Highlights and lowlights from the Orioles' 8-6 loss to the Montreal Expos in Jupiter, Fla.
DOWN -- Ponson vs. Jupiter: Taking the name too literally, his pitches here wind up on another planet.
UP -- Will Clark: Hits his first spring homer and beefs up the average a little more. So, how's Raffy doing?
UP -- Albert Belle: Collects his first extra-base hits with a double and homer. And not one bat ends up in the stands or in half.
DOWN -- Chris Fussell: Absorbs the loss after allowing the go-ahead runs in the seventh.
UP -- Charles Johnson: Ties Mike Bordick and Willis Otanez for club lead in homers.
UP -- Roster cuts: Time to weed out some youngsters and clean up the play a little.
The bats
The Orioles cranked three home runs, by Clark, Johnson and Belle. Each came with a runner on base. Belle also doubled, and the other three hits were singles by Cal Ripken, Tim DeCinces and Ricky Otero. Rich Amaral scored twice and stole his second base. In one stretch, Expos starter Mike Thurman struck out six of eight batters, beginning with Clark to end the first inning. Ripken's hit was his third in 20 at-bats.
The arms
The last three Orioles starters had gone four innings, a streak interrupted by Ponson. He got through the first two OK, keeping the Expos off the board despite allowing a single and walk in the first, and a single in the second. But he surrendered two homers in the third, plus a two-run triple into the right-field corner by Vladimir Guerrero. In all, the Expos scored five times. Ricky Bones allowed three hits and a run over the next two innings. Chris Fussell retired the Expos in order in the sixth, but gave up two doubles and an RBI grounder in the seventh that broke a 6-6 tie. Jesse Orosco pitched a scoreless eighth.
The rest
The Orioles have lost three in a row and are 4-4-1 heading into today's game against the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie. Ripken made a lunging, backhanded catch of a liner by Manny Martinez in the third inning with runners on the corners. The triple and two homers followed. Lyle Mouton made a diving grab in right field to rob Darron Cox with two on in the fifth.
Quote of the day
"Whatever role they give me, I have to do what they tell me. When they put the ball in my hand, I've got to do the job." -- Ponson.
Pub Date: 3/15/99