The lasting image some Orioles fans might have of left-hander Erik Bedard is the game-winning hit he surrendered to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' Ben Grieve on April 21 at Tropicana Field. When a pitcher makes only two appearances before disappearing into the minors, a failure of this magnitude tends to stick.
It would be a shame if this is true.
Bedard, 23, is tearing up the Double-A Eastern League, with four consecutive winning decisions that have lowered his ERA to 1.61. He's 6-2 for the Bowie Baysox and bound again for the All-Star Futures Game at Miller Park in Milwaukee, where a collection of baseball's top prospects congregate to showcase their talents.
In his most recent outing, Bedard allowed four hits and three unearned runs in six innings, striking out eight while defeating the Altoona Curve, 9-5. He hasn't surrendered an earned run in 23 2/3 innings.
Bedard made his major-league debut at Yankee Stadium on April 17, allowing one run in two-thirds of an inning. Grieve's single bloated his ERA to 13.50.
"It never hurts to go to the big leagues," said Don Buford, director of minor-league operations. "Even if you're not used a lot, you can learn. It's a valuable experience."
A left-hander chosen in the sixth round of the 1999 amateur draft, Bedard led all Orioles minor-leaguers last year with a 2.15 ERA at Single-A Frederick. His 137 strikeouts ranked fourth despite his missing more than a month because of left shoulder stiffness.
The Orioles were forced to rush him to the majors when needing a third left-hander in the bullpen because Sean Runyan came down with more arm trouble at Triple-A Rochester. Bedard could reappear later in the summer, perhaps sooner than when September call-ups crowd the clubhouse. But team officials don't mind having him stay in the minors and building more innings and confidence.
"He's on the 40-man roster. That's the plan, for him to pitch in the big leagues," Buford said. "He's pitching very well, and he's gaining valuable experience. That's more important than going to the big leagues in this short period."
As Bedard continues to retire Eastern League hitters, it would be understandable if the Orioles move him up another level in the farm system.
But Buford said he doesn't believe Bedard needs to pitch at Rochester to "prove anything."
"There are a lot of veteran hitters in that league. It's not like he's facing kids," Buford said.
While at Bowie, Bedard can continue working with Izzy Molina and soaking up whatever knowledge the veteran catcher obtained during his time in the majors.
"It helps having Molina calling pitches and getting him to throw pitches in certain situations that he might not have done before," Buford said.
Triple-A Rochester
The Orioles put Josh Towers on the disabled list with a sore right elbow and signed pitched Kennie Steenstra, who was released May 31 from the Florida Marlins' Triple-A affiliate in Calgary. In his most recent start, Towers allowed six runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings. ... During an unusual 12-game stretch, Red Wings starters posted a 0.31 ERA in four victories, and a 6.72 ERA in their eight losses. ... Mike Drumright, Yorkis Perez and Rafael Pina combined on an eight-hit shutout over Norfolk on Wednesday. Pina was 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA and a career-high six saves in his previous 10 games before getting torched by Charlotte on Friday. He allowed five hits in the ninth inning while recording only one out, and a 5-1 lead disappeared. Rochester had been 25-0 when leading after eight innings. ... John Stephens was chosen to participate in the Futures Game. Going into yesterday's start, Stephens continued to lead the International League with 96 1/3 innings pitched and was tied for the lead with 83 strikeouts. His 2.15 ERA ranked fourth, and he took a scoreless streak of 20 innings into the weekend. ...
Steve Bechler earned his first win Saturday after an 0-6 start with the Red Wings. ... Third baseman Jose Leon continued to produce before he joined the Orioles yesterday. He was batting .295 going into the weekend, with 14 doubles, eight homers and 35 RBIs in 66 games. ... Second baseman Howie Clark was tied for the league lead with 82 hits. ... Outfielder Larry Bigbie's average dipped to .348, still good for second in the league.
Double-A Bowie
Matt Riley fell to 1-6 after Thursday's loss to New Haven. He allowed four earned runs and 10 hits in six innings but struck out a season-high nine. ... Outfielder Ray Cabrera, who was batting .276 with 21 doubles, four homers and 29 RBIs, fractured his lower left leg while sliding into second base Wednesday and will miss the rest of the season. ... Davidsonville's Mark Gibbs moved up from Single-A Delmarva to Bowie. ... Napoleon Calzado stole his first base Thursday since May 25, but continued to lead the Baysox with 20 swipes. ... Bowie pitchers allowed 16 hits in consecutive games last week. ... Luis Matos hit a two-run homer Friday, the second time he has gone deep since joining the Baysox. He hit a walk-off homer Tuesday in a 1-0 win over New Haven. Pitcher Jimmy Journell had retired 16 straight before Matos connected. Matos is batting .414 since joining Bowie on June 6, and .611 in his past six games. ... Baysox starter Mike Paradis allowed five hits over eight innings and retired 13 in a row Friday. Only two hits left the infield. ... Pitcher Willy Serrano made his first appearance Friday since April 6, and his first start since 1999 with the Gulf Coast Tigers. Serrano was on the disabled list with a broken foot. ... Pitcher Mark Brownson was released after signing as a free agent 13 days earlier. ... Bowie catchers had two homers going into the weekend.
Single-A Frederick
Typical of the Keys' season: Juan Figueroa held Wilmington scoreless over eight innings, and the team still lost, 4-2. ... The Keys ended a six-game losing streak Wednesday. ... Second baseman Mike Fontenot, the 19th pick in last year's draft, broke a finger on his throwing hand Tuesday and won't participate in the Carolina League All-Star Game. His 61 hits, 26 RBIs and six steals lead the team. ... Catcher Eli Whiteside was added to the All-Star team. His four homers led the Keys heading into the weekend, and his 23 RBIs ranked second. Whiteside had thrown out 22 of 68 runners (32 percent) attempting to steal. ... Mamon Tucker had hit in 11 straight games going into the weekend. ... Infielder Eric Shanks joined the Keys on Thursday despite batting .205 in 14 games at Single-A Delmarva. He started 0-for-16 with the Shorebirds but hit in six of his past seven games. He went 2-for-3 with a run scored in his Keys debut. ... Matt Schwager broke a five-game losing streak with 5 2/3 shutout innings in Friday's opener of a doubleheader against Potomac. ... Outfielder Cory Keylor went 7-for-12 with two doubles and four RBIs in a series against Wilmington.
Single-A Delmarva
Outfielder Woody Cliffords was added to the South Atlantic League All-Star Game, taking the place of injured Kannapolis Intimidator Mike Spidale. Trey Salinas will participate in the home run contest. He led the Shorebirds with eight going into the weekend. ... David Crouthers had his worst outing last Monday, allowing six runs and six hits in three innings. ... Tripper Johnson built a 12-game hitting streak, breaking a tie with Omar Rogers and Adam Manley for the longest by a Shorebird this year. He homered and had a run-scoring single Tuesday and was batting .396 during his tear. ... Richard Stahl fell to 1-1 after allowing five runs in four innings of a 5-4 loss to Asheville. ... Second baseman Manny Del Rosario was batting .350 in a six-game stretch. ... Catcher Kyle Martin had four two-hit games last week and was batting .343 with eight RBIs this month. ... Ryan Keefer retired 11 in a row during last Monday's game against Asheville and permitted only one run in four innings. But the Shorebirds lost, 7-6, in 11 innings.