Let’s hope the North Siders can put together another impressive win streak at the Friendly Confines.

The Chicago Cubs’ 14 game consecutive home win streak came to an end on Tuesday evening, as they squandered a bases-loaded, no out rally in the 9th inning en route to a 7-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles from Wrigley Field.

The Orioles got on the board in the top of the 4th inning after Kevin Millar drew a 1-out walk from Cubs starter Sean Marshall.

Ramon Hernandez then singled to put runners at 1st & 2nd with just 1 out for Luke Scott.

Scott hit an RBI triple to score both Hernandez & Millar, which gave Baltimore a 2-0 lead.

Marshall then struck out both Adam Jones & Alex Cintron to end the inning.

The Cubs cut their deficit in half thanks to Kosuke Fukudome’s 4th inning solo homer (6th of season), which made it a 2-1 Baltimore lead.

The Orioles struck again in the top of the 5th inning after Brian Roberts hit a 1-out single off Marshall.

Nick Markakis then hit an RBI double which scored Roberts from 1st base & gave the Orioles a 3-1 lead.

2 batters later, Kevin Millar’s RBI single scored Markakis from 3rd base (Markakis advanced to 3rd on Melvin Mora’s flyout to Kosuke Fukudome in right field) to make it a 4-1 Baltimore lead.

The Orioles then seemed to open the game up in the top of the 6th inning after Luke Scott hit a lead-off single against Cubs reliever Michael Wuertz.

Eric Patterson was unable to cut off Scott’s single in right field, which allowed Scott to safely advance to 2nd base.

2 batters later, Alex Cintron hit an RBI double to score Scott from 2nd base & give Baltimore a 5-1 lead.

After Wuertz retired Jeremy Guthrie on a strikeout, he then gave up an RBI triple to Brian Roberts, which scored Cintron from 2nd base & gave Baltimore a 6-1 lead.

Cubs reliever Neal Cotts entered the game from the bullpen & gave up an RBI single to Nick Markakis, which scored Roberts from 3rd base & gave Baltimore a 7-1 lead.

Chicago would start a comeback rally in the bottom of the 7th inning when Derrek Lee & Aramis Ramirez hit back-to-back singles off Baltimore starter Jeremy Guthrie.

Jim Edmonds then followed with a 3-run homer to left center (6th of season & 3rd in the last 3 games) to cut the Baltimore lead to 7-4.

The Cubs crept a little closer in the bottom of the 8th inning after pinch-hitter Daryle Ward drew a lead-off walk from Orioles reliever Jim Johnson.

Kosuke Fukudome then grounded into a fielder’s choice, but reached 1st base safely.

Eric Patterson followed with a single, which put runners at 1st & 2nd with just 1 out for Derrek Lee.

Lee then grounded into a fielder’s choice off Orioles reliever Chad Bradford, but advanced Fukudome to 3rd base on the play.

Aramis Ramirez then hit an RBI single to score Fukudome from 3rd base & make it a 7-5 Baltimore lead.

Matt Murton then made a pinch-hit appearance representing the go-ahead run, but flied out to Jay Payton in left field to end the inning.

The Cubs had 1 final chance to rally in the bottom of the 9th inning after Geovany Soto drew a lead-off walk from Orioles closer George Sherill.

Mark DeRosa then walked & Ryan Theriot singled to load the bases with nobody out for pinch-hitter Ronny Cedeno.

Sherill then recovered to strike out Cedeno, Kosuke Fukudome & pinch-hitter Henry Blanco to send 41,537 Cub fans home in anger as the Orioles escaped to take Game 1 of this interleague series.

Jeremy Guthrie (4-7) gets the win for the Orioles after pitching 6 innings & allowing 4 runs on 7 hits.

Sean Marshall (0-1) takes the loss for the Cubs after pitching 4 2/3 innings & allowing 4 runs on 7 hits despite striking out a season-high 7 batters.

George Sherill was able to pitch out of a bases-loaded, no outs jam for his 26th save of the season.

The Cubs will now look to tie things up on Wednesday evening at 7:05 PM cst from Wrigley Field, as southpaw Ted Lilly (7-5, 4.71) will be opposed by Orioles southpaw Brian Burres (6-5, 5.24).

Lilly is 6-2 in 12 career starts against Baltimore with a 3.95 ERA.

Burres will make his 1st career start against the Cubs on Wednesday. Burres has pitched solid on the road this season, but is 2-1 in 4 June starts with a 8.55 ERA.

Happy Birthday to Cubs’ 3rd baseman Aramis Ramirez, who turns 30 on Wednesday.

Signing off for now,