Orioles 6, Twins 0: Good game by Chen. But can he tell a joke?

Wei-Yin Chen made his first Spring Training start and got to impressing right away. He retired side in order in the first inning, then after allowing a lead off single in the second, Chen struck out the next three batters (two swinging, one looking) to end his day. Not a bad first impression, eh? Also, one of the batters that Chen struck out is named Brian Dinkelman, which is awesome.

Chen was followed by another new Oriole, Armando Galarraga. Galarraga also pitched two innings, giving up two hits (one to Dinkelman) and a walk. After Galarraga the Orioles sent Luis Ayala, Matt Lindstrom, Steve Johnson, and some cat named Stuart Pomeranz out for one shutout inning apiece. Lindstrom was much better today than on Monday, giving up no hits and one walk (that was wiped out on a double play by Dinkelman).

The offense racked up ten hits and four walks through the first seven innings, but only had two runs to show for it. In the second inning, Mark Reynolds singled with one out and then stole second base, no doubt in an attempt to dazzle us all with his new, thinner self. After a walk to Wilson Betemit and a strike out by Nolan Reimold, Reynolds scored on a Robert Andino single. Two out RBI! Andino is clutch.

The O's second run came in the fourth inning when Adam Jones singled in Endy Chavez (who had walked). Nolan Reimold also walked to start the inning but was eliminated on an Andino GIDP (aw, that's not clutch).

Leading 2-0 going into the eighth inning, the Orioles B squad made some noise. They loaded the bases with no outs thanks a single (Xavier Avery), a walk (Josh Bell. I know, right?), and a HBP (Matt Antonelli). That brought Scott Beerer, winner of the cool name award (sorry, Dinkelman!), to the plate. Beerer singled in Avery, then Jai Miller cleared the bases with a double to make the score 6-0. After Ryan Flaherty struck out, Steve Tolleson singled to left but Miller was thrown out at home. The Twins had to change pitchers to face the fearsome Joe Mahoney, who made the final out of the inning.

Oscar Villarreal, who I didn't know still played baseball, pitched a scoreless ninth inning, walking one, to seal the O's win.

The win brings the O's to .500 in the Grapefruit League (2-2). Tomorrow they play the Braves at 1:05, a game you can listen to on WBAL radio.