- Error
| 10 May 2010
Minnesota Twins pitcher Nick Blackburn is catching some heat for his sub-par performance against Baltimore in his most recent start. Blackburn surrendered four hits, two walks, and was only able to pitch seven innings, forcing the Twins bullpen to finish out the game.
"Failing to no-hit the Orioles is like giving up ten or fifteen or even twenty hits to a normal team," said Phillip Mutzer, a longtime Twins fan frustrated with Blackburn's lackluster outing. "He couldn't even throw the full nine innings and needed help from the bullpen. Plus, he had to rely on a double play to get out of the sixth because he was so awful he couldn't get the hitters out himself. Disgraceful."
"That guy from Oakland throwing a perfect game against the Rays makes it look that much worse," added Ronnie Denton of Worther Lake, Minnesota.
Twins fans all over the Midwest are wondering if Blackburn has what it takes to hold down a spot in the team's rotation, given his poor showing.
"Baltimore got a hit on their fifth or sixth batter of the game," said Denton. "That's only 1 and 2/3 innings of no-hit baseball. They even advanced a runner to second base twice in seven innings. Twice! He's gonna get shelled by good teams if the Orioles have that kind of production against him."
Blackburn acknowledged he could have done better, but since he was facing the Orioles he didn't feel like wearing himself out.
Around the Web:
Twins Blackburn better after rough patch (Star Tribune)
Dallas Braden pitches perfect game against the Rays (The Scores Report)
Dallas Braden Sets Up Camp On Mound, Throws Perfect Game (Walkoff Walk)
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