Offensive onslaught backs Ubaldo's sharp debut
Orioles crank out 16 hits, two homers in support of right-hander's first spring start
SARASOTA, Fla. -- Making his Orioles debut against the Phillies, right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez put together two perfect innings and got plenty of run support from his new teammates as Baltimore beat Philadelphia, 15-4, at Ed Smith Stadium on Friday afternoon.
Signed last month to a four-year, $50 million deal, Jimenez struck out three batters and needed only 25 pitches to breeze through his prescribed two innings of work.
"I felt good. I was able to relax," Jimenez said, admitting he was nervous before throwing his first pitch. "Don't want to try to do too much, just work on my two-seam fastball and throw strikes."
Meanwhile, Philadelphia's A.J. Burnett gave up six runs in three innings in his second Grapefruit League start. The veteran right-hander, who also drew some interest from Baltimore this offseason, scattered seven hits with a walk and a strikeout and hit two batters.
Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy hit a two-out single off Burnett in the second inning, then third baseman Ryan Flaherty smacked a two-run homer to center field.
The Orioles put up four more runs in the third as they batted around against Burnett. David Lough was hit by a pitch, stole second then scored on Nick Markakis' single to right. Markakis went on to finish 4-for-4 with a triple and two doubles. Matt Wieters grounded into a forceout to score Markakis, and Hardy's two-out single to left brought home Chris Davis. Flaherty drew a walk to load the bases, then Burnett plunked Jemile Weeks to give Baltimore another run.
The Phillies got two runs back in the fourth inning against left-hander Brian Matusz, but the Orioles responded by pounding right-hander Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez for four runs in the bottom of the inning.
Cameron Rupp hit a solo homer in the seventh for the Phillies, and Darin Ruf also went deep in the top of the eighth.
Up next for the Orioles: The Orioles will send out split squads to face the Red Sox on Saturday. Right-hander Bud Norris will start the 1:05 p.m. ET game at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota against Red Sox lefty Henry Owens, with right-hander Evan Meek also scheduled to pitch for Baltimore. Right-hander Kevin Gausman will take the mound to begin the 7:05 p.m. ET game at JetBlue Park on Saturday night, and right-hander Josh Stinson is scheduled to follow Gausman.