It?s become clear that if the Orioles will have a chance in the American League East, they are going to need performances like the one they got Tuesday from Kris Benson.
Benson kept a reeling bullpen in their center field home for nearly seven full innings, giving up two runs in a bend-don?t break performance in a 9-2 win over Toronto at Camden Yards.
Orioles? manager Sam Perlozzo said he is looking for outings like Benson?s last night, which helped snap a three-game skid.
“You should go nine (innings). If you can?t go nine, then tell yourself you?ve got to get to eight. If you can?t go eight, then you?ve got to seven. It?s not unreasonable to expect your guys to go deeper in the game,” he said.
The offense helped out as well, as Melvin Mora hit a two-RBI double and Jay Gibbons added a two-run home run in the sixth. Miguel Tejada, who turns 30 this month, and Ramon Hernandez each hit two-run homers in the eighth on breaking balls to put the game out of reach.
Perlozzo said he had become reluctant to use the bullpen in recent games and Tuesday showed why. Julio Manon, called up this week, struggled in his brief appearance, getting no outs.
“You know when you?re sitting on the bench and you?re worrying about ?What am I going to do in the sixth (inning)? What am I going do in the sixth?? Obviously, somebody in that role is not someone you had a lot of confidence in,” Perlozzo said. “You?re trying to patch it up and patch it up all the time and not having an answer. You know when you look to your pitching coach or your bench coach and say ?Who do you like?? and you get no answer. You?re stomach is in a knot.”
The Orioles made moves late Monday, designating reliever Jim Brower for assignment following a poor performance in a loss to Toronto. Another reliever, Eddy Rodriguez, was sent to Ottawa.
That meant that two relievers were summoned from Class AAA Ottawa. Right-hander Julio Manon got his chance and immediately gave up a triple and a walk. Todd Williams pitched well, and closed out the game for the Orioles.
Perlozzo said Manon will likely be used in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.
He appeared in 23 games for the Montreal Expos in 2003 and spent the last two seasons pitching in Korea, with the Kia Tigers in 2004 and the Samsung Lions in 2005.
“I?m here to do what I know how to do,” Manon said.
Left-hander Kurt Birkins, in his sixth year in the Orioles? system, came with Manon. He warmed up, but did not see action.
The lone standout reliever has been closer Chris Ray. Ray said the relievers are in good spirits.
“Everything?s going to work itself out. It?s still early,” Ray said.
Birkins has primarily been a starter during his career, but pitched out of the bullpen in college.
“It?s a little different, going to the field every single day, not knowing when you?re going to throw or not. But I?m not going to change my approach about anything. Always be ready,” he said.
