The unmistakable air of confidence that has permeated the Orioles clubhouse in the six days since manager Buck Showalter took the reigns brought a welcome change to the atmosphere inside Camden Yards. And while the Orioles’ recent four-game winning streak ushered in a sense of enthusiasm not felt in these parts in months - if not years - all good things must come to an end.

Baltimore benefited from a solid showing from starter Kevin Millwood, who held the Chicago White Sox to one run over six innings Saturday night. But reliever Jason Berken (pictured) allowed two crippling runs over the latter innings that doomed the Orioles to their first defeat under Showalter, 4-2 before an announced crowd of 24,929.

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones was halfway down the dugout steps when he fired his helmet to the ground after wasting a bases loaded opportunity in the eighth inning of Friday’s game against the Chicago White Sox. Jones’ pop fly to third base off reliever Tony Pena stood as both the second out and the summation of a spirited, late-inning Orioles rally that went for naught.

Granted redemption against Pena two innings later, Jones lined a single to left field that scored Nick Markakis for the winning run in a 2-1 victory over the White Sox before an announced 19,687 at Camden Yards. The win was the Orioles’ second consecutive walk-off thriller and their fourth consecutive victory under manager Buck Showalter.

In the four months prior to manager Buck Showalter’s arrival in Baltimore, the Orioles routinely and inexplicably found ways to drop games like Thursday’s 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Afforded a banner performance from starting pitcher Jake Arrieta and a number of clutch hits, the Orioles appeared poised to waste it all when reliever Jason Berken served up a game-tying, three-run homer to Angels right fielder Torii Hunter in the top of the eighth inning. It was the type of situation that has become all-too familiar in this season of disappointment and frustration in Birdland. But with both a renewed sense of urgency and confidence under Showalter, the Orioles thrived under adversity and pulled out the win.

Shortstop Cesar Izturis’ (pictured) walkoff single in the bottom of the ninth scored pinch runner Julio Lugo to send the Orioles spilling from their first base dugout while the announced 17,362 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards went home happy in what seemed to be the only fitting end to Showalter’s exhilarating first series at the helm.

The Orioles’ second game under new manager Buck Showalter showcased a team with its sights set firmly on the future. Though they manufactured runs, enjoyed a strong outing from starting pitcher Brian Matusz (pictured) and received some much-needed pop from the heart of the order, Baltimore's 9-7 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim didn’t come without the home team's traditional hiccups and question marks.

Matusz’s first win in exactly one month marked the club’s first winning streak since taking four consecutive contests heading into the All-Star break.

But Indians starter Jake Westbrook, who handcuffed the home team at all the right moments, proved too sharp for another paltry Orioles offensive showing. Westbrook threw a complete game gem to lead Cleveland to the series win in a 5-1 victory before an announced 29,323 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Sooner or later it was bound to happen. Given Alfredo Simon’s penchant for an edge-of-your seat ninth inning, then perhaps it’s not surprising that the Orioles’ closer-by-default finally gave up the big one. And after reeling off three consecutive victories entering Saturday’s game against the Cleveland Indians, questions about the back-end of the bullpen have again resurfaced.

Simon allowed four runs in the top of the ninth, including a three-run home run by Austin Kearns while Cla Meredith gave up four of his own during an eight-run Cleveland rally as the Orioles fell to the Indians, 8-2 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.