It was an ugly day for the Orioles, as they saw their brief two-game win streak snapped and a chance of a series sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays disappear.
The Orioles wound up losing to the Jays this afternoon, 9-2, and the role of Brian Matusz in the starting rotation may in be in question.
I had high hopes for him coming into the 2012 season; however, while Matsuz has shown some flashes of the promise he had a few seasons ago, his first two outings have been very shaky – perhaps concerning.
Well, the pitching fell apart in the in sixth inning as Brian Matusz and maligned reliever Kevin Gregg – was booed in Toronto also – gave up seven runs in the frame. It was quite unbelievable to watch considering Matusz up and to that point had only given up a run and the Orioles were in the lead, 2-1.
Matusz gave up a double, a homer, a single and walk before he was yanked from the game in favor of Gregg. He only opened up the floodgates he allowed five runs to come in with an RBI-double, followed by a two-run double, an RBI-double and then hit Brett Lawrie with the bases loaded.
By then, the Jays were up 9-2 and the game was out of reach for the Orioles. There would be no comeback or rally, but instead another confounding and painful loss.
At the end of the day, Matusz lasted 5 2/3 innings and was charged with five runs on seven hits. He walked and struck out four. Gregg only lasted 1/3 of an inning and gave up two earned runs.
For the Jays, Kyle Drabek earned the win. He went 7 1/3 innings and gave up two runs – one earned.
Adam Jones hit his third homer of year – a monster shot to the second deck at the Rogers Centre, but it was overshadowed by the terrible seventh inning.
At this point, does Matusz get another start? I do say yes; however, his rope is very, very short and since there’s depth now in Triple-A with arms, he has to get his act together. The southpaw will be under some serious scrutiny and if he doesn’t turn it around soon, Triple-A will be waiting. Then again, Gregg didn’t help out his cause at all.
Matusz will probably be there for a good, long while. He has lost 11 straight games now, so something has to give.
As for Gregg, he’s an expensive mop-up guy now. Unless Jim Johnson gets injured, there’s no way he will be closing games for Baltimore. He’s has some good years in the majors, but is stuck in an awful rut now.
