Chris Tillman started the game for the Birds, and let up one run in two innings; a Ryan Howard RBI double in the 1st. Top prospect Zach Britton made his spring debut following Tillman, throwing two innings of shutout baseball (2 H, 1 K, 0 BB, 33 pitches, 18 strikes).
In response to the Howard double, Brendan Harris doubled home Jake Fox in the 2nd inning, tying the game up at one.
Mark Worrell, Mike Gonzalez, and Jim Johnson all pitched single innings after that, none allowing a run.
While the pitching was holding up, we saw an offensive showing from Matt Wieters, as he hit three singles in three straight at-bats, scoring guys all three times. He only got two RBIs, though. Here’s why:
The odd call of the day was in the 7th inning. After a Matt Angle single and stolen base, Felix Pie hit an RBI double, and was replaced with Nick Green to pinch-run. Matt Wieters came up and hit a single (3rd of the day) two ABs later, and Green rounded third to come home. Although the throw from the OF was on target and Phils catcher Brian Scheider tagged Green out, the 3B at the time, Harold Garcia, was called for baserunning interference. The run ended up counting, though Wieters did not get the RBI.
Former Oriole Brian Bass took the mound in the 8th for the Phillies, where he had a rough start. Robert Andino, Brandon Snyder, and Pedro Florimon, Jr. all hit singles off of Bass, loading up the bases. Matt Angle got an RBI on a ground out that scored Andino. After a strikeout and flyout, Bass was able to get out of the mess.
Between a wild pitch and an RBI single, Pedro Viola let up one run on the mound in the 8th. Nick Bierbrodt came on for the 9th, where Michael Martinez hit a first pitch home run John Mayberry, Jr. hit a third pitch home run. It wasn’t the most pleasant of appearances. Buck had to bring on Chris Jakubauskas to clean up the mess, in which he threw a wild pitch to his first batter that allowed yet another run to score. With two easy outs following, the Orioles held on to win the game by the score of 6-5.
Tomorrow: The Orioles take on the Minnesota Twins in Sarasota at 1:05. Brian Matusz will start for the O’s, followed by Adrian Rosario.
