In Big League Debut, Waters Beats the Best

ANAHEIM, Calif., Aug. 5 -- Chris Waters held the team with baseball's best record to one hit over eight innings in his major league debut, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Los Angeles Angels, 3-0, on Tuesday night.

The AL West-leading Angels totaled 23 runs in Jon Garland's previous two starts, including an 11-6 win at Camden Yards. But all they could muster against Waters was a leadoff single in the second inning by Vladimir Guerrero.

The left-handed Waters, who turns 28 on Aug. 17, was promoted from Class AAA Norfolk and inserted into the rotation because of the ineffectiveness of Radhamés Liz -- demoted to the minors on July 27. Waters threw 104 pitches, striking out three, walking three and hitting a batter. He retired 14 of his last 15 batters.

All-star closer George Sherrill earned his 31st save in 37 chances, allowing a leadoff single in the ninth to Erick Aybar.

The original plan for Baltimore was to call up right-hander Hayden Penn, whose career has taken several detours because of injuries the past 1 1/2 seasons.

Manager Dave Trembley wanted Penn -- on the disabled list since May with a shoulder ailment -- to throw two innings and 35 pitches in his final tuneup with Norfolk. He lasted only two-thirds of an inning against Richmond, allowing three runs and three hits on 31 pitches.

"I think the consensus of opinion was that he wasn't given an adequate opportunity to prepare himself to come here," Trembley said. "The guy's been snake-bitten somewhat because of a variety of things that have happened to him, and I think everybody's very much aware of his history."

Garland (10-7) allowed three runs and nine hits over seven innings, including Luke Scott's 19th homer in the seventh. The Orioles opened the game with four consecutive hits, including an RBI double by Nick Markakis and a run-scoring single by Melvin Mora.