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Markakis helps Orioles snap nine-game slide

Sep 1, 2007 - 5:00 AM BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Baltimore Orioles had to win eventually.

Nick Markakis and Miguel Tejada each homered as the Orioles ended a nine-game losing streak with a 9-8 triumph over the Boston Red Sox on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.

Tejada also was helpful defensively, playing a part in all four double plays turned by Baltimore - including one on David Ortiz in the eighth as Boston's slugger represented the tying run.

"I think the whole city of Boston was nervous, too, because they want 'Big Papi' coming to the plate," Tejada said. "When you've got a situation like that, the last guy you want to see at the plate is 'Big Papi.' When we get him to hit into a double play, that's when we really felt good."

Markakis belted a three-run blast in the sixth inning to cap a five-run rally and give Baltimore a 9-3 advantage.

The 23-year-old Markakis was one of the few Orioles still producing over the losing streak, which began with a 30-3 setback to the Texas Rangers on August 22. He has now hit five homers and driven in 13 runs over his last nine games.

Tejada started a four-run rally in the fourth by sending a 1-1 offering from Red Sox starter Julian Tavarez (7-10) over the left field wall, tying the game at 2-2.

In that same inning, Baltimore's frustration boiled over as manager Dave Trembley was ejected for the first time in his tenure for arguing what he felt was obstruction on Ramon Hernandez at third base that prevented him from scoring.

Trembley was arguing with third base umpire Ed Hickox when crew chief Joe West came over and issued the ejection.

"I don't know why he was there," Trembley said of West. "I'll do what I gotta do to back up my team. I'm not afraid and I'm not intimidated. You've got to do what you've got to do. Don't misrepresent kindness for weakness. It's been a very tough nine days. A lot of things have been going against us, and things would have been fine if Joe didn't come over.

"Joe had no business coming over there. He threw me out. That's fine, but what he said to me after that, that was not fine."

Melvin Mora and Hernandez added RBI singles later in the inning as the Orioles took a 4-2 lead.

Kurt Birkins (1-1) pitched three innings of relief, yielding one run and three hits with two strikeouts to register the win.

Baltimore starter Radhames Liz lasted just three-plus innings in his second career start. He was pulled for Birkins after issued back-to-back walks to start the fourth.

Three more relievers bridged the gap to Danys Baez, who gave up two runs and three hits but still managed to hang on and record his third save.

Boston (80-55), which lost its fourth straight but maintained its five-game advantage over the New York Yankees (75-60) in the American League East Division, took an early 1-0 lead when David Ortiz blasted a solo shot to left in the first inning.

Tavarez hurled 3 1/3 innings, surrendering four runs and seven hits with no strikouts.

Mike Timlin gave up four runs while retiring just two batters but became the 13th player in major league history to make 1,000 career appearances.

The Red Sox chipped away at the deficit in the seventh as Kevin Youkilis' single plated Dustin Pedroia, who had four hits. Eric Hinske added a two-run base hit later in the inning to draw Boston within 9-6.

"I thought we were down a lot and we kept fighting," Pedroia said. "That shows a lot about this team. Obviously, it's tough to lose, but we can build on our comeback and come out tomorrow and play a little bit better. It's late in the year, guys are banged up. But we can't use that as an excuse. We've got to go out and play and win some games."

Hinske added an RBI single in the ninth and Alex Cora scored on a grounder by Julio Lugo to make it a one-run game. But Baez induced Jason Varitek to hit into a double play, ending the contest.

Mike Lowell went 3-for-5 for Boston, extending his hitting streak to 13 games.

"We did a good job to make it interesting," Lowell said. "And we were basically one pretty good hit away from tying it or going ahead. Just seems like, you know, when you spot them a (9-3) lead, that's pretty tough to come back. So we gave a little too much, too early."

Boston was without slugger Manny Ramirez, who has a strained left oblique and is expected to be out seven to 10 days. An MRI on Friday revealed no significant damage, according to Red Sox manager Terry Francona.