It's almost refreshing to discuss a normal Orioles loss, one that doesn't involve a double-digit rally by the opposition or make Jay Leno's monologue. Wearing throw-back unis to honor the 1932 Baltimore Black Sox Negro Leagues championship team, the O's fell, 7-6, to Boston at Camden Yards.

Despite being at least respectable, the defeat wasn't without its frustrations. The Orioles had the bases loaded with no outs and Miguel Tejada batting in the sixth inning of a 6-6 tie and, of course, failed to score (home-to-first double play and a strikeout). Clay Buchholtz, who threw that no-hitter against Baltimore a week ago, was the relief pitcher who wiggled out of that jam and then pitched two more scoreless innings to earn the win. Buchholtz has now given up just one hit and no runs to the Orioles in 12 innings and has picked up two wins in less than a week.

If you're still keeping track, that's 14 losses in the last 16 games as Baltimore clings to fourth place in the AL East, a mere 2 1/2 games ahead of Tampa Bay.

*  Speaking of long-suffering, those Chicago Cubs just can't put any distance between themselves and their pursuers in the mediocre NL Central. The Cubs backed into a first-place tie with Milwaukee after losing to the Dodgers, 7-4, at Wrigley Field. Alfonso Soriano had two homers for all the Cubs' runs. The Cardinals are just a game back. Former Oriole Steve Trachsel, who was traded into a playoff race late last month, will pitch for the Cubbies Sunday against Pittsburgh.

* And the Indianapolis Colts opened the 2007 NFL season the way they ended the last one -- with an easy win. The Super Bowl champions broke open a 10-10 halftime tie by scoring on their first four possessions of the second half and made a snoozer out of it, 41-10. Peyton Manning was 18-for-30 with 288 yards and three touchdown passes. The Saints' Reggie Bush never got going, gaining just 45 yards from scrimmage on 16 touches (12 rushes and four receptions).