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Tonight's starters: Hernandez vs. Santana

By Steve Melewski on July 3, 2009 9:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

RHP David Hernandez (1-2, 4.19) tonight makes his 4th Major League start of this season and the 1st of his career vs. the Angels.

Hernandez won his ML debut, May 28 vs. Detroit, allowing just one run over 5 2/3. But over his last two starts, vs. Seattle and Washington, he had pitched 11 innings, giving up 18 hits and 8 earned runs.

Hernandez has not pitched six innings or more in any of his starts.

Left-handed batters are hitting .316 off him and right-handed hitters are batting .349 vs. Hernandez. The Orioles are 1-2 in his three starts.

Hernandez has been a big strikeout pitcher in the Minors, leading the Eastern League in K's in 2008 and leading the Carolina League in 2007.

This year, at Triple-A Norfolk, he went 3-2, 3.30 in 11 starts. In his O's minor league career, he is 28-27, 3.87 in 101 starts covering 531 innings. He was drafted in round 16 in 2005.

RHP Ervin Santana (1-3, 7.47) tonight makes his 7th start of this season, his 4th at home and the 8th of his career vs. Baltimore.

Santana, a 16-game winner last season, has had a rough 2009. He has been on the disabled list twice. From April 5-May 13 he was out with a right elbow injury. He's been on the DL since June 12th with a right triceps injury.

Santana made his last start June 11th vs. Tampa. He gave up eight hits and six runs (all earned) in 4 2/3 innings. The Angels are 3-3 in his starts this season. He has allowed six or more runs in three of his six starts.

Santana has allowed 45 hits in 31 1/3 innings in 2009. Right-handed batters hit .319 off him and lefties are batting .371 vs. Santana.

In three home starts, the 26-year-old righty is 0-1, 14.29 (11 1/3IP, 26H, 18ER).

Santana was an all-star last season when he went 16-7, 3.49 in 32 starts with two complete games. In his career, he is 52-40, 4.55.

Santana vs. the Orioles:
2008: 1-1, 6.75, two starts
Career: 2-2, 4.60, seven starts (47IP, 45H, 10 homers)

O's hitters, career numbers vs. Santana:
Huff: 5-14/0/0
Jones: 0-3/0/0
Markakis: 5-18/2/7
Mora: 5-15/1/3
Roberts: 8-21/2/2
Scott: 2-7/0/1
Wigginton: 4-9/1/3