Guthrie, Markakis lead O’s to an easy win

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August 14, 2:18 AM

by Jay Trucker, Baltimore Orioles Examiner

 

 

The Orioles picked up Jeremy Guthrie before the 2007 season when the Cleveland Indians decided they didn’t have room for him on their roster anymore.  Wednesday night, Guthrie showed Cleveland that he’s evolved into a legitimate top of the rotation starter, pitching seven innings of one run ball and putting the O’s in line for their first win in the third game of a four game series. 

New Beginning

Guthrie became the first pitcher since Saturday not to give up four runs in the first inning.  He put down Cleveland’s top of the lineup 1,2, 3 like it was his job.  It is his job.

Aubrey Huff led off the second inning with a solo homerun.  He saw his league-leading 19 game hitting streak end on Tuesday, but he came back in a big way early Wednesday. 

Ramblin’ Ramon

Following Huff, Kevin Millar walked and Luke Scott hit a single.  Ramon Hernandez hit one hard to 3B but Cleveland’s Andy Marte handled the ball, saw that he’d have a tough play at third, bought a lotto ticket, ate a sandwich, worked on his golf swing, and came back in time to throw out Hernandez at first.

Jay Payton eventually drove in Millar.  2-0 Orioles after two innings. 

Extreme Relief

It was smooth sailing for Guthrie in the first four innings.  He ran into some trouble in the fifth when Marte and Grady Sizemore hit deep doubles, the latter scoring Marte.  Guthrie ended the potential rally by inducing a pop up to David Dellucci.  2-1 O’s through five innings.

Rafael “Nuno” Betancourt came on in relief of Cleveland SP Anthony Reyes.  Betancourt made it through the seventh without difficulty, but ran into trouble in the eighth by way of a Nick Markakis walk and a Melvin Mora single.  The Orioles, however, could not capitalize.  Huff, Millar and Scott all hit into easy outs.

Confidence, Man

Jeremy Guthrie, on the other hand, sailed through seven innings, throwing 101 pitches and giving up four hits and a walk.  I thought he was a candidate for a complete game, but Manager Dave Trembley pulled his ace for

Dun, dun, dun….Jamie Walker!!!!!

Gary Thorne’s understated moment: “Jamie Walker’s having trouble lately getting right or left handers out.”

Watch out for him against those middle handlers, though. 

The Southern southpaw got a groundout, and a strikeout before being lifted for a right handed matchup. 

I knew all along Jamie would come through.

I Love Rocky Road

Rocky Cherry pitched the last 1/3 of the eighth.  He gave up a walk and worked into a 3-2 jam with a wild pitch.  With the tying run on second, Cherry struck out Kelly Shoppach.   

I always root for Cherry because

1.  His name is Rocky Cherry.

2.  His mother was an original Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.

Maybe he’s the guy to replace Steve Trachsel as Oriole I’d Most Like to Hang Out With.

Buntastic

Ramon Hernandez tried to bunt his way on in the 9^th.  Seriously?  Instead he hit a hard single to left.  Maybe next time, Ramon. 

Payton hit a single that hung in the air for about ten minutes.  Somehow Cleveland LF Choo couldn’t get to it. 

Juan Castro tried to bunt Hernandez over but Cleveland 1B Ryan “Donnie” Garko threw Hernandez out.

Know why?

BECAUSE RAMON HERNANDEZ MOVES SLOWER THAN MY 60 YEAR OLD FATHER WADING THROUGH A POOL OF SAND WITH THE WORLD’s LARGEST SQUID STRAPPED TO HIS BACK!

Nice Ninth, Nick

Nick Markakis picked up two insurance RBIs hitting a 3-2 pitch for a single that scored Brian Roberts and Jay Payton.  Aubrey Huff doubled Markakis home.  Another run scored on a wild pitch.  The O’s took George Sherrill out of a close situation.  6-1 O’s after 8 and ½. 

Sherrill pitched an uncharacteristically easy ninth.

Today’s MVP’s are Guthrie and Markakis.  Nick recorded his 75^th RBI of the year with a 3 for 4 performance, moving his average up to .307. 

Do you think Trembley can put Guthrie out there tomorrow, and perhaps Friday and Saturday?

Score: 6-1 Orioles

Record: 57-62

Next Game:  @Cleveland 7:05pm Thursday. 

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