Jeremy Hellickson’s Big Game Buries Orioles

May 13, 2011

A: Baltimore Orioles

Attendance: 20,476

L: Jeremy Guthrie (1-6) 3.98 ERA

Summary:

When Jeremy Hellickson walked off the mound at the end of the game last night with the first complete game shutout of his career, I sat back and reflected on just how good this kid could be. Joe Maddon said in the post-game that this is the kind of game that can launch a young player into the next level. That got me excited, considering that in the last two games he has allowed only seven hits and no runs while driving his ERA down from 4.31 to 2.98.

Hellickson was in command the entire night and when the dust settled, the Baltimore Orioles headed to their locker room dazed. Hellickson needed only 120 pitches to throw a complete game, four hit shutout masterpiece to start the Rays current five game homestand.

There was never much doubt about the outcome. While Hellickson wasn’t striking batters out, they were kept off balance all night by his repertoire of pitches. The defense was exemplary as usual…I say this and realize how spoiled we are and how beneficial that defense has been for our pitching staff…and Brandon’s own Matt Joyce again played the hero, going 2-2 with a two run homer that would provide all the scoring Hellickson needed as he dominated against Baltimore. Joyce raised his AL-best batting average to .369, keeping just ahead of Toronto’s Jose Bautista.

Player of the Game: Jeremy Hellickson. This was his night, but equal credit goes to the entire team and manager Joe Maddon. They are playing brilliantly right now.