Bedard dazzles
After his previous start, in which he tied a season high by giving up six runs and four walks and set a career high by surrendering three home runs, Erik Bedard said he was going through a "dead arm" period that was causing him to exert himself more than usual to reach his normal velocity. But there was no reason to fret, Bedard added. It happens once or twice a season. Bedard then went out last night and alleviated any concerns, shutting down the Rangers in perhaps the finest performance of his career. He pitched a shutout, allowing only two hits and facing the minimum number of Rangers.
Erik ... KKKKKKKKKKKK
Bedard's 15 strikeouts set a career high and tied a club record by Mike Mussina, who stuck out 15 batters twice in the regular season in 2000 and once in the 1997 postseason. Bedard struck out 11 of 12 batters at one point and then struck out the side in the ninth to record his first career complete game in style.
Gibbons gets one
When Jay Gibbons hit a homer Wednesday in Chicago, his first since May 14, he joked that his game plan was just to swing as hard as he could and hope to make contact. After a poor first half of the season, Gibbons was open to trying anything. Well, it worked again last night. He pounded Rangers starter Brandon McCarthy's 3-2 fastball over the right-center-field wall for a bases-empty homer in the second inning. It was his fifth home run of the season but his second in four days. He added singles in the seventh and ninth innings for a 3-for-4 night.
On deck
In their final game before the All-Star break, the Orioles will send right-hander Daniel Cabrera (6-9, 5.15 ERA) to the mound against Rangers veteran right-hander Kevin Millwood (5-7, 6.54). Cabrera, who has given up four earned runs or more in five of his past six starts, is 1-4 with a 6.25 ERA in six career starts against the Rangers. After losing five straight decisions, Millwood has won three of his past four, giving up three earned runs or fewer in three of them. He's 5-2 with a 4.13 ERA and two complete games in eight career starts against the Orioles.