Trachsel Solid in O's 7-4 Win
Breaking News: Matt Wieters Homers Twice in Frederick Debut [story and radio calls]
The Birds used a solid starting pitching effort, tight defense and three homers to beat the Mariners tonight, 7-4.
Melvin Mora hit a two-run shot while Kevin Millar and Ramon Hernandez added solo shots. Millar and Hernandez had three hits each while Luis Hernandez knocked in two.
THE O'S ARE WINNERS TONIGHT
Steve Trachsel went 5.2 to get the win, while the Baltimore bullpen pitched shutout ball into the 9th before Richie Sexson hit a 420-foot, two-run HR off Greg Aquino. It was the first runs scored on the Birds bullpen in 12 innings this season. George Sherrill got the last two outs for his second save.
Seattle 4-7-1
Baltimore 7-10-1
WHAT BATTING SLUMP
The O's were shutout three times in the last 11 spring games, then got just two runs opening day. But they've now scored 16 runs, on 19 hits and hit five homers the past two games.
SOLID EFFORT
Steve Trachsel gave the O's thier best effort by a starter so far, allowing just two runs in 5.2ip. He ran some deep counts but said he felt pretty sharp and could have stayed out there longer.
THE PEN IS MIGHTIER
More good pen work, scoreless work until Richie Sexson's 9th-inning homer off Greg Aquino. The bullpen has allowed just two runs in 12 innings so far.
0-FER ICHIRO
Ichiro went 0-4, a rarity vs. the O's. He entered the game a .387 lifetime hitter vs. the Birds and had a ten-game hit streak vs. Baltimore during which he batted .447.
THE D-FENCE
Melvin Mora made nice plays in the 2nd and 7th innings. The middle infield turned a nifty DP in the 6th and they got a strikeout-throw out DP on the bases in the 7th. It was a crisp, solid game on the defense.
NICE DEBUT
Dennis Sarfate made his O's debut in the 6th. He came on with two outs and a man on first to face Adrian Beltre, who had homered earlier. He got Beltre to strike out on a pitch way off the plate. He went to pitch one inning with no runs or hits allowed and two K's.
QUOTABLE
Dave Trembley on a solid game
"We got three out of three, you get pitching, defense and timely hitting. When you go three for three, you'll win, when you get two you have a chance, when you get one you're gonna get beat.
Dave Trembley on the pitching
"We got a solid start out of Trachsel. He took us where he needed to. Sarfate came in and got some big outs."
Dave Trembley on Ramon Hernandez three-hit night
"Ramon stayed here and got extra hitting in last night after the rainout. When Ramon gets on track it's usually when he starts hitting the ball the other way. We hit and run with him to get him to do that."
Millar on the win
"A good game for the boys. Everybody contributed today. Ramon did a great job swinging the bat, Trachsel's pitching set the tone and we were able to make Jarrod Washburn throw a lot of pitches early on."
Trachsel on his outing
"I felt like I kept the ball down pretty well, my changup was really good. It seems like I've never gotten Ichiro out before........I felt really sharp and wasn't missing by a lot.......I felt strong at the end, had a couple of quick innings. At this point, though, we still have guys that need to pitch, some guys were even throwing bullpens after the game."
HOMER HAPPY
When Melvin Mora hit a two-run HR to left in the 7th inning, it was the O's 3rd homer in three innings. it gave the O's a 6-2 lead. They now hold a 7 to 2 lead after seven innings.
The three homers came within a span of 8 batters, with two coming off reliever Cha Seung Baek.
The O's have ten hits, four for extra bases. Two RBI each for Mora and Luis Hernandez.
The Birds defense has been real solid all night, as well. Couple of nice plays by Mora at third and a nice strike 'em out, throw 'em out stealing in the 7th.
ANOTHER LONG BALL
Ramon Hernandez hit a solo HR to left off Cha Seung Baek in the 6th as the O's add to the lead and are up 4-2 after six frames.
Both starters are out of the game.
Trachsel went 5.2ip, 4h, 2r-er, 2b, 1k, 1hr and threw 83 pitches.
Washburn went 5ip, 6h, 3r-er, 1b, 4k, 1hr and threw 103 pitches.
