Fox on the run (updated)

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

March 02, 2011, 9:20am

Comments

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Jake Fox homered, singled and drove in two runs in yesterday's home exhibition opener. Apparently, the bus ride didn't cool him off. Fox has singled twice today as the starting catcher. He played first base yesterday. Joe Mahoney is starting at first today, and he singled to right field in the fourth inning. Left-hander Zach Britton was a little too amped up in the third inning. He appeared to be overthrowing, and Fox made two trips to the mound to settle him down. Placido Polanco singled and moved up on a wild pitch, but the Phillies didn't score. Britton induced two ground balls, and he struck out Ryan Howard. Britton threw 19 pitches, 10 for strikes. Starter Chris Tillman stayed in the dugout to watch Britton pitch. Update: Britton tossed two scoreless innings. He allowed two hits, one a bunt single, and threw a wild pitch. He also struck out a batter. Britton threw 33 pitches, 18 for strikes. His tempo needs to increase, but not bad for his first outing.