By the time Orioles pitcher Scott Erickson jogged off the mound last night, every blade of infield grass at Camden Yards was bent. Worms had seam marks across their backs, if they actually have backs. It was the type of contained destruction only Erickson could create.
He had hitters beating the ball into the ground all night, usually an indication that he's in peak form and a victory sits at his fingertips. Only one San Diego out was recorded by an outfielder, when the Padres' Ray Lankford flied to center in the third inning. Even the singles kicked up dirt.
In some ways, it was vintage Erickson. In others, it too closely resembled the present, as Erickson hasn't won since April 28.
The drought has reached eight starts since that victory in Kansas City, with the bullpen blowing a 6-4 lead after Erickson departed. A walk and single off Rick Bauer and an error by third baseman Tony Batista allowed the tying run to cross in the eighth.
Erickson was long gone by then, lasting only 5 1/3 innings in his fourth shortest outing of the season. But he still qualified for the win after Willis Roberts stranded two inherited runners and one of his own.
For a pitcher who used to devour innings like hors d'oeuvres, Erickson's stomach had to be rumbling.
When manager Mike Hargrove motioned to his bullpen, Erickson had thrown 95 pitches, including 52 for strikes. He could enjoy the two-run homer by Melvin Mora in the eighth in ning that provided the winning margin, but wouldn't reap the personal benefits.
Erickson often preaches how he can keep the ball on the ground but can't direct where it goes. The Padres collected four singles in the second inning, and three of them found holes in the infield.
Bubba Trammell went to left field, Wiki Gonzalez to center and Ramon Vazquez to right. Gonzalez and Vazquez drove in runs. So did Julius Matos, on a bouncer to shortstop that wasn't converted into a double play because of a poor relay throw.
Even the last of San Diego's seven hits off Erickson, a one-out single by Deivi Cruz in the fifth, was a chopper between Batista and shortstop Mike Bordick.
The no-decision was the fourth for Erickson since his last win. He has also lost four times, leaving him 3-6 with a 5.12 ERA. At least he can brag about being the Orioles' starter when they finally played the Padres, though the story won't keep his grandchildren entertained for long.
The Orioles and Padres never had met until last night. Not in spring training. Not during the regular season or playoffs. Not in the same restaurant or hotel.
Only a change in interleague format allowed their paths to cross at Camden Yards, where 30,075 turned out to watch the Orioles proceed with their season, while Erickson remained stuck in the same place.