Dennis Sarfate, in his O's debut, came on in the top of the 6th with two outs to face Beltre and struck him out.
Tonight's attendance is 14,429.
It's not that cold, you would have figured on a bigger crowd. Maybe some of you are taking a wait and see approach on the 2008 O's ?
BIRDS REGAIN THE LEAD
Kevin Millar's homer in the last of the 5th breaks the tie and O's now lead, 3-2. He turned on a down and in pitch and hit it just fair and just over the wall, it went only 335 feet. Luis Hernandez has two RBI's. Ramon Hernandez and Millar have two hits each.
Trachsel is pitching in the 6th, but Sarfate and Burress are warming.
DOWN ON THE FARM
Matt Wieters hit a two-run homer tonight in the last of the 3rd and Frederick leads Lynchburg 5-1 in the 4th. His first time up Wieters walked and scored.
On the mound, Jake Arrieta has nine strikeouts thru four innings.
At the Yard here, Adrian Beltre's two-run homer has given Seattle a 2-1 lead after 3 and a half frames.
O'S UP EARLY
The Orioles have a 1-0 lead after two innings.
Jay Payton and Ramon Hernandez led off the second with singles. Later, Luis Hernandez picked up his first RBI of the year with a sac fly. He had a nice 10-pitch at bat vs. Washburn and eventually lined a 3-2 pitch to center for the lead. Washburn got Melvin Mora out with two men on to end the threat, but he threw 38 pitches in the second inning alone and is at 61 for two frames.
Steve Trachsel is off to a good start, allowing just one bloop hit thru two frames. He has thrown 33 pitches thru two.
Steve Melewski's LIVE BLOG: It's 61 degrees at game time. First pitch was at 7:07pm and it was popped up by Ichiro and caught by Brian Roberts. We're underway on a cloudy Friday night.
BURRESS PUSHED BACK
Lefty Brian Burress, who was once scheduled to start vs. Erik Bedard on Sunday, will now make his first start of the season, Tuesday in Texas. Last night's rainout caused the change. The pitchers now for the rest of this series:
Saturday 7:05p Adam Loewen v. Miguel Batista
Sunday 1:35p Jeremy Guthrie v. Erik Bedard
Monday 3:05p Daniel Cabrera v. Felix Hernandez
LINEUP CHANGE ???
When we gave you the lineup many hours ago we had Brandon Fahey batting 9th at SS, but its Luis Hernandez getting the start tonight. No story here, apparently they just had the wrong name written down earlier in the clubuouse where the reporters check the lineup each day.
Hours before the game, Sam Perlozzo met with a large group of mostly Baltimore reporters in his first trip back to the Yard since he was dismissed as O's skipper last June.
"I hashed things back and forth in my mind and I'm not going to let my last few weeks in Baltimore take precedence over the many good times I had. I had some great times here, helped a lot of good players, it was a good twelve years. Never know, you might be back some day."
When I asked him if some of the O's players ever got in contact with him, after a long pause, he responded.
"Yeah.......You know what you can't worry about that, I control myself. I loved every one of the guys and I'm comfortable with that."
He said he was starting to get used to not working when he had a chance to join Seattle and told his wife, 'I better get back in the game."
As for his time as O's manager, does he have any regrets ?
"I stopped beating myself up over it. I was prepared, I came in and did my job. You cared for your players and did what you thought was right for the organization. I really believe there wasn't much else I could have done. I've come to grips with that."
HERE IS TONIGHT'S O'S LINEUP
2B Brian Roberts
3B Melvin Mora
RF Nick Markakis
1B Kevin Millar
DH Aubrey Huff
LF Jay Payton
C Ramon Hernandez
CF Adam Jones
SS Brandon Fahey
P Steve Trachsel
Dave Trembley says even though he sees Luke Scott as a "regular" in the lineup he's got Payton in tonight vs the lefty Jarrod Washburn.
MORE TRACHSEL NUMBERS
His last spring outing was a good one. He gave up just one run in six innings on March 27 vs. the Mets........He gave up just four hits and one walk.........in 61 career April starts, he is 16-27 4.85...........in 12 starts last year at Camden Yards, he went 3-2 3.72.......he allowed 3er or less in 17 of 25 O's starts in 2007.......Ichiro is 3-3 lifetime vs. Trachsel........Trachsel needs 9 more wins for 150 in his career..........he made one start vs. Seattle last year and got a no decision on August 7th at home......his line was 5.2ip, 8h, 2r-er, 3bb, ik.
