Source: Baltimore Sun

The Orioles entered Friday night's series opener against the Oakland A's with a 41-0 record when leading after eight innings.

Their 14-9 loss changed that, as All-Star closer Jim Johnson gave up six runs in the ninth, the most in his major league career as a reliever.

"An anomaly," Johnson later called it.

Friday night's four-hour game included five lead changes and 10 combined relievers, as the American League's top two bullpens were stretched to the limit. And twice the Orioles rallied to take the lead, only to allow an A's comeback the next half inning.

But the A's are playing better than most teams. Winners of 12 of their last 14 games, they have already leap-frogged the O's in the AL wild-ward hunt. Their win Friday put them 2 ½ games ahead of the Orioles for the second wild-card spot.

Johnson entered the game having converted 30 of 32 save opportunities, but six of the seven hitters he faced reached base as he allowed five hits - including an RBI single by Derek Norris that bounced high over first baseman Mark Reynolds' head and past diving second baseman Omar Quintanilla and into right field - and one walk.

Coco Crisp's two-run single three batters after Norris' hit chased Johnson from the game, and Seth Smith's two-run double off Luis Ayala made it 14-9 in front of an announced 29,278 at Camden Yards.

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