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Stimulus Package for Baltimore Rotation

June 2nd, 2009

The Baltimore Orioles have been benefitting from wonderful starting pitching over the past week. Who thought anybody would be saying that at any point in 2009? I certainly didn’t. Not with the rotation the Orioles entered the season with.

But with Adam Eaton out of baseball, Mark Hendrickson having been relegated to middle relief work, and Alfredo Simon out for the year — Baltimore has turned to a trio of young arms who have already begun to produce.

Rich Hill was the latest of Baltimore’s starters to toss a gem. The former Chicago Cub worked seven innings of shutout ball last night, yielding only two hits while striking out seven and retiring the final 14 batters he faced.

One day earlier, in a series-ending loss to the Detroit Tigers, rookie Jason Berken pitched seven brilliant innings in just his second major league start. He gave up only four hits and one run, fanning two and walking two. He pitched to contact all day long, worked quickly, and pelted the strike zone.

Jeremy Guthrie started on Saturday night and took a tough loss despite having some of his best stuff of the season. Guthrie struck out 10 - a career high - while working six effective innings opposite Justin Verlander.

Brad Bergesen was a winner on Friday night. He pitched eight (the longest outing by an Oriole starter this season) masterful innings of two-run ball. The rookie-righty scattered seven hits, struck out three, and didn’t issue any walks. Bergesen threw 76 of his 105 pitches for strikes.

One day prior to Bergesen’s excellent start, David Hernandez won in his inaugural big league start. Hernandez, who struck out 14 batters in a Triple-A start prior to getting the promotion to Baltimore, pitched into the 6th-inning while only giving up a run.

Hernandez will look to follow in Berken’s footsteps tonight in Seattle, when the first-year starter will look to toss a Berken-like masterpiece in just his second start with the big club.

Posted by Grant Paulsen Filed in General, MLB, Baltimore Orioles

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Stimulus Package for Baltimore Rotation

June 2nd, 2009

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