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Markakis helps Orioles end losing streak

Aug 11, 2007 - 4:16 AM BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Nick Markakis' walk-off sacrifice fly helped the Baltimore Orioles overcome a late four-run deficit and end their three-game losing slide.

Markakis drove in two runs as the Orioles posted a 6-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.

Markakis, who has a hit in seven straight games, sent a first-pitch offering from Hideki Okajima (3-1) in the ninth inning to center field, which was deep enough to score Brian Roberts from third base.

"I was just looking for the first pitch I could drive somewhere in the outfield," Makakis said. "It was a fly ball through the hole, anything just to get Brian in from third."

Roberts led off the frame with a ground-rule double and advanced to second on Corey Patterson's sacrifice bunt, setting the stage for Markakis to deliver his 72nd RBI of the season.

Jim Hoey (1-0) registered the win after pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Baltimore starter Erik Bedard, who had won his previous eight decisions, cruised through the first seven innings with a 1-0 lead in a marquee matchup with Daisuke Matsuzaka, but he could not get the Orioles through the eighth with the lead.

"Bedard was in there," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "The eighth was going to be it for him. That was it."

After striking out Kevin Youkilis to began the frame, Bedard walked Mike Lowell and surrendered a single to Jason Varitek. Miguel Tejada struggled to field Coco Crisp's grounder but managed to flip the ball to third to record the forceout.

Wily Mo Pena tied the game at 1-1 with an RBI single up the middle to put runners on the corners and chase Bedard from the game.

"It's kind of hard watching it," Bedard said. "You always want to stay."

Lugo followed with a perfectly placed bunt single down the first base line, which plated Crisp and gave the Red Sox a 2-1 advantage. David Ortiz delivered a two-run single and Manny Ramirez followed with an RBI base hit to open up a 5-1 Boston lead and cap the rally.

Baltimore responded in the bottom half of the eighth. After Patterson started the inning with a double off Red Sox reliever Eric Gagne, he was driven in by Markakis' base hit to right field to cut the deficit to 5-2.

Aubrey Huff ended Gagne's night with a two-run double to right field and then was replaced by Brandon Fahey, who scored on Melvin Mora's single against Okajima to tie the game at 5-5.

Boston manager Terry Francona wanted to stay with Gagne but had to make a change. "The way the game was going, it kind of dictated that I had to make a move," Francona said.

Bedard allowed three runs and four hits with seven strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings. The lefthander, who leads the American League with 199 strikeouts, retired 12 straight hitters between the fourth and eighth innings.

Matsuzaka pitched seven innings, limiting the Orioles to four hits and one run with four walks and seven strikeouts. The Japanese righthander now has 159 strikeouts, setting a team record for a rookie pitcher.

"I didn't feel that my stuff was quite as good as it was in my previous start," Matsuzaka said through an interpreter. "I came in knowing I was going to be facing a really good pitcher on their side. We're at a point in the season where we want to pick up every win we can - especially going late into the game with a lead like that."