Heads-up play

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

May 02, 2010, 11:01am

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The Orioles loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth inning, but Luke Scott struck out on three pitches and Nolan Reimold bounced to third. We've seen this act before. Turns out, the rally didn't go to waste. Adrian Beltre fielded the ball and looked to tag Ty Wigginton and possibly throw to first, but Wiggy slammed on the brakes. Beltre froze up and eventually took the out at third, after much internal deliberation, as NicK Markakis scored. I was waiting for Beltre to call time and use one of his lifelines. Players in the dugout rushed to the top step to congratulate Wigginton. His heads-up play won't be reflected in the boxscore, but it was a crucial moment in the inning. Rhyne Hughes broke out his pool cue and poked a double past third base to bring in the second run and give the Orioles a 2-0 lead. Jason Varitek sliced it in half with a home run in the top of the fifth. Red Sox starter Josh Beckett has hit Wigginton twice, though the second pitch barely grazed him. Perhaps manager Dave Trembley should take a page from Joe Girardi's book and rip Beckett for pitching inside without the proper command.