"Ben Sheets picked up his first victory in more than a year Thursday night at the Coliseum.

As encouraged as Sheets and the A's must be after Oakland's 6-2 dusting of the Orioles, consider how discouraged Baltimore must be. The Orioles have to lead the American League in discouragement.

Put it this way: Sheets has as many wins this season as do the Orioles.

Baltimore's losing streak reached seven games and the Orioles fell to 1-9 after Sheets tossed six shutout innings. He allowed five hits, struck out four and walked three.

Sheets missed all of the 2009 season after elbow surgery. There were moments last year when he thought he might not get another major-league win.

"I'm sure there were times that it seemed like it might be just easier to hang 'em up," Sheets said, "but you still go to rehab and you still go to work and you still put in your effort to give yourself the opportunity to enjoy something like this.""