It has been a pretty good first year for Wei-Yin Chen as an Oriole and the next step for him is starting Game 2 for the Orioles tomorrow night against the Yankees here at Camden Yards.
"It's been a great year to me and the Orioles," Chen said today through his interpreter. "I'm so lucky to be here and I want to give everything to the fans and the city of Baltimore. This has been an amazing year to me and I don't want to think too much right now, just want to keep going, keep going and keep pitching.
"I want to have the same approach as the (regular) season. Even though it's the postseason now, I still want to do the same thing and keep everything the same as the season."
Chen went 12-11 with an ERA of 4.02 this season. He had an ERA of 5.90 in September but threw well Monday against Tampa Bay, allowing one earned run over 6 2/3 innings.
Chen will be pitching tomorrow on six days rest. He has made four starts this year with at least six days rest, going 1-1 with a 2.28 ERA.
"This is a one-shot opportunity so I don't think the extra days are just like anything that would confuse me or anything," Chen said. "I just want to do my job and my part and give everything out there.
"My first game was against the Yankees and my first playoff game is against the Yankees. This is special to me. I think this is different right now, it's the postseason and everything will be new. Everyone has a new start and we'll see what's going on tomorrow."
In four starts this year against New York, Chen went 1-2 with a 5.25 ERA. Over 24 innings he gave up 21 hits, including six homers, with six walks and 18 strikeouts. The Yankees hit .228 against him.
"This is really a big dream for me and I think I have to give the credit to my teammates," he said. "They are all behind me and support me and they are the best."
Live blog tonight: I will have a live blog going throughout tonight's game and will publish that a little before game time tonight. I hope a lot of readers leave questions and comments there tonight and I'll be responding as often as possible and dropping some information in there during this game.
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