Birds Searching For A Win

Since my last post on Saturday morning, the Birds have been held without a win through their last five games (three losses and two ties), after posting a stunning 4-1 record through their first five contests. Here's a quick recap (just to remind you all, once the regular season starts I'll be posting after every game)...

Game Six (Saturday 3/5/11):

• The Birds tied the Boston Red Sox 4-4 in ten innings. Brad Bergesen allowed three runs off six hits and a walk through three innings, striking out one
• Vladimir Guerrero went 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs
• Jake Fox slapped a solo homer in the ninth inning, tying the game and sending it into extras. Fox now leads the club with three round-trippers
• Mark Reynolds struggles continued, as he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts while grounding into a double-play
• Luke Scott went 0-for-4 and has yet to collect a hit this year

Game Seven (Sunday 3/6/11):

• The O's suffered their second loss of the season, falling 3-0 to the Minnesota Twins. Both the Bird's losses thus far have come against the Twins, and both have been shutouts
• Jeremy Guthrie (1-1) took the loss; Guthrie allowed two runs on four hits in three innings, striking out two
• The Birds managed just four hits, and all were singles

Game Eight (Monday 3/7/11):

• The O's fell behind early and gave the game away late in a 6-5 loss to the Boston Red Sox
• Chris Tillman, trying to earn a starting spot in the rotation, gave up three runs on four hits over three innings of work, while fanning three and walking none
• The Birds banged out 11 hits in the loss; Jake Fox and Nolan Reimold both doubled, and Josh Bell tripled

Game Nine (Monday 3/7/11):

• In their first televised game of the pre-season, the Orioles played the New York Yankees to a scoreless tie over nine innings
• O's prospect Zach Britton made his first start, and held the Yankees to two hits over three innings, walking one and striking out one
• Kevin Gregg continued to impress, firing another shutout inning in relief while whiffing one
• Jeremy Accardo went two innings, walking one, fanning one and allowing just one hit (a double)
• Overall, the O's pitchers allowed just four hits, but the offense managed just six (one for extra bases)
• Adam Jones was the only starter with a multi-hit game; Jones went 2-for-3

Game Ten (Tuesday 3/8/11):

• The O's led until the ninth inning but fell 4-3 to the Philadelphia Phillies
• Justin Duchscherer made his long-awaited debut as an Oriole and was impressive on the mound. "The Duke" allowed just one hit and a walk in two innings of work
• Brian Matusz came on in relief of Duchscherer and gave up two runs on two hits and a walk in 2 1/3 innings
• The Birds managed three runs off just three hits; Jake Fox went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI, and Josh Bell continued his hot streak with a double and 2 RBIs

Bird Bites...

• The O's (4-4-2) are now at .500 and have dropped to 11th place in the Grapefruit League standings
• Through 10 games, Jake Fox leads the O's in at-bats (23), hits (9), homers (3) and RBIs (6) and is stating his case to make the team as the backup catcher
• Luke Scott has had just 12 at-bats but is still hitless, and has struck out five times
• I've already posted on the importance of a healthy Brian Roberts...Roberts was held out of Tuesday's game due to back spasms
• Derrek Lee has yet to start due to wrist soreness and is scheduled for a, "precautionary MRI" on Wednesday

On Deck...

The O's play two split-squad contests on Wednesday...Jake Arrieta starts at home against the Minnesota Twins at 1:05. Ryan Drese, fighting for a bullpen spot, will start the away game against the Boston Red Sox at 7:05.