Chalk another one up for a young gun.
Pitcher Daniel Cabrera did not allow a run for his second consecutive start, as the Orioles defeated the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 4-0 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Cabrera scattered five hits, struck out five batters and walked three in seven innings before a crowd of 25,510.
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Before the game, however, manager Sam Perlozzo made it clear what he would like on his staff.
“I?d like to have an ace, a so-called proven guy,” Perlozzo said. “I think we need one more guy that we can count to take the heat off everybody else. That doesn?t mean our kids can?t go out there and pitch lights out next year.”
Closer Chris Ray earned his 30th save of the season in the win for the Orioles.
After early struggles that led to a demotion to Triple-A Ottawa, Cabrera appears to be limiting his control issues. The 25-year-old Cabrera threw a complete game shutout in his last outing against Toronto.
Offensively, the Orioles? runs came in the fifth inning, with RBIs from Brian Roberts and Melvin Mora. Right fielder Nick Markakis added an RBI in the seventh, while Corey Patterson scored on a wild pitch in the eighth. Catcher Ramon Hernandez scored a run and collected twohits.
The club has made the decision in recent weeks to live and die with its young arms. It seems likely that Hayden Penn will join the rotation soon with young hurlers Cabrera, Erik Bedard and Adam Loewen.
Meanwhile, early season starters like Bruce Chen and Rodrigo Lopez have been relegated to the bullpen.
Long out of serious playoff contention, the team has found a glimmer of hope in occasional standout performances of its young pitchers.
Perlozzo has one veteran pitcher that he said he would particularly like to hold on to this offseason ? Kris Benson.
“I don?t know what he thinks, but I would love to have him,” Perlozzo said. “I don?t know what his thoughts are. I doubt that he would tell me at this particular point and time.”
Perlozzo said there is no easy answer to the team?s woes. When asked if one big free agent signing or trade, particularly for a power-hitting left fielder, would address all of the team?s problems, Perlozzo said: “The way we?re made up, I don?t think one is going to do it. I always thought we were going to build this thing around pitching. I think good pitching can overcome some of your other deficiencies, not all of them. But, we have a few other holes.”
Among those holes will likely be first base, where Kevin Millar has played most of the season.
Notes
Hernandez was awarded the Heart and Hustle Award Friday night. The award, in its second year, was created to honor one player from each team who best embodies the values and spirit of the game. A player from each club is selected, with one player selected at the end of the season. Orioles legend Boog Powell presented Hernandez with the award.
