Spring Training Game 21: Orioles vs. Yankees

Brad Bergesen and a full O's line-up host the New York Yankees, who have actually been under .500 this Spring. The Good: * Bergesen's groundout to flyout numbers were still not in mid-season form (8 to 7), but he kept the Yanks off the board and allowed 5 baserunners (3 hits, 2 walks) in 5.2 innings pitched while striking out a couple. * The bullpen likewise shut New York out, with Kam Mickolio striking out 2 while pitching the seventh inning. No reliever issued a walk, as well. * Runs! 8 of them! * Adam Jones walked and homered (a team-leading 4th). * Nick Markakis picked up a couple hits in four trips (though still no walks). * Matt Wieters singled, doubled, and also drew a free pass. He's hitting just .226, but has a .351 OBP this Spring (with his team-leading 5 walks*). That certainly is a good sign. * In fact, Wieters has walked more than Markakis, Atkins, Reimold, Wigginton, and Tejada... combined. Not saying much, but there it is. * Six other Orioles each had a hit, and two more reached base via the walk. The Bad: * Garrett Arkins made a second error at first-base. He's also batting a robust .200/.200/.367 for the Spring. I'm sure he's just working on stuff though. (Just to be clear: the O's mistakenly signing Atkins as a first-baseman is going to be the horse I beat this season, in all likelihood. In fact, if there's ever a get-together at the Yard or something, and someone would like to bring a piñata with that written on it, I'd be glad to literally beat it with a stick.) The Final: The Orioles win in relatively impressive fashion, 8-0. That brings their record to 9-12 for the Spring, and I sure hope I see this script repeatedly throughout the regular season.