The Orioles took on the New York Yankees tonight in Tampa Bay at the Yankees’ Spring Training home. It didn’t seem like much of a game, though. The Yankees won, 10-0, as they got on the board early and often.
With Jeremy Guthrie pitching against the Red Sox AAA squad earlier today (in order to not show his stuff to the Yankees lineup), Jim Johnson started for the Birds, pitching one inning and giving up one run. Mark Hendrickson followed him with two scoreless innings, giving fans hope that the O’s could come back. Things only got worse after this point, though. Mike Gonzalez came on for an inning, allowing a run. David Riske pitched an impressive inning, getting two strikeouts and allowing no runs. The Yankee bats really piled on when Clay Rapada let up two runs in an inning, and Rick VandenHurk allowed five runs in the 7th inning, and was taken out of the game before recording an out.
In terms of hitting, the Orioles got no-hit by Ivan Nova through the first six innings. Nova, who had to throw extra pitches in the bullpen after getting through six innings so quickly, only allowed one base runner on a ground ball to Alex Rodriguez that bounced off of his glove, into his face, and was ruled an error. Otherwise, Vladimir Guerrero had a hit off of Mariano Rivera, and Mark Prior let up a walk to Mark Reynolds.
This is obviously a game that the Orioles want to put behind them. There were practically no positives to take out of the game other than a few good pitching performances. VandenHurk has been struggling all spring, which doesn’t bode well for his chances to make the team, a spot that was already a long shot for him to take. Hendrickson has been average for the O’s, and he, as of now, is competing with Rapada for a lefty spot in the ‘pen.
Buck was getting frustrated by the end of this game, and it was obvious why. Down 0-10 in the 8th, Gabino loaded up the bases after a walk, and the game was just getting out of hand.
All in all, this was a night to forget. It was one of those nights where you are thankful that the home team doesn’t hit in the bottom of the 9th if they are winning, because the Yankees probably would have put up a few more runs. And of course the game was aired on the YES Network, so New York fans got to enjoy a great night for their squad.
The O’s travel to Bradenton to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates tomorrow.
