SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Brian Matusz would like a do-over against the Detroit Tigers.
Matusz threw 33 pitches, 20 for strikes, in the first inning. He's charged with one earned run (two total) and three hits, and he walked a batter.
The Orioles would like to get four innings out of him. That's going to be tricky.
Austin Jackson opened the game with a single and stole second with one out. Ryan Raburn struck out, but Miguel Cabrera doubled to center field for a 1-0 lead. Brandon Ingle followed with a pop up into shallow right field, and Cesar Izturis lost the ball for an error as Cabrera scored. Right fielder Nick Markakis got a late jump, forcing Izturis to attempt to make a play.
The inning continued with Casper Wells lining a double to left and Alex Avila walking. First baseman Josh Bell overran a pop up in front of the Orioles' dugout as he gave chase with catcher Matt Wieters, keeping Matusz on the mound a little longer.
An ugly and forgettable inning.
The Orioles were retired quickly in the bottom of the first, providing little rest for Matusz.
Update: Matusz walked a batter in a scoreless second inning, and Towson University's Casper Wells homered off him in the third. Tigers 3, Orioles 0.
Matusz has thrown 61 pitches through three innings.
Update II: Matusz is done after 3 1/3 innings. Manager Buck Showalter let him face one more batter, and he retired Scott Thorman on a fly ball to begin the fourth. Matusz is charged with two earned runs (three total) and four hits, with two walks and two strikeouts. He threw 65 pitches, 39 for strikes. His fastball was in the 87-88 mph range most of the afternoon.
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