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GARRETT OLSONW-L 8-5 ERA 5.67 | ERVIN SANTANAW-L 12-5 ERA 3.37 |
| BALTIMORE 1. Roberts 2B | ANAHEIM 1. 3B Figgins |
Ervin Santana is finally becoming the pitcher we'd hoped he'd be when we were hoping he'd be traded for Miguel Tejada in 2006. His K-to-BB ratio is sick, his WHIP is low, and Win-Loss totals reflect those numbers nicely. And he doesn't turn 26 until December. But he had his troubles with the O's the last time around, and the post-All Star Break action hasn't been kind to him. From The OC Register:
The Angels’ All-Star right-hander made a start against the Orioles just 10 days ago at Camden Yards, and some adjustment will be necessary. Santana gave up seven hits, walked three and allowed five earned runs in five innings of a 5-2 loss in which he was far from sharp. He needed 100 pitches to get through the five innings, encountering trouble deep in counts. He threw first pitch strikes to 20 of the 26 batters that he faced, but gave up three hits on 0-2 pitches, a fourth after being up 0-2 and a fifth ahead in the count 1-2. Santana is 1-2 since the All-Star break, but his numbers are not dramatically different than they were in his first 19 starts. His ERA over his past three post-break starts is 3.60, compared to 3.34. And his opponent’s batting average is .244, compared to .229. Santana is coming in off one of his best starts of the season, shutting out the New York Yankees over eight innings and striking out eight in a 1-0 victory.
The O's have lost their starting CF, have had a casting call as open as anything this side of "High School Musical: Get In The Picture" for 2 spots in the rotation, and are apparently satisfied with the offensive talents of a shortstop who's batting .127. You read that correctly.
Yet, this scrappy band of fighters and rapscallions find themselves guaranteed of a winning road trip including two West Coast stops and the Yankees. They could finish these 9 games with a 6-3 record if all goes well today. This from a team that came out of the All-Star Break losing 8 of 11.
Lou Montanez finds his way into the starting lineup today, as does anti-vampire Guillermo Quiroz, who ONLY plays in daylight. Alex Cintron makes an appearance, Melvin Mora gets the day off and Luke Scott will be the DH and hopefully resting that sore Achilles in between at-bats. Let's Go O's!