Orioles strong-armed by Tigers

By Dan Connolly | dan.connolly@baltsun.com

June 1, 2009

• E-mail
• Print
• Vote

In the middle of Sunday's 3-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers, first baseman Aubrey Huff turned to rookie catcher Matt Wieters and imparted some wisdom.

The club was in the process of being shut down by Detroit's Edwin Jackson before an announced crowd of 32,233 at Camden Yards, just hours after its five-game winning streak was broken by the Tigers' ace, Justin Verlander.

And Huff thought Wieters, who was hitless in three at-bats in his third day with the Orioles, could use a little veteran perspective.

"I told Matt Wieters, 'Look, man, it's going to get easier. You aren't going to get back-to-back starts like that,' " Huff said. "This isn't what the big leagues is all about. I told him that."

How impressed was Huff with Jackson, who allowed two hits - and only one Orioles base runner to reach second - in eight nearly perfect innings?

"He wasn't even close to that [in Tampa Bay]. He definitely has developed probably some of the nastiest stuff in the big leagues this year," said Huff, who was a teammate of Jackson's with the 2006 Devil Rays.

"Honestly, I've played nine years and [Verlander and Jackson] are probably the best back-to-back I have seen in my nine years."

The low-key Jackson, acquired by Detroit in December for outfielder Matt Joyce, smiled when he heard Huff's comment.

"That's one you store in the back of your head," said Jackson, whose fastball topped out at 98 mph. "I've played against [Huff], and I've played with him - he's been around the game a long time and has a lot of knowledge - and to hear a comment like that coming from a well-established major leaguer like him, it says a lot."

Verlander and Jackson helped the Tigers (28-21) salvage a split of the four-game series against the Orioles (23-27) and tempered a memorable 5-2 homestand that featured impressive debuts by a trio of homegrown players: pitchers Jason Berken and David Hernandez and Wieters.

"We haven't accomplished anything yet; we've won some games," second baseman Brian Roberts said. "Nobody's going to give us any trophies for it, but I think we've certainly made some strides with those young guys."

Berken (1-1), who picked up the win in his major league debut Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays, was outstanding Sunday.

He made one mistake - a solo homer to Curtis Granderson in the fourth - in seven innings, allowing four hits and two walks. He retired the first five batters he faced and 11 of his final 13.

The Tigers scored one run in both the eighth and ninth innings on two-out doubles against the Orioles bullpen, and Tigers closer Fernando Rodney pitched a scoreless ninth for his 10th save.

"We'll take those kinds of outings from our starters all the time," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. Berken "pitched very well. Just so happened that Jackson pitched a little bit better."

Jackson, 25, entered the afternoon with a 2.58 ERA on the season but an 8.31 mark against the Orioles in five previous games - all with the Rays. In those outings, Jackson allowed 16 earned runs and a staggering 36 base runners in 17 1/3 innings.

Sunday, he didn't give up a hit until Nick Markakis' fourth-inning single. In the sixth, he hit Robert Andino with a pitch, but Andino was promptly thrown out attempting to steal second.

Ty Wigginton led off the eighth with a double but was stranded when Jackson induced a lineout and two groundouts.

It ended the Orioles' hopes of winning a second consecutive series. But it didn't dampen their positive vibes about the past week - and, potentially, the future.

"A lot of progress, very good enthusiasm on the club and with our fans," Trembley said summing up the week. "Up-tempo-type games, much cleaner-type games and a whole lot more fun to play. A whole lot more fun."