I have said that Adam Eaton would not inspire confidence in me this season, and he may be borrowed time in Baltimore. Well, I guess I was wrong and sometimes show how little I know at times. Out of the blue, Eaton surprised everyone, carrying a four-hitter and winning his first game as an Oriole as they beat the White Sox, 6-2.
Before the game, Dave Trembley gave Eaton a full vote of confidence despite his failures on the mound before Thursday night.
“If you don’t show confidence in your team, how the heck do you expect them to go out there and play?” Trembley said after Thursday’s game. “My whole approach was to show confidence in not only him, but to take the emphasis off what he does and let everybody know it doesn’t mean a hill of beans how the pitcher pitches if you don’t play well behind him.”
The message must have reasonated in him deep, as I don’t think he’s looked as good as did last night in a very long time.
Eaton, who had has two herrenedous starts so far 2008, looked like an Cy Young Award candidate as he allowed six hits, struck out nine, gave up two earned runs, and walked none in 7 1/3 innings. He would really only get into trouble in the eighth inning as he allowed two men on, but reliever Jim Johnson came in and put out the fire.
The Oriole offense was on again as they jumped all over the rotund Bartolo Colon, who started the game for Chicago. They scored twice in the first inning and three more in the third to pretty much put the game out of reach before the White Sox scored twice in the eighth.
Adam Jones and Ty Wigginton had two hits, and Nick Markakis kept up his hitting streak — now at ten games. Luke Scott drove in two runs and had two walks.
