Baltimore Orioles? pitcher Kris Benson could only stand and watch as a first inning rocket off the bat of Los Angeles Angel Vladimir Guerrero traveled 413 feet into the left-field stands of Oriole Park on Sunday.
It was the first of two home runs Guerrero hit on the day, his second coming in the seventh inning.
Benson, who had pitched so well in his first two outings, only made it through five innings as the Angels of Anaheim won 9-3 before 19,904. The Angels rocked the Orioles? pitching for 13 total hits and three home runs.
Leading that charge was Guerrero, who shunned the Orioles? big contract offer more than two years ago and signed with the Angels. The slugger now has 11 career home runs against the Orioles.
His 3-for-4, three RBI performance on Sunday left some wondering what might have been had he really entertained the Orioles? advances. When he took the plate for the first time, some in the crowd booed the outfielder. Just a few pitches later, the same audience gasped in awe as he hit his first home run.
“Every time you see him, he?s just amazing,” Orioles? outfielder David Newhan said. “He?s one of the strongest, if not the strongest guy, in the Major Leagues. You just try and contain him.”
Newhan said the team does not play the “what if” game. “Obviously, he showed that Camden would be a nice to play for him,” Newhan said.
Orioles? manager Sam Perlozzo said it was simply Guerrero?s day.
“He can be pitched to. We just didn?t do it today,” Perlozzo said.
Benson pitched in the National League for most of his career, and faced Guerrero frequently.
“He?s always a tough out,” Benson said.
The Orioles had an opportunity to take a 2-1 in the second inning. Catcher Javy Lopez appeared to put his team up when he hit a ball into the left-field stands. Angels?center fielder Darin Erstad tried to make a play on the ball, but he came away without the ball.
Miguel Tejada, who was on first base, remained between first and second ? while waiting for a ruling ? and was was passed by Lopez. Lopez was given a single, but was ruled out for passing Tejada. Lopez said he did not get a proper ruling while he was running.
“The umpire could have made the call earlier,” Lopez said.
The slumping Jeff Conine hit a fifth-inning home run to get the Orioles within two at 4-2 before Guerrero blasted his second shot, this time off Sendy Rleal in the seventh. Angels? third baseman Chone Figgins put the game firmly out of reach with a three-run homer in the eighth inning.
Guerrero said he took the day in stride.
“I do realize that sometimes the ball carries well here during the day, but I think it?s just pure luck that I have been able to have success against the Orioles. But at times they?ve also had my number,” said Guerrero, through an interpreter.
