The Orioles lost their spring training game today as Chris Tillman gave up three runs (two earned) in his two innings pitched. The Orioles rallied to tie the game 4-4 but the Admiral Oliver Drake allowed one run in the seventh to give the O's the loss.
With the A lineup having played in last night's televised game, it was scrub city today for the Orioles, with Wilson Betemit the only player guaranteed a spot on the 25-man roster. Speaking of Betemit, he walked to lead of the second inning and was the O's only base runner until the fifth inning when catcher Taylor Teagarden walked with one out. Back-to-back singles by Ryan Flaherty and Josh Bell loaded the bases for Xavier Avery, who singled in two runs and then was promptly picked off. Ah, the Oriole way.
The O's scored two more in the sixth inning when Betemit doubled in Ryan Adams (who walked) and Nick Johnson (who singled). That tied the game at four, but the C team that had subbed out the B team couldn't score any more. The O's had just one more base runner, the awesomely named Scott Beerer.
Dana Eveland got the start for the Orioles and he was, you know, I can't care about Dana Eveland. The Red Sox were playing with a roster of mostly regulars, and they scored one in the first when a Ryan Lavernway hit a sacrifice fly to score Jacoby Ellsbury, who had doubled to lead off the game.
After Eveland pitched a scoreless second inning, Chris Tillman came in. He got knocked around pretty good but wasn't helped by an error from the 3B Flaherty. After a leadoff single from MIke Aviles and said error that allowed Dustin Pedroia to reach with one out, Adrian Gonzalez doubled in Aviles. Hits from Lavernway and Cody Ross game the Red Sox a four-run lead that held until the sixth inning.
In the most exciting development of the day, Dylan Bundy pitched the fifth inning and faced three Red Sox regulars and someone named Luis Exposito. He induced a ground out from Ellsbury, walked Pedroia, got Gonzalez to fly out to center, and finished off Exposito. He then bench pressed a Ford F-150.
Pat Neshak and Oliver Drake each pitched an inning, with Drake giving up an RBI double to a nobody. Then an Oriole named Jon Link (who???) finished the game.
With the Grapefruit League record now 1-2, the Orioles play again tomorrow at 1 against the Twins. The game will not be broadcast.