If there is a trait that characterizes the 1995 Orioles, it is a knack for the absurd. For example, consider their past two games.
On Tuesday night, they scored 10 runs and hit four homers and lost, because they also gave up 12 runs to Toronto, half of those allowed by closer Doug Jones in a devastating ninth inning. Then, last night, they mustered exactly one hit against a little-known rookie pitcher named Paul Menhart.
And the Orioles won, 1-0, before 40,023 at Oriole Park. The one hit was a bases-empty homer by Harold Baines. Mike Mussina pitched his first shutout since May 5, 1993, holding the Blue Jays to four hits and two walks, to improve to 13-5. He leads the majors in victories.
The Orioles, who gained a game in the American League East standings and are five games behind the Boston Red Sox, won with one hit for the first time since May 18, 1983. That day, Dan Ford's homer in the eighth inning beat Richard Dotson and the Chicago White Sox, 1-0.
Mussina said, "After what happens last night, we come out today and are kind of flat. Their spot starter throws a one-hitter. I'd say we got lucky."
Orioles manager Phil Regan said, "What a difference a day makes."
Menhart dueled Mussina into the middle innings last night, and if you know nothing about Menhart, well, there's a good reason. The 26-year-old right-hander missed all of 1994 after undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery, and he began this year in the Blue Jays' bullpen, throwing infrequently.
He started two games at the end of May, lasting a total of nine innings and giving up seven hits and eight walks and 10 runs, and was demoted to Triple-A Syracuse for two months. The Blue Jays recalled him July 30, and in his first appearance, he allowed five hits and three runs in two innings.
But when Mark Leiter was scratched from the rotation because of a blister on his middle finger, Menhart, sporting a 9.87 ERA, stepped in -- and blistered the Orioles.
He retired the first five hitters he faced, and after getting ahead of Baines one ball and two strikes, Baines rammed a homer to center field, his 15th of the year.
Menhart did not waver, however. He did not fold. He did not collapse. He merely blitzed through the Orioles' batting order, retiring 12 straight hitters.
Regan turned to pitching coach Mike Flanagan early in the game and noted the Orioles' struggles against Menhart. Wait until the second time around the order, Flanagan replied.
