Good Isn't Enough for Guthrie
Tigers 4, Orioles 2
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Thursday, August 6, 2009
DETROIT, Aug. 5 -- In a year in which little seemingly has gone right for Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie, the enigmatic right-hander posted one of his best outings of the season Wednesday, cruising through seven innings while looking as he did much of 2008.
And, typical of Guthrie's 2009, it wasn't enough.
Detroit's Edwin Jackson was even more dominant, and the Tigers broke through against the Orioles' bullpen in a three-run eighth for a 4-2 victory in front of an announced crowd of 28,978 at Comerica Park.
"Jackson pitched a little better," Orioles Manager Dave Trembley said. "But you've got to be pleased with how Guthrie pitched tonight; he was very good."
Whether Guthrie was pleased with his six-hit, three-run outing is a mystery. He declined to come into the clubhouse and talk to the media afterward, issuing a statement through a club spokesman.
"Had good command of my fastball, kept the slider down," Guthrie said in the statement. "The guys battled for me. Edwin Jackson outlasted me."
Guthrie, who often chides and jokes with reporters even on afternoons in which he starts, offered no explanation as to why he wouldn't talk after the game. Another befuddling moment in a baffling year for the club's supposed ace, who is 7-11 with a 5.28 ERA.
Guthrie, who is 3-7 in his past 12 starts, yielded just four hits and one run -- a solo homer by Magglio Ordóñez -- heading into the eighth. He left the game with one out and two runners on and the Tigers clinging to a 1-0 lead. Reliever Cla Meredith allowed both runners to score, saddling Guthrie with three earned runs and six hits in 7 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out three.
"That's how you expect him to pitch. You expect Guthrie to pitch like that," Trembley said. "He matched Jackson, who was at the top of his game tonight. And Guthrie was as equally as impressive."
Jackson, who threw eight scoreless innings against the Orioles at Camden Yards in May, carried a shutout bid into the ninth before hitting Nolan Reimold and then surrendering Adam Jones's 19th homer of the season.
