Bull(pen)s On Parade

May 23, 2009

The Orioles entered this three game series against the Nationals with the highest ERA in the American League. The Nationals had the highest ERA in the National League. All indications were that there were going to be alot of runs scored this weekend at Nationals Park.

So wouldn’t you know it, through the first two games of the series, both victories for the Orioles, there were a total of 9 runs scored between the two teams. In Saturday night’s 2-1 victory, the O’s bullpen, which had been torched by the Yankees in the series previous to this, pitched six innings, allowing only a Cristian Guzman solo home run, to claim the win.

Combined with Fridays 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball, the Birds bullpen has allowed only one run in 12 1/3 inning of work in the past two games. Four Oriole relief pitchers made Aubrey Huff’s pinch-hit RBI triple in the seventh inning stand up, only one of three hits the O’s
managed against the Nats.

Brian Bass recorded his third win of the season after entering the game in the fourth inning after starter Koji Uehara left the game with a sore hamstring at the end of the third. Bass went three, while Matt Albers and Jim Johnson each pitched a scoreless inning to keep the Nats in check. Closer George Sherrill struck out the side in the ninth to pick up his ninth save.

The Nationals have had two excellent starts from Jordan Zimmerman on Friday and Ross Detwiler on Saturday. Zimmerman pitched 7 innings surrendering only two runs, while Detwiler yielded only one run in six innings of work. The Birds bullpen bested the Nats pen both nights, collecting both wins when the Nats relievers couldn’t prevent the O’s from scoring late in both games.  

The Orioles tied the lifetime series against the Nationals at 10 wins apiece. Sunday, the O’s go for the sweep, with Brad Bergesen (1-2) opposing Shairon Martis (5-0). 

Written by mlblogsbirdbuzz Posted in Dailies Tagged with Aubrey Huff, Brian Bass, George Sherrill, Jim Johnson, Matt Albers, Nationals, Orioles