts. A sacrifice fly by Melvin Mora pulled them to 5-4. However, Nick Markakis ended the inning on foul pop-up. In the eighth, the Orioles stranded runners on first and third, and they left eight men on base for the game.
Patterson's leather
The Orioles' Corey Patterson made a leaping catch in the sixth to deny Scott Hairston his second home run of the game. Patterson was making just his third start since June 5. The crowd gave him a standing ovation after his grab. He also doubled in his first at-bat and scored the Orioles' first run of the game.
Lucky, unlucky
Arizona center fielder Chris Young accidentally helped the Orioles in the sixth. A fly ball by Mora bounced off Young's glove and over the fence for a two-run homer. Arizona's fortunes improved later in the inning. With Markakis at first and no outs, Miguel Tejada hit a ground ball and second baseman Orlando Hudson dropped the throw at second. However, Markakis was called out. Manager Sam Perlozzo came out to argue with no success.
On Deck
The Diamondbacks' Brandon Webb will face Brian Burres today. Last season's National League Cy Young Award winner, Webb is 6-4 with a 3.18 ERA. He is among the NL leaders in strikeouts with 86. Burres, who was scheduled to start yesterday but was pushed back a day due to soreness in his left arm, is 3-2 with a 2.80 ERA.
DAN IGO
Online
For more on the Orioles, go to Roch Kubatko's blog, Roch Around the Clock, at baltimoresun.com/roch