Updates on Jimenez, Butler, Cruz and Wieters

Ubaldo Jimenez probably can't wait for the calendar to flip over to May. Jimenez is off to a slow start tonight against the Royals, allowing two runs and throwing 26 pitches in the top of the first inning. The Royals put a runner on third base with no outs in the second on Alcides Escobar's single and stolen base, and Matt Wieters' throwing error, but Jimenez struck out the next two batters and retired Omar Infante on a fly ball. After two innings, Jimemez has thrown 47 pitches, including 28 for strikes. Jimenez had a 5.21 ERA in March/April before tonight, compared to a 3.89 ERA in May and 3.17 ERA in June. He allowed one run in the first inning over his first four starts this season before the Royals scored twice tonight. Infante walked with one out and Eric Hosmer, Billy Butler and Alex Gordon strung together singles. The Royals weren't tearing the cover off the ball, but they still go down as RBIs for Butler and Gordon. Before tonight, Butler was a career .320/.378/.580 hitter in 47 games against the Orioles, with 10 homers and 34 RBIs. At Camden Yards, he was a career .323/.376/.591 hitter in 23 games, with six homers and 15 RBIs. For crying out loud, just trade for the guy. Nelson Cruz was hit on the left elbow by a 98 mph fastball from Royals starter Yordano Ventura, but he stayed in the game after being checked by head athletic trainer Richie Bancells. Cruz was in a world of hurt. We could hear the impact from the press box. Not a pretty sound. Wieters singled to lead off the bottom of the second, raising his average to .358. He's now 20-for-50 from the left side of the plate.