Comebacks Keep On Coming for Baltimore

O's Win on Millar's 10th-Inning Single: Orioles 2, Astros 1

BALTIMORE, June 18 -- It was early on a Monday morning and as Dave Trembley readied himself for a walk around the Inner Harbor with his wife -- the last chance for the couple to spend time together before she was to board a plane back home to Florida -- the phone rang before they could hit the door.

On the other end of the line, team executives Jim Duquette and Mike Flanagan asked if Trembley could arrive at the ballpark early. With the Baltimore Orioles fresh off a homestand so horrific that it cost Manager Sam Perlozzo his job, the team needed a new leader. And right there, via speakerphone, Trembley learned that it would be him.

"Ever since then, it has been a blur," said Trembley, who one year ago Wednesday fulfilled a lifelong dream by taking over as manager of the Orioles.

So it was only appropriate that on the anniversary of his life-changing moment, Trembley's team rewarded him with a victory that has come to define his first full year on the job.

Kevin Millar's 10th-inning single back through the box scored Melvin Mora to lift the Orioles to a 2-1 victory against the Houston Astros, who have dropped seven straight.

When he took over last season, Trembley understood the larger challenge before him. With the Orioles on their way to another losing campaign, Trembley spoke of changing the culture of the clubhouse, revamping the attitude of his team.

The changes were visible again Wednesday.

Even from his days toiling in the minors, Trembley has extolled the virtue of strong pitching above all else. And as if to mark the special occasion, Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie, who long ago evolved into the most reliable starter in Baltimore's rotation, delivered his 12th quality start of the year.

He allowed just three hits -- the only real miscue coming on Lance Berkman's homer -- while striking out eight in eight efficient innings. The outing was much-needed for an Orioles rotation that, in its previous 13 games, managed just two quality starts and a 6.38 ERA.

But, as has been Guthrie's misfortune this season, his opponent proved equal to the task. This time it was Astros pitcher Brian Moehler, who allowed just one run in 6 1/3 innings.

Astros designated hitter Berkman, the major league leader in slugging percentage, spoiled the pitcher's duel in the seventh inning by hammering a Guthrie pitch 430 feet onto Eutaw Street. But the 1-0 lead was short-lived.

Three players on the Orioles' active roster were members of the Astros before the Miguel Tejada trade, and it was only a matter of time before one of them could exact a measure of revenge against their former mates. In the seventh inning, with his new team trailing by a run, Luke Scott took advantage of his chance.

After Moehler fell behind in the count, Scott unloaded on a 3-0 pitch, sending it over the fence in center field to tie the game. It was Scott's fifth homer in his last eight games, and his 11th since May 13.

An error by Astros second baseman Kazuo Matsui opened the door for the Orioles to load the bases with just one out. But neither Nick Markakis nor Mora could deliver the go-ahead hit and the Orioles missed a golden opportunity.

But as Trembley's own journey has showed -- Perlozzo had rescued Trembley after more than two decades of managing in the minors as the Orioles' bullpen coach -- resilience is a virtue as well.

And in the 10th, the Orioles dipped into Trembley's book of fundamentals to steal another one. Mora singled to center with one down to begin the rally. And with Mora running on a 3-1 pitch by Astros closer José Valverde, Huff went the other way. Millar ended the game, needing only to advance Mora from third.

It was Baltimore's 17th one-run victory of the season, good enough to push the Orioles to two games over .500.