[外電] Matusz shuts down Tigers in O's debut
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Matusz shuts down Tigers in O's debut
Markakis, Izturis provide support in rookie's first win
By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com
08/04/09 11:46 PM ET
DETROIT -- The comparison is flattering, the coincidence nothing short of
astounding.
Brian Matusz made his big league debut for the Orioles on Tuesday, a start
that came 18 years to the day after former Baltimore ace Mike Mussina began
his career. Matusz, the fourth overall pick in the 2008 First-Year Player
Draft, conjured up his best Mussina command-and-control act in an 8-2 win
over the Tigers.
And by doing so, he helped Baltimore set a piece of modern baseball history.
The Orioles are the only team since 1900 to have five pitchers win their big
league debut in the same season. Only one other team -- the 1888 Chicago
White Stockings, who later became the Cubs -- has had that many rookies win
their debut.
For one night, though, the focus wasn't on history as much as what had just
transpired.
"He is the real thing. This is one that everybody should take a great deal of
pride in for a long time," said Baltimore manager Dave Trembley of Matusz.
"The night belongs to Matusz in some respects, but it belongs to everybody
with the Orioles because certainly a lot of people helped to make this happen
tonight."
Matusz, who signed with the Orioles less than a year ago, has been followed
by hype all the way through the farm system. The southpaw started this season
with Class A Frederick and went 4-2 with a 2.16 ERA in his first 11 starts,
and he followed that up by pitching to a 7-0 record and a 1.55 mark with
Double-A Bowie.
All of a sudden -- thanks to some injuries and ineffectiveness at the big
league level -- the Orioles were reconsidering their plan to let him slowly
mature in the Minors. Matusz, who had always been billed as a highly polished
pitcher, lived up to his reputation by mixing in four pitches and
consistently keeping Detroit off balance.
"What we saw in Spring Training was not a mirage," said Trembley. "This is
the real Matusz. He is able to rebound, he is able to adjust. I don't care if
it is 'A' ball or the big leagues, he is still going to pitch the way he
pitches. I think that's why he is successful and I think that's why he will
be very, very good for a long time."
Matusz, who admitted to a case of nerves in his Tuesday debut, never gave in
to the moment. When asked if his outing was everything he expected, the
rookie responded quickly and assuredly.
"Everything and more," he said. "You dream about that day as a little kid.
Every time someone makes their debut you always think, 'That could be me some
day,' and for it to come so quick and unexpected, I felt like I was ready."
The left-hander was gifted a two-run lead in the first two innings and
escaped a bases-loaded jam in the second by virtue of a diving play from
shortstop Cesar Izturis. The Tigers (55-50) pushed runners to second and
third in the fifth, but Matusz responded by striking out Marcus Thames and
Ryan Raburn to end the threat.
"He's a tough kid," said pitching coach Rick Kranitz. "You could just see
when [the Tigers] went to second and third in the fifth inning that he turned
it up a notch. And that says something about the kid. He made his best
pitches in that situation, which was huge. They made him work. That was not
an easy game for him."
Detroit also put two runners on base in the third inning, but Matusz was able
to escape on a fly ball. The Orioles took control for good with a three-run
burst in the sixth inning, and Trembley elected to go to the bullpen. Matusz
(1-0) came out on the high side of a five-run cushion and helped the Orioles
snap a four-game skid.
And more than that, he helped cement a tone for the rest of the season.
Baltimore (45-61) recently promoted a bookend to Matusz in right-hander Chris
Tillman, and the pair made Detroit stand up and take notice.
"I was impressed," said Detroit manager Jim Leyland. "He has good stuff and
really good pitchability for a young guy. He was [willing] to throw changeups
while behind in a count. He's four-pitch guy and is impressive. I liked both
of the guys they threw the last two nights. They've got some good young arms."
Right fielder Nick Markakis dumped a run-scoring single in the first inning
and added a monstrous two-run homer to right-center in the sixth. Izturis,
who helped Matusz escape that key jam in the second inning, added a solo shot
of his own in the fifth. But the night belonged to Matusz, Baltimore's
ace-in-the-making.
"It was his night tonight," said catcher Matt Wieters. "Once he got on the
mound, he just went back to pitching and he located better tonight than I
could've ever imagined. He commanded his fastball to both sides of the plate
and mixed in his changeup. He mixed in some breaking balls late in the game
and it got real good late in the game."
Despite the odd bit of symmetry, nobody's expecting Matusz to haul off and
echo Mussina's career. That right-hander and former ace won 147 games for
Baltimore and 123 after departing for the rival Yankees, setting a tough act
to follow. But with his current company -- Tillman, Jason Berken, David
Hernandez and prospect Jake Arrieta -- the Orioles can see a foundation built
on pitching that could help lift them out of their doldrums.
"It means that the organization is going in the right direction," said
Kranitz of the fifth debut victory. "It's just showing what the possibilities
are for this franchise, and not only that, just look around the field. You
see the guys that are young and upcoming straight up the middle of the
diamond. It's pretty good. There's a lot of exciting things here, but we've
got to win ballgames. It's one thing to look at the potential, but we've got
to win ballgames."
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