DID BEDARD TALK ????
Not to this reporter. He said "not today" as soon as a couple of us had gathered around his locker. He was last seen talking at length with Jeff Zrbeic of the Sun, so maybe he'll get some quotes from him, but most of the rest of us won't. And I was so looking forward to seeing just how many questions we would be allowed to ask.
MCLAREN DID TALK
John McLaren is beginning his first full season as Mariners skipper. He took over the club last July 2nd when Mike Hargrove resigned. He led the club to a record of 43-41 after taking over. He watched Adam Jones in his time in the big leagues the past two years with the M's. Here's what he said about the O's center fielder.
"His potential is real high. Really good guy, real athletic. He's got all the tools its just a matter of him learning the strike zone and getting confidence. He should be a good player here for a lot of years."
When asked if Erik Bedard might have some extra emotion pitching vs. his former team Sunday, McLaren said "He seems very level headed and nothing distracts him. I've heard some stories from you guys but, he's cool to me."
To which one Mariners reporter quipped, "he's cool to us too."
After Thursday's rainout, the Orioles hope the wet stuff subsides long enough for them to open a series with Seattle at 7:05pm Friday night.
It's game one of a four-game series vs. Erik Bedard, Sam Perlozzo and the rest of the Mariners. Catch the game on MASN2 with the O's Xtra pre-game show beginning at 6:30pm.
The O's are 1-1 after Wednesday's comeback win over Tampa. Seattle took 2 of 3 in its opening series with Texas. Seattle hit just .253, scoring 13 runs in the series while M's pitching gave up only 7 earned runs vs. Texas with an ERA of 2.33.
Seattle put its all-star closer JJ Putz on the disabled list during the Texas series. He is out with a ribcage injury.
The series marks the return of Bedard and Perlozzo to Baltimore. Perlozzo was let go as O's manager last June. Bedard is scheduled to face the O's on the mound on Sunday.
Last season, the M's won 7 of 9 games vs. the Orioles and Seattle is 13-6 the past two seasons vs. Baltimore.
Ichiro Suzuki hit .476 in 2007 vs. Birds pitching and is a career .387 hitter vs. the O's.
MOUND MATCHUP
He was set to start before the rains came and now Steve Trachsel hopes to make his 2008 O's debut tonight.
Last season, the 37-year-old righty, was 7-11 4.90. This will be his 410th career start. Last season, he was 0-0 3.18 vs. the M's, but has struggled vs. that club in his career with a slate of 0-4 6.93 and he's given up six homers in 24.2 career frames vs. Seattle.
Jarrod Washburn, a 33-year-old lefty, will take the ball for the Mariners. With Seattle last year, he was 10-15 4.32 in 32 starts. An 18-game winner in 2002, Washburn is 6-3 4.46 in his career vs. the O's. He was drafted in round two of 1995 by the Angels.
PEN TO THE RESCUE
While O's starters Jeremy Guthrie and Daniel Cabrera have pitched a combined 9.1 innings so far, with an ERA of 10.61, the O's bullpen has been nearly unhittable.
In 8.2 frames, six pitchers out of the pen have combined to allow no runs on just two hits. Tampa hitters batted just 2 for 26 vs. the O's pen.
ATTENDANCE ISSUES
Wednesday's attendance of 10,505 was the smallest in Camden Yards history. With more chilly weather on the way, there could be several small turnouts early in the season. But it's of no real concern to Dave Trembley.
"I have no control over that or the weather. Kids are still in school. I managed in Ottawa with 11 people in the stands," Trembley said. "It had no affect on how I manage the game or hopefully the way we played the game."
"You guys are writing how back we're going to be this year," Aubrey Huff said. "Fans read into that and may not come out to the yard. We're going to have to, as a team, win some hearts and hopefully get this city behind us. It can be tough to play in front of crowds that small but the more the fans come out, the easier it is to get up and win some ballgames."
Hey Steve... good to hear from you. Thanks for the ballpark updates.