Matusz through four (w/Spoone update)
By Roch Kubatko
In his last start, Brian Matusz gave up five runs in the fourth inning. Four of them scored on Kelly Shoppach's grand slam. He was gone after 75 pitches.
Matusz took a two-hit shutout into the fifth inning tonight, with one walk and five strikeouts.
That's improvement.
Matusz struck out two in the first, on his changeup and slider. He got another strikeout on his slider in the second, and another on his changeup to end the third.
If only he could get some run support.
Not that he's expecting it.
Luke Scott led off the second inning with a single, but Adam Jones bounced into a double play. The Orioles loaded the bases with one out in the third, but Nick Markakis and Ty Wigginton struck out.
Instant update: David Murphy opened the fifth with a single, but Matusz induced a double-play grounder from Jorge Cantu and struck out Brandon Boggs on a 90 mph fastball.
Down on the farm, Chorye Spoone didn't allow a hit in 3 2/3 innings, but he was charged with three runs. How? He walked eight and hit three batters.
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