O's game blog: Ubaldo Jimenez makes debut against Boston

Here are some notes on 30-year-old right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez. He went 13-9 with a 3.30 ERA over 32 starts for Cleveland in 2013 and makes his Orioles debut tonight. * He averaged 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings last year to finish seventh among MLB starters, ahead of pitchers such as Stephen Strasburg, Felix Hernandez, Chris Sale and Clayton Kershaw. * He had a stunning month of September, going 4-0 with an ERA of 1.09 in six starts. Over 41 1/3 innings he walked seven with 51 strikeouts. * While Jimenez struggled last April, pitching to an ERA of 7.13, he then allowed two runs or less in 21 of his last 28 starts, going 13-7 with a 2.61 ERA * Jimenez has made at least 31 starts and pitched at least 176 2/3 innings in each of the last six seasons, three times throwing 198 innings or more. * In a few AL stats. among qualifying pitchers last year. Jimenez ranked ninth in strikeouts, 10th in ERA, 26th in WHIP, 29th in innings and 30th in WAR. MLB leaders in ERA, second half of 2013 (minimun 80 IP): 1.59 - Clayton Kershaw, L.A. Dodgers 1.82 - Ubaldo Jimenez, Cleveland 1.85 - Zack Greinke, L.A. Dodgers AL leaders, strikeouts per nine innings, 2013: 11.89 - Yu Darvish, Texas 10.06 - Max Scherzer, Detroit 9.99 - Anibal Sanchez, Detroit 9.56 - Ubaldo Jimenez, Cleveland * Jimenez was the opening day starter for Colorado in 2010 and 2011. He was a National League All-Star in 2010 and finished third in the Cy Young voting behind Roy Halladay and Adam Wainwright. I'll add some notes in this entry during tonight's game and hope you do too as the game goes on. Please leave any comments and questions. O's fall behind: The Orioles trail for the first time in 2014 after David Ortiz hit a two-run homer in the top of the third off Jimenez. He got a 1-1 pitch to his liking over the inside corner and didn't miss it. It was his first hit in eight at-bats off Jimenez. The Orioles have gone down quietly through three innings against John Lackey. He has needed just 35 pitches to get the first nine outs. Did anyone say lineup protection?: That is how they drew it up right? If a pitcher walks Chris Davis with the bases empty and two outs this year, Nelson Cruz can make them pay batting fifth behind Davis. He did tonight. That homer on an 0-2 pitch by the way, tied this game 2-2 in the fourth. Jimenez homer notes: He gave up just one homer total over his last 12 starts last year and just three over 84 innings after the 2013 All-Star break. But David Ortiz and Mike Napoli have two-run shots tonight as Boston leads 4-2 in the fifth.