On Saturday, the offense for the Baltimore Orioles has a huge day as they defeated the Washington Nationals, 12-3 at Ed Smith Stadium.
Matt Wieters was the absolute star of the game, going 4-for-4 with six runs driven in. He had an opposite field three-run homer in the third inning; meanwhile, Adam Jones went 3-for-3 with a run driven in.
Wilson Betemit – after a slow start at the plate this spring – had three hits and drove in two as well. Nolan Reimold had two hits, and Robert Andino – who has been hot as of late – added three more.
Baltimore pounded starter Edwin Jackson for ten runs – seven earned – in 3 2/3 innings and were able to get eleven hits off of him.
Jake Arrieta started on the mound for Baltimore, and while he was a tad shaky early on, the Nationals only scored one run in five innings off him. Once he got past the opening frame, Arrieta rolled, retiring twelve at one point before calling it an afternoon.
The afternoon was notable because it featured the debut of Dontrelle Willis in an Orioles uniform. It did not go well as he only lasted in inning and allowed two runs – one earned. He walked three consecutive batters to start off the frame in the sixth inning before his outing completed.
According to the MASN broadcast, the plan with Willis is to perhaps make him into a left-handed specialist out of the bullpen – which may not be a bad idea. It looks like the days of him starting are over as he has not been effective in that role in many seasons. It looks like will start off his Baltimore career in the minors and go from there.
No one knows what will become Willis in an Orioles uniform, but I do wish him the best of luck.
