Erickson

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - When Scott Erickson arrived at spring training, the last thing he wanted was special attention. Sure, it had been 18 months since his major reconstructive elbow surgery. Sure, the Orioles were trying to find out if he could be their Opening Day starter. Sure, everyone was curious how he and that elbow felt on a daily basis. Erickson wouldn't have it. He asked that people treat him like any other pitcher on the roster, and he asked that "in no uncertain terms," said Orioles pitching coach Mark Wiley.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Scott Erickson threw in the outfield for 10 minutes yesterday. There will be little further comment. Therein could be found Erickson's appraisal following the most-anticipated side session of spring training. Two weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery for the removal of bone chips from his elbow, Erickson paired off with center fielder Brady Anderson and threw from about 60 feet. The session didn't require supervision from pitching coach Sammy Ellis, manager Mike Hargrove or vice president of baseball operations Syd Thrift.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Sidelined starting pitcher Scott Erickson plans to toss a ball tomorrow for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic elbow surgery for the removal of bone chips March 3. Erickson confirmed his plan, which he said is subject to change, after being examined yesterday by head trainer Richie Bancells. Erickson is able to straighten his arm, though with some difficulty, for the first time since waking up Feb. 28 with inflammation and stiffness in the area. "It's better, but it's still being measured by inches and degrees," said Erickson, who enjoyed only about 70 percent range of motion before submitting to surgery.

An afternoon trade for reliever and old friend Alan Mills, an early evening power-based rally against Texas Rangers starting pitcher Rick Helling, a tough man's win for Scott Erickson and a successful late-inning mix-and-match session for manager Mike Hargrove made last night's 3-2 Orioles win before 40,175 at Camden Yards unlike any other this season. The Orioles obtained Mills for ill-fitting Al Reyes, then watched as Erickson (3-3) survived seven innings and eight walks. B.J. Surhoff and Charles Johnson provided his rescue with home runs off Helling and the rapid-fire appearances of Buddy Groom, Mike Trombley and Mike Timlin secured the Orioles' first three-game win streak since a four-game streak ended May 27. For Timlin, the save was his sixth.

TORONTO -- For seven innings yesterday, Scott Erickson pitched in the shadow of Roger Clemens, a three-time Cy Young Award winner with a bigger reputation and a bigger fastball. Both pitchers left the game holding a lead. But in the latest in a number of defining moments for him, Erickson left last.While the Toronto Blue Jays' starter explained the fatigue that sapped him after 103 pitches, Erickson answered for a 7 1/3 -inning performance strong enough to lift the Orioles out of their deepest funk of the season.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Starting pitching has carried the Orioles into some pretty scary places this year, including a brief layover in the American League East cellar. Scott Erickson has played tour guide back to credibility.The only Orioles starter to take the ball every scheduled turn, Erickson extended the resurgent team's win streak to eight Thursday night against the Texas Rangers. Working in 100-degree heat, Erickson used 127 pitches in seven innings, allowing eight hits but walking only one."

JUPITER, Fla. -- As a prelude to pitching on foreign soil Sunday in a potentially hostile environment, Scott Erickson found himself in another strange setting yesterday.First base.For a career American League pitcher with only four career at-bats, it can't get much more bizarre. Exposed on the base paths against a National League opponent after receiving a leadoff walk, Erickson eventually scored a third-inning run.However, the experience went downhill from there. Resulting fatigue contributed to Erickson's abortive 3 1/3-inning appearance in a 12-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, leaving manager Ray Miller to complain about the game being telecast back home.

TORONTO -- Scott Erickson likes his music loud, his golf free and his workload heavy. He is the most durable pitcher in the American League, having led it in innings pitched and starts last season.Erickson loves to pitch, if not in a game then on the side twice between starts. Because of his insatiable appetite for innings, April and its plentiful days off represents his most uncomfortable month. And because it's uncomfortable for Erickson, it's doubly so for the Orioles' rotation.The rotation of Mike Mussina, Juan Guzman, Erickson, Sidney Ponson and Doug Linton has so far been a slow starter, importing a 6.26 ERA into this weekend's series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

SEATTLE -- Scott Erickson got his usual complement of ground balls yesterday, some sneaking into vacant areas, most settling into the waiting gloves of his infielders. And it was all the Orioles needed to take firm control of the Division Series.Erickson surrendered two runs in the first, then held down the Seattle Mariners with force until an Orioles comeback that materialized midway through the game. He squeezed in five shutout innings between two trouble points, turned the game over to the bullpen and was rewarded with a 9-3 victory that gave his club a 2-0 lead heading to Camden Yards.

MILWAUKEE -- Should Milwaukee catcher Jesse Levis ever find a need for another vocation, he could always try professional wrestling. He provided a fine impression of a takedown yesterday, a move that led to Milwaukee's lead run in its 6-4 win over the Orioles.The Brewers had the bases loaded with nobody out in the sixth inning, trailing 4-3, when Levis hit a sharp grounder to Rafael Palmeiro. The Orioles' first baseman turned and threw to second, where shortstop Cal Ripken caught the ball, stepped on the bag and fired back to first.