The Orioles looked to rebound today in Lakeland after yesterday’s loss in Sarasota in which the team scored no runs. Facing Rick Porcello and the Detroit Tigers, the Birds brought their “b-team” to Joker Marchant Stadium, with no expected Opening Day bats making the trip. It would be hard to tell that, though, just by looking at the final score of 6-2.
Rick Porcello gave the Tigers three shutout innings, while Jake Arrieta pitched for two, giving up one run and a walk on two hits. Between Arrieta and Mark Ballard, who pitched the 9th inning and gave up a run, Ryan Drese, David Riske, Jason Berken, and Troy Patton gave manager Buck Showalter six scoreless innings on the mound.
The Orioles runs actually came all in the late innings, many from substituted players. In the 6th inning, Nolan Reimold hit his second homerun of the spring (a 3 RBI shot), while Jake Fox hit his second as well in the 8th (a 2 RBI homerun). Following Fox’s homer, Craig Tatum struck out on three pitches, but the third turned into a wild pitch, sending Tatum to 1st, and bringing Nolan Reimold home to score from 3rd.
As Fred Manfra would tell us: the Orioles are back in the win column.
Daily Nugget Award(s):
- Nolan Reimold and Jake Fox – 3 run homerun and 2 run homerun, respectively
