Matusz can't find the plate tonight (O'Day entering game)

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

April 09, 2012, 4:27pm

Comments

Brian Matusz issued three walks in 24 2/3 spring innings. He's walked four batters tonight in only four innings. Matusz seems to be 2-0 and 3-1 on every hitter. His pitch count is up to 96, including 52 strikes, and Darren O'Day began warming in the bullpen in the fourth while pitching coach Rick Adair visited the mound and catcher Matt Wieters made two trips. The Yankees scored three runs in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead. Derek Jeter had a two-run double, making him 3-for-3 tonight and 11-for-22 lifetime against Matusz. Matusz has allowed four runs and six hits, with four walks and one strikeout. Three of the walks came in the fourth. So did an error by left fielder Nolan Reimold that put a runner on third and led to Eduardo Nunez's sacrifice fly. As I wrote earlier, Matusz's velocity is fine. He just can't locate. He's faced 21 batters in four innings and 10 have reached. It might have been worse if Wieters hadn't thrown out Jeter attempting to steal third base as Alex Rodriguez struck out in the third. Or if J.J. Hardy hadn't made a lunging grab of Robinson Cano's liner to end the fourth. Wieters has a home run and double tonight. And O'Day is coming into the game.