The Orioles traded for Kevin Millwood to provide a veteran presence for the young pitchers. They also wanted him to take the No. 1 spot, eat innings and keep the Orioles in ballgames.
Tuesday was his first performance as an Oriole – not including three spring games in which he allowed 21 hits and 12 runs in 8 1/3 innings. He said repeatedly that he never pitches well in the spring – the numbers back up that claim throughout his career – but he'd be ready when the games counted.
And, to paraphrase a football coach and a beer commercial, Millwood was who he said he was. His outing wasn't pretty, but it was effective enough and he left with the lead. He threw 100 pitches, 64 strikes and allowed nine hits, one walk and two runs. He also struck out five.
He didn't go as deep into the game as he or the Orioles would have liked, lasting just five innings. But it is his first start of the season – few pitchers are efficient right now.
Orioles fans should be encouraged by what they saw from Millwood. He's not going to wow you all the time. But he attacks hitters and isn't scared to pitch to contact (and he avoids contact when his slider is dancing). And that's a lesson that the younger guys can learn from.