While one pitcher might be beginning his career as a regular in the Baltimore Orioles? rotation, another one is trying desperately to salvage his own spot.
The organization announced Sunday that prospect Hayden Penn would start against Seattle on Tuesday, replacing the injured Daniel Cabrera.
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Meanwhile, Bruce Chen did little to solidify his place in the rotation in a 3-1 loss to the Washington Nationals here on Sunday afternoon. The veteran threw just four innings and fell to 0-5 on the season before 32,152 fans at RFK Stadium.
“What we?re seeing is improvement,” Orioles? manager Sam Perlozzo said in support of the struggling Chen. At one point, Perlozzo said Chen was taking “baby steps.”
The question remains: How long can the Orioles settle for “baby steps” when it comes to the 28-year-old veteran with more than 200 career appearances?
Like in many of his starts, Chen gave up enough runs to put his teammates in a bind. Chen gave up seven hits, two walks (plus one intentionally) on 85 pitches, including 32 in the first inning. He left the game with his team down, 3-0.
Chen?s ERA now stands at 8.08 and fellow starter Rodrigo Lopez has an ERA of 8.07.
Between the two pitchers, their record is 1-12.
“Right now, I?m not thinking about what?s going to happen in the future,” Chen said of possibly being replaced in the rotation. “I want to pitch better. I have to take small steps.”
The Nationals were aggressive against the slow-delivering Chen, stealing three bases in the first inning.
“He?s usually not that slow to the plate,” Perlozzo said of Chen.
Washington pitcher Livan Hernandez was a workhorse for seven innings, throwing 120 pitches and giving up just six hits and one run.
“He was just outstanding today,” Orioles third baseman Melvin Mora said. “He knows how to locate his pitch.”
The Nationals won the first Interleague series between the two teams, taking the final two of the three-game series.
Washington?s Alfonso Soriano was an Oriole-killer during the series. He was 2-for-2 with two walks Sunday and scored a run.
Baltimore begins a seven-day, west coast road trip today against the Seattle Mariners, with Erik Bedard (5-2) penciled in to face former Oriole Jaime Moyer.
Bedard and Kris Benson (6-3) have been the lone bright spots for the Orioles starters.
“He was the guyeverybody wanted during the winter,” Perlozzo said of Bedard. “I think he?s really settled.”
With Penn coming up for the Orioles, relief pitcher Julio Manon was optioned to Class AAA Ottawa. Manon struggled on Saturday in a loss to the Nationals.
