If this is Brian Matsuz’s last start of 2009, he sure made it worthwhile to watch. He went into one of the most intimidating places in all of sports and just dominated as the Orioles won their second straight in the Bronx, defeating the Yankees, 7-3. Baltimore put a six-spot on the scoreboard in the second inning off a very shaky A.J. Burnett — who has been struggling for a while with the Yankees and took the loss — and that was all they needed.
Matusz — the young lefty — went into the Lion’s Den and pitched seven innings of one-run ball, allowing only four hits, striking out three and walking two. The only run he gave up came in the first inning as Mark Teixiera hit a sacrifice fly to center allowing a run to score, but after that, Matusz was on and didn’t yield anything else.
Nolan Reimold tied the game at one as hit he went deep by hitting a solo home run — his 15th of the year — in the second inning, but the fun was only starting. Burnett allowed a walk and back-to-back to singles, loading in the bases and then Robert Andino plated in a run with yet another single. With one out in the frame, and the bases still loaded, the next batter, Brian Roberts took Burnett deep for a grand slam home run to put Baltimore up 6-0.
The Orioles added another run in the ninth inning as Jeff Fiorentino plated in a run off a sacrifice fly. With the game in hand, Baltimore did give up two runs to New York in the final frame off reliever Jim Johnson as Miguel Cabrera had a RBI-double and scored off a Jorge Posada single.
I hope this is not the last time that Matusz is on the mound as he has perhaps gone over his season limit, but isn’t the point of bringing these guys to up challenge them? I mean, it looked like Matusz was fully in control and had it all at Yankee Stadium. I don’t think another start or two would kill him; however, I understand the conservative approach of the Baltimore Orioles and the stance they take on their young arms, plus the investment — financial, mainly — that is put into them.
And of course, we cannot discount the risk of injury.
A job well done by Matusz on Saturday.
