Another Rookie, Another Win
I went to the O’s – Tigers game tonight, a 5-1 Orioles win, and had a blast. It was a great game for the Birds, despite the seven walks and two errors. A light rain fell for the first two innings, but after the rain subsided, it turned into a beautiful, cool evening.
Another rookie pitcher, David Hernandez, made his major league debut for the Birds, and pitched pretty well. He was the second player to make his first big league start for the O’s this week. Teammate Jason Berken made his first major league start Tuesday night against the Toronto Blue Jays, getting the win in a 7-2 Orioles victory.
Hernandez pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run on five hits, walked four, and struck out three. Matt Albers, Jim Johnson and George Sherrill pitched 3 1/3 innings of shutout ball to seal the victory.
Hernandez was aided by two home runs by Luke Scott, who has homered in each of the two games he has played since returning from the disabled list yesterday. Scott hit a solo shot in the second inning, and a three-run blast that sealed the deal in the bottom of the eighth.
Rookie outfielder Nolan Reimold homered in his third consecuive game, hammering a solo blast in the fifth that allowed the O’s to regain the lead after the Tigers had tied it in the top half of the inning.
It was the Orioles fourth victory in a row, and their sixth in their last seven. The win pulled the Birds into a virtual tie with the Tampa Bay Rays, who lead the O’s by percentage points for fourth place.
Four One O's 