O's 5, Indians 2: Magnificent Matusz
by Stacey on Aug 30, 2009 4:56 PM EDT
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PrintBrian Matusz pitched the best game of his major league career today and the offense scored 5 runs with a little help from the Indians defense, leading to a 5-2 O's win and a series split.
Between starts, Matusz and pitching coach Rick Kranitz reviewed video of him pitching at Bowie and noticed several mechanical changes, especially his arm angle. Matusz attributes those mechanical issues and the ensuing ineffectiveness to his nerves and the pressure he put on himself to do too much upon his promotion. Whatever he changed, it worked. Matusz, who hasn't pitched more than 5.2 innings this year, today got through 7 innings with 8 strikeouts, 1 (garbage) walk, 4 hits, and 1 run.
Matusz retired the first 11 hitters easily until, with two outs in the 4th inning, Balkin' Bob Davidson struck again. After a pitch to Asdrubal Cabrera, Brian Matusz went to his mouth and quickly licked his finger. It looked almost involuntary, but Bob Davidson never misses a chance to screw someone over. Instead of issuing a warning, Davidson called him on it, which added a ball to Cabrera's 3-1 count and sent him to first base as Matusz's first (and only) walk of the day. Matusz didn't rattle (although he looked totally confused) and struck out Shin-Soo Choo to end the inning.
Matusz got into a bit of trouble in the 6th inning when Grady Sizemore hit a ball deep to center. It looked catchable for Adam Jones and actually hit his glove, but he didn't get the out and Sizemore ended up on third with a triple. The next batter, Jamey Carroll, singled him in, but Matusz didn't allow any more damage. He finished the inning with 91 pitches and I thought he was done for the day. Happily I was wrong as Matusz returned for the 7th inning to retire the Indians 1-2-3 on just 5 pitches.
Four of the five Oriole runs came in the third inning on 4 hits, 2 walks, and 2 errors. Ty Wigginton led off with a single to right and moved to 2nd when Choo let the ball get behind him. After Cesar Izturis struck out, Brian Roberts hit a ground ball to 3B Jamey Carroll. Carroll threw wildly so that he not only didn't get Roberts at first, but Wiggy scored all the way from 2nd. Roberts was credited with an infield single and was still on first when the hot hitting Felix Pie hit his 7th HR of the year to left-center field to put the O's up 3-0. Masterson, rattled by the awesomeness that is Felix, then walked Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold, with Jones scoring on a double by Luke Scott. The Orioles 5th run came in the 6th on a sacrifice fly from Brian Roberts.
Danys Baez came on to pitch the 8th inning with a 4 run lead and, naturally, got into trouble. He retired the first two batters but then allowed the Indians second run of the game on three consecutive singles before Jhonny Peralta grounded out to end the inning. Jim Johnson pitched an easy 9th to secure the win.
O's win! Tomorrow the Yankees come to town with Andy Pettitte facing Jeremy Guthrie in game 1.
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Cool!
i saw Matusz’ best start all season
"All major leaguers can see the ball and hit it. But what separates the great ones is that they can see the ball and hit it were they want to hit it."
by BaltimoreSportsFan on Aug 30, 2009 6:02 PM EDT reply actions
Hey Stace
Score was 5-2 lol :)
"Going over the hitters it was decided that we should pitch Frank Robinson underground." - Jim Bouton
fixed thanks
I accounted for it in the narrative but I guess I had Matusz’s line on the brain for the title.
I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry
"Masterson, rattled by the awesomeness that is Felix..."
I definitely chuckled here….. I love The Pie. He has been en fuego and the power we’ve seen lately is just scary.
by Wieters Wieners on Aug 30, 2009 7:27 PM EDT reply actions
yeah...
it was tough to go against felix b/c the home run was pretty sweet and he seemed to catch pretty much every ball hit to the outfield, but matusz was terrific. i was at the game in the front row of the blacher section (92) b/w nick and the doc and it provided a really nice vantage point to matusz’s knee (and mind) bending curve.
"If they pitch to you, make them pay."
--Diamond Dave to the Phenom
His curveball was ON today... and all the time, but especially today it was sick
and were those the 2110 seats? That was today, right?
yeah...
i think there’s a 2110 package. i didn’t get that. it was funny seeing grown men pester nick and the doc for baseballs at the end of warm ups.
"If they pitch to you, make them pay."
--Diamond Dave to the Phenom
by j.q. higgins on Aug 30, 2009 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks for the great writeup, Stacey
I’m probably not going to be able to see the games visually for the rest of the year, so these recaps are appreciated.
"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer
You going somewhere?
I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry
In Brazil for a month or so
On business.
I may be able to listen to the games, but probably not watch them.
"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer
Wow
Have fun.
Hey how’s that fast going? I’ve been meaning to as you.
I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry
I'm approaching the completion of my eighth day
The hunger has completely disappeared, and in the mornings I feel better than ever, but my body doesn’t have the stamina to keep going for an entire day, so by the late afternoon, I’m beyond exhausted.
Overall this has been a pretty good experience and I don’t regret it, but I still crave the taste of food.
"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer
That's interesting
I don’t think I’d be able to get over the hunger part to get to a point where it disappears.
When are you supposed to start feeling the euphoria?
I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry
No euphoria for me, unfortunately
But I feel very healthy and my mind has cleared up significantly; maybe that’s the euphoria?
"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer
Wiggy's tackle was pretty badass.
"Roberts is unconscious!!!!" - Jim Hunter, after Brian Roberts hits his second HR of the night. 9/21/09
though...
it’s probably no surprise to anyone that, to my eyes, juan samuel had NO business sending him!
"If they pitch to you, make them pay."
--Diamond Dave to the Phenom
by j.q. higgins on Aug 30, 2009 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions
By the way
Pie’s line – .272/.335/.457. Wow.
"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer
OT: Frankly i think, Justin Turner needs to lose a few pounds if he wants to play 2B
"Chicks who dig home runs aren’t the ones who appeal to me," he said. "I think there’s sexiness in infield hits because they require technique. I’d rather impress the chicks with my technique than with my brute strength. Then, every now and then, just to show I can do that, too, I might flirt a little by hitting one out."
by WestcoastO'sFan on Aug 30, 2009 8:01 PM EDT reply actions
I know others are, but I'm not that upset about that auto-ball call.
Umpires really can’t issue warnings for that sort of thing during major league games. In spring training, between innings, during warm ups fine, but if they give somebody a warning for something like that the other team goes crazy. The infraction was glaringly obvious I thought.
Meh
It happened right after the ball was thrown. It’s not like he had the ball when he went to his mouth. He could have given the kid a warning, it’s not like he’s a seasoned vet. And I don’t see the dugouts emptying over it or anything if he only gets a warning. Wedge might come out and sheepishly ask the ump why he only gave a warning.
"I hate seeing Bedard go, but I think the O's may have gotten the better end of the deal" -- me, 2/8/08
by CoachOfEarl on Aug 31, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions
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