Orioles 6, Red Sox 5: 14 days until the games are real

The Orioles came out on top in today's Spring Training game, but it was hardly a banner day for the pitchers. Jason Hammel, who should have pitched five innings, was out after two due to a high pitch count, and he was followed by a group of relievers who weren't much better. But Robert Andino likes to punish the Red Sox even in Spring Training, and he joined Adam Jones and Nick Markakis in the two-RBI club to lead the Orioles to victory.

After a 1-2-3 first inning in which he threw 20 pitches, Hammel lost control in the second. He faced eight batters, gave up three hits, walked two, and threw a wild pitch. The result was two runs and pitch count of 59, which drove him from the game.

Hammel was relieved by Brad Bergesen, who allowed seven base runners in two innings but didn't give up any runs. In both the third and fifth innings, Bergy got into trouble (thanks to two walks, four hits, and a hit batsman) but was saved by a double play ball.

Kevin Gregg walked a guy who came around to score, but don't blame him, there's no adrenaline rush in a non-save situation during Spring Training. Armando Galarraga pitched couple poor innings, and Zach Phillips finished the game 1-2-3 with two swinging strike outs. Well done, Zach.

Offensively, the Orioles beat up on that guy who no-hit them in his second major-league start. Adam Jones homered off of Clay Buchholz in the first inning with Nick Markakis on base, then Nick did the same (with a little help from the wind) in the third inning after a Nick Johnson double. The last two runs of the day were courtesy of Andino, who doubled in Mark Reynolds in the fourth and singled in Scott Beerer in the sixth.

Other notes on the offense: Andino also took a walk today, the only Oriole to do so. If you want to panic over spring stats, take a look at what Matt Wieters has done this ST (spoiler: NOTHING). Nick Johnson got on base two more times today.

Tomorrow at 1:05 the Orioles take on arch-interleague nemesis the Washington Nationals. The game will be broadcast on MASN, MLB.tv, MLBN, and 1090AM.