By Roch Kubatko on Wednesday, March 24 2010
Category: Orioles

Matusz on Matusz (updated)

Today's attendance: 8,092, a record for the largest baseball crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, breaking the mark of 8,088 set earlier this spring. I didn't think they could squeeze in four more people. Brian Matusz didn't realize that the Philies brought their A lineup to today's game until he heard it recited over the PA system. "I was warming up in the bullpen and I hear the roster and I'm thinking, 'Well, that's everyone. Looks like they traveled with the whole team,'" he said. "I got a little amped up. I was excited. And at times in the game I was overthrowing a little bit, but at the same time I was able to relax and keep my exposure. I did a great job throwing strikes today. When I did get behind in the count, they were on pitches that were just slightly off the plate, so I wasn't mad because I was around the zone the whole game. "Little bit different philosophy with (Chad) Moeller behind the plate. In the later innings, I was starting off with some breaking pitches here and there and it was good. My changeup was excellent today. I got a lot of ground balls out of it. And I threw a couple really good curveballs over for strikes. "The only thing I'm a little bit upset about is the way my slider was today. It just wasn't there in key situations when I needed it. Especially with (Chase) Utley up with one out and a guy on third. I got ahead 0-2 and I really wanted to bury a slider down and away. It was a situation where I needed a strikeout. I tried to overthrow it and it backed up on me and he was able to reach out and hit it through the hole. That's the one pitch I'm upset about and wish I could have back, but everything else was great." I'll have more from Matusz later today. In the meantime, Jim Johnson gave up two runs in the seventh to tie the game, 3-3. He allowed three hits, walked a batter and hit another. His spring ERA is 7.36. Will Ohman replaced Johnson with the bases loaded and got the last out. Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and Robert Andino each have two hits today. Matt Angle replaced Nolan Reimold in the sixth. Reimold looked like he was running full speed on a ground ball in the hole to open the fifth. We'll find out whether the Achilles was barking at him again or manager Dave Trembley wanted him out of the game after two at-bats. Update: Andino scored on Jones' sacrifice fly in the seventh to give the Orioles a 4-3 lead. Wilfrido Perez is pitching.
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