Yeah baby! ... Ain't nothing quite like a good ol'-fashioned whitewashing to make a lot of troubles go away, especially the ills of a 6-game "L" streak.
AP Story @ ESPN
Hentgen goes 7 as O's gig Dee-Rays two-nil
BALTIMORE (AP) --- Pat Hentgen has something to show for all that intense rehabilitation following a career-threatening elbow injury.
Hentgen allowed two hits in seven innings to win for the first time in two years and the Baltimore Orioles stopped a six-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Saturday night.
"There are times I thought it would never happen,'' Hentgen said. "It was a great win for us. We needed it.''
Hentgen (1-0), a right-hander who had ligament replacement surgery in his elbow, struck out four and walked four in his third start this season.
The victory was his first since May 16, 2001, when Hentgen beat Detroit at Camden Yards. Hentgen, 0-4 last season after returning from the surgery, was inserted into the rotation earlier this month when Rodrigo Lopez went on the disabled list with a strained left oblique muscle.
Mike Hargrove, who resumed managing for the first time since the death his mother May 12, left Hentgen in for his longest outing of the season.
Hargrove resisted going to the bullpen with runners on first and second with one out in the sixth, and left-handed hitters