The O's were utterly humiliated on Friday night, falling to the Washington Nationals 17-5 in the opening act of the Battle of the Beltways.
Jake Arrieta took the loss and was the latest starter to struggle early. Arrieta (5-2) lasted just 3 2/3 innings and gave up six runs on six hits, three walks and a hit batter. Jason Berken came on in relief and hit a batter with his first pitch, walking in a run. Berken was blasted for six runs off five hits (two homers) in just one inning of work, and was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after the game. Alfredo Simon is back with the club and should be available out of the 'pen on Saturday...
The Orioles used five pitchers in Friday's game, and each allowed at least one run. The Nationals had just been shut-out twice before coming to Baltimore, but mashed 19 hits, including six long balls, against the O's struggling staff. The Birds have now allowed 30 runs in the last two games...
The entire AL East (besides Boston) lost on Friday night, so the Birds didn't lose any ground to the first-place Rays. The O's (19-24) are five games under .500 but just five games out...
Jeremy Guthrie takes the mound on Saturday afternoon and tries to snap the O's current four-game losing streak. Guthrie (1-6) hasn't won since Opening Day.
I didn't watch or listen to much of this game...what seems to keep showing up when I'm watching or listening to the most recent games is...when Gonzales gets on the mound, runs start piling in...do you think I'm just tuning in at the wrong time???? JB needs to get his pitching arm re-aligned and fine-tuned.
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