With the plate moving on their young pitchers, the Orioles walked eight batters after the fifth inning yesterday and lost to the Florida Marlins, 15-7.
Left-hander Adam Loewen walked all four batters he faced in the sixth, which began with the score tied 2-2 before the Marlins pushed across eight runs. David Crouthers replaced Loewen and allowed a two-run single to catcher Ramon Castro and a two-run double to Wilson Valdez. Another run scored on a wild pitch.
Castro and Miguel Cabrera homered off Daniel Cabrera after the Orioles took a 2-0 lead against Marlins starter Dontrelle Willis. Richard Stahl walked three in the eighth.
The Orioles scored four in the eighth, with Clay Bellinger driving in two with a double, but Buddy Groom gave up three runs in the ninth. Orioles starter Omar Daal tossed three shutout innings, and two Marlins errors gave him a 2-0 lead.
"A game like this gets carried away, but we had the bases loaded twice and hit into double plays," manager Lee Mazzilli said. "A game like this is tough to play in, but they played hard until the end and that's what we're here for."
WHO'S HOT
Omar Daal
Atones for bad first outing. Aided by two double plays.
Luis Lopez
Started two double plays at shortstop and singled. Would be handy utility player.
Ramon Castro
Hit third homer against Orioles this spring. Only one of the balls has landed.
WHO'S NOT
Daniel Cabrera
Throws extremely hard, which makes ball leave the stadium that much faster.
Adam Loewen
Twenty pitches, four strikes. Do the math.
David Crouthers
Took another beating, which swelled his ERA. Was supposed to rescue Loewen, not impersonate him.
Buddy Groom
Just when game couldn't get any uglier ...
INJURY REPORT
Brian Roberts missed his second game because of a sore left groin muscle, and he won't play today in Fort Myers. ... Luis Matos took part in some drills, but he's still not allowed to run while the Orioles determine whether he has shinsplints or a stress fracture.
ARMS RACE
Add Daal's name to the list of starting candidates after he blanked the Marlins over three innings. He allowed a runner in every inning, but got ground balls when he needed them. Lee Mazzilli's decision on a fifth starter didn't become any easier. Rodrigo Lopez and Matt Riley are scheduled to pitch today.
Orioles today
Exhibition opponent: Boston Red Sox
Site: City of Palms Park, Fort Myers, Fla.
Time: 1:05 p.m.
