Tag Archives: Matt Harvey

Matt Harvey began his major league comeback this afternoon at Fenway Park with the Baltimore Orioles. Harvey came to within one o it of getting the win, and in reality only did not because he was lifted before the necessary five innings. Harvey’s line: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 1 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K.

This was a pitcher’s duel in the first part of the game. Nobody got on the board until the fourth inning. And in fact, it was the Orioles who got on the board. Maikel Franco‘s two-run single gave the O’s a 2-0 lead.

The important thing to note there is that Franco’s hit came with two runners in scoring position. So it’s a hit with RISP. It also came on the heels of a Boston error and a passed ball. On one hand one might argue that the O’s wouldn’t have netted two runs without Boston’s mistakes. But on the other hand, they’re also holding Boston accountable for said mistakes.

Boston would get a run back in the bottom of the fourth on a sac fly-RBI by Gonzalez, however the O’s weren’t about to get themselves nervous over that. Anthony Santander‘s fifth inning RBI-single brought them back to being two up at 3-1. Boston would battle back in the last of the fifth however with Martinez’s infield RBI-single. That’s the play that eventually chased Harvey from the game. The ball bounced off of Harvey, allowing a run to score – not really much he could have done about it.

The O’s would add an insurance run in the seventh on a sac fly-RBI Trey Mancini. That’s also noteworthy, as for the second straight game the O’s put up an insurance run. And as we get into the season, that makes a difference.

When Harvey was lifted the O’s turned to Adam Plutko, who of course was acquired by trade and added to the final roster in the waning days of spring training. In fact, that trade occurred one week ago today. Plutko pitched 2.1 innings, and got the win on the afternoon.

We also saw Cesar Valdez in the closers role for the first time. And while he put the tying run on base, he closed out the inning, and a second win in as many games for the O’s. Regardless of what happens tomorrow, the Orioles have won their season-opening series in Boston.

The series concludes tomorrow at Fenway Park. Bruce Zimmerman gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Garrett Richards. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

The Baltimore Orioles played the Pittsburgh Pirates this afternoon in Sarasota for the eighth and final time this spring. With MLB going to “pod scheduling” in the Grapefruit League to cut down on travel, these two got together a lot due to their proximity. You have to play someone. They sent Matt Harvey out for the final time in the spring, and with semi-decent results. Harvey’s line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K.

Harvey of course is going to be the Birds’ number two starter, and will get the nod Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park. Baltimore-native Bruce Zimmerman will start game three, Manager Brandon Hyde announced before the game (quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports):

He’s pitched outstanding in camp. Really feel like he’s had a really good spring training. He’s had some good starts here, he’s pitched outstanding on the back field that you guys haven’t seen, in a B game and some other things that he’s done.

I really like his stuff. I think this guy’s a four-pitch guy, he’s pounded the strike zone all spring, his velocity’s ticked up, his breaking balls have been sharper, and he’s healthy and ready to go. So he’s earned it with how he’s pitched this spring and looking forward to watching him pitch.

As for today’s game, maybe it’s not shocking that two teams who have seen one another seven other times this spring would play a ho-hum type of game today. They’ve certainly gotten to know one another’s rosters, almost to the point of having a joint camp. Every time you turned around the O’s were either going to Bradenton, or Pittsburgh was coming to Sarasota.

Stokes’ RBI-single in the first and Frazier’s in the second gave Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead. The Birds would notch a run in the last of the fourth on a sac fly by Austin Wynns. And that’s IT. The O’s fell to Pittsburgh 2-1. If you’re looking for a stat, the O’s went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. But does it really matter?! Some games are like that! This one was, and to be honest it was probably the most baldly vanilla game of the spring.

The Orioles will close Grapefruit League play tomorrow at Ed Smith Stadium against Tampa (in a game which won’t be covered by local media). Bruce Zimmerman gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Tampa’s Rich Hill. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.