Houston Astros pitcher makes debut start, dominates Baltimore Orioles
By Brian Spaen
Brett Oberholtzer made the best of his sudden debut as a starter and pitched seven innings of three-hit baseball for the Houston Astros as they dominate the Baltimore Orioles, 11-0, on Wednesdy night.
Only Chris Davis, Steve Pearce, and Nick Markakis had one single apiece as Oberholtzer at one point retired 11 straight hitters during his impressive outing. He also recorded zero walks and six strikeouts, picking up his first win in his first start after moving from the bullpen.
Erik Bedard, who has a 3-8 record with a 4.28 earned run average, was scratched from tonight’s start with a sore shoulder.
In comparison, the bullpen gave up a total of four hits and recorded just two strikeouts, with Chia Jen Lo and Jose Cisnero pitched an inning each.
In a completely different kind of outing, Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez got lit up by the Astros, giving up nine hits and nine runs (only four earned) along with two home runs in just 3.2 innings of work. The Astros had a 9-0 lead after the top of the fourth inning.
The debut surprise for the Astros is one of the good stories in a bleak season that’s seen just 36 wins this season, and that win total is now split even both home and away.