O's Dropped By Rockies To New Low: 7 in a Row

After scoring three or fewer runs in each of the past six games, the Orioles' output was a veritable offensive explosion.

The Orioles gave DuBose a two-run lead by the third inning -- courtesy of Larry Bigbie's sacrifice fly to shallow left in the second and Palmeiro's RBI single in the top of the third -- but he gave those two runs back, plus three more, in the gruesome bottom half of the inning.

DuBose issued three walks in the inning -- including an inexcusable free pass to the pitcher -- and all three came around to score. The big hit of the inning was Preston Wilson's double to left, which skidded past Hairston -- who, of course, is playing out of position while the team sorts out its second base situation -- all the way to the wall.

"When he walked the pitcher," Mazzilli said, "that got us in trouble."

Even after DuBose gave up a five-spot in the third inning, Mazzilli allowed him to bat with a runner on third and one out in the bottom of the inning. DuBose struck out meekly, then lasted only three batters in the fourth inning.

Asked about DuBose's spot in the rotation, Mazzilli acknowledged he does not have a better option at present, and added, "I want to make sure [DuBose] is physically fine."

Orioles Notes: Needing warm bodies, the team placed veteran outfielder B.J. Surhoff on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left calf muscle and recalled corner infielder Jose Leon from Class AAA Ottawa. Leon had been optioned to Ottawa on Friday, but had not left Denver and, thus, was in uniform for the game.

Surhoff, who was hitting .321, suffered his injury Thursday night and may be only a week away from being able to return. However, with center fielder Luis Matos (bruised rib cage) and third baseman Melvin Mora (strained foot) also unable to play, the Orioles did not want to be three players short on their bench.

"That's tough to do in a National League park," Mazzilli said. "We needed somebody here."

Mazzilli does not expect Matos or Mora to play until Tuesday in Baltimore, at the earliest. . . .

Newly acquired infielder David Newhan, who hit a pinch-hit homer in his first Orioles at-bat Friday night, got his first start, at third base, and went 2 for 4. . . .

Jay Gibbons snapped an 0-for-16 skid with a second-inning single.