With the team in a four-game skid coming into this game, C.J. Wilson is one of those guys you want to see on the mound. He’s focused, unrelenting and tough on himself.
Well, I hope his performance Friday lived up to his standards. It was one of his best of the season in which Wilson has consistently been very good. Wearing gray uniforms in Baltimore instead of his usual pick of blue on the road, Wilson pitched 8 2/3 innings, struck out a career-high 12 batters and walked one on 118 pitches. If it wasn’t for a double in the ninth, he probably would have his second complete game of the year.
Most of the strikeouts came during a mid-to-late stretch in the game where the 29-year-old fanned seven of 11 hitters. The Orioles took exception to the strike zone of home plate umpire Jeff Nelson, leading to the eventual ejection of right fielder Nick Markakis in the sixth and new manager Buck Showalter in the eighth. Markakis was called out on strikes three times in three at-bats.
Despite the offensive struggles highlighted by getting swept in Tampa Bay and shut out for just the second time all season in the first game at Camden Yards, the Rangers got just enough offense Friday to complement the excellent pitching.
Moreland homered in the second for a 1-0 lead. While Josh Hamilton, recently in a 1-for-16 spin (for him), knocked in the second run in the seventh, while going 2 for 5. Hitting .354, Hamilton continues to lead the Majors in batting average by 14 points.
With the final out, Neftali Feliz recorded his 30th save of 2010, but his first for the month of August.
It was TCU product Jake Arrieta’s turn for the Orioles. Going 6 2/3 innings, he gave up two runs (1 earned), struck out three and walked three.
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