John Parrish could be tiring from all the innings he's thrown this season. Or maybe it's from chasing a plate that keeps moving on him. Whatever the reason, his outing against the Detroit Tigers last night brought more signs that the Orioles' rookie is running out of gas.
He must wonder if he's also running out of starts.
Continuing to push himself beyond previous limits, Parrish again failed to make it through the third inning in a 12-2 defeat before 31,980 at Camden Yards. He recorded only seven outs, but hung around long enough to give up six runs and deny the Orioles their seventh win in nine games.
The Orioles (59-72) began a stretch last night where 26 of their final 32 games are against contending teams in the American League. They suffered a loss long before the first one was complete.
Center fielder Luis Matos, making his 38th start since being recalled from Double-A Bowie, bruised his left shoulder after colliding with Tigers first baseman Dean Palmer while attempting to beat out a bouncer to the mound ino the second inning. His status for the rest of the series is uncertain.
Pitcher Jeff Weaver's underhand flip pulled Palmer off the bag, forcing him to make a sweeping tag while in the air Matos' shoulder slammed into Palmer's left leg, sending the Orioles' rookie stumbling up the line before he collapsed to the ground
He still had a better night than Parrish.
The Orioles' left-hander got a first-pitch strike on only one of the first 13 batters he faced. The 14th, Palmer, fell behind 0-2 before drilling a three-run homer into the Orioles' bullpen.
A two-out double by Deivi Cruz in the third ended Parrish's seventh major-league start and raised more questions about his stamina. He was charged with six runs, and his three walks increased his total to 32 in 34 2/3 innings with the Orioles. He's allowed 11 runs in his last four innings.
Has Parrish (2-3) crashed into the proverbial wall? He never threw more than 102 1/3 innings until this season. After last night, he's accumulated 148 with Double-A Bowie, Triple-A Rochester and the Orioles.
It's reminiscent of what another rookie left-hander went through last season. Matt Riley hadn't thrown more than 83 innings before totaling 177 1/3 at two levels of the minors last season. Though showing signs of fatigue, he still made three September starts with the Orioles.
