Game Wrap and Morning Links: May 17, 2011

Baltimore 7, Boston 8
Box Score / Play-By-Play / AP Recap

Chris Tillman was not crisp, but he got the job done through five innings and exited with a 6-0 lead. That lead evaporated at the hands of the Orioles pen, with six different arms throwing and only Koji Uehara and Clay Rapada neglecting to allow a run. Closer Kevin Gregg managed to record one out in the ninth before issuing back-to-back walks to Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia and giving up a walk-off double to the red hot Adrian Gonzalez. It was an ugly loss on a night where Baltimore seemed all but assured of a third straight victory over a divisional rival and a .500 record through 40 games. Instead, the Birds drop to 19-21 and fall to 4.5 games out of 1st and 1.5 games out of 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

Stat(s) of the game

$22 million; $32 million

That's the amount of guaranteed money and potential money (including escalators and vesting options) that Andy MacPhail and the Baltimore front office has invested in closers Mike Gonzalez and Kevin Gregg. Through about 1.5 of their cumulative contracted four years (entering tonight's game), the two have been worth a total of .8 wins according to baseball-reference.com, or approximately $3.6 million. Now, let's all remember that Baltimore also gave up a second round pick for the privilege of inking MGon. It's a good thing the organization isn't throwing money away in Latin America -- it's clearly much more wisely invested domestically.

Orioles Game ball

Vlad Guerrero (3-5, 2 2B (9))

MiLB game balls

Norfolk (Box) - Brendan Harris, SS (2-4, 2B (8), 3B (1), 2 RBI (13))
Bowie (No Game) - N/A
Frederick (Box) - Buck Britton, SS/2B (2-4, 2 RBI (24))
Delmarva (Box) - Tyler Kelly, 3B (2-4, 2B (3))

Three Morning Links - Draft Edition

MASN's Roch Kubatko reports that Chris Tillman left last night's start with some tightness in his back.

Yesterday our links led to a story profiling potential draft target Owasso (Okla.) HS right-handed pitcher Dylan Bundy. Today, Jim Callis of Baseball America tells us that Bundy's supposed asking price is astronomical.

Orioles Hangout's Adam Vencill contributes to the Baltimore Sun staff report on Brian Matusz's return to A-Adv. Frederick for his first rehab start.

Up Next

Baltimore's young lefty RoY candidate Zach Britton (3.83 xFIP, 164 ERA+) takes the hill with a chance to salvage a two-game split. The Red Sox counter with the ageless Tim Wakefield (5.12 xFIP, 77 ERA+) who will make his 443rd career start and his 36th against the O's.