The good and bad in the first (updated)

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

August 06, 2010, 3:32pm

Comments

Brad Bergesen threw 13 pitches in the top of the first inning and stranded a runner. That's good. The Orioles scored a run off White Sox starter John Danks in the bottom of the first. Also good. The Orioles worked Danks for 24 pitches. Still good. Here's the bad part: The first three batters singled, with Ty Wigginton's hit producing the run, but the Orioles couldn't do any more damage. Luke Scott struck out in the key at-bat of the inning, and Adam Jones and Julio Lugo flied out. Maybe I'm scarred from all the losing, but I've seen too many examples where the opposing starter settles down after the first and silences the Orioles' bats. They let him off the hook and it's an upstream climb for them the rest of the way. Sorry. If things are really different around here since Buck Showalter arrived, the Orioles will pile on Danks in the next few innings and force the White Sox to dip into their bullpen early. Instant update: Danks needed 11 pitches to retire the side in order in the second inning.