Jon Garland, RH Jim Johnson, RH (10-3, 4.78) (0-0, -.--)
You know who hit that grand slam yesterday? Ross Gload.
Jim Johnson makes his major league debut in place of the ailing Kris Benson today, and is the ninth pitcher to start a game for the O's this season, following Benson, Bedard, Rodrigo Lopez, Chen, Cabrera, Loewen, Russ Ortiz, and John Halama. Johnson was the 2005 Carolina League pitcher of the year, when he went 9-5 with a 4.13 ERA for Bowie. Impressive, no? I don't know that Johnson is any sort of real prospect, but he's 6-5, 224, out of Johnson City, NY, and he just turned 23 on June 27, although he looks 30. Perlozzo says this is most likely a one-time thing for now, but also leaves it up in the air that maybe it won't be. That's our Sam, decisive and with a plan of attack. Tomorrow, Chen starts.
Ozzie Guillen got mad at Garland recently because Garland failed to bean Ian Kinsler in retaliation for Vicente Padilla plunking Alex Cintron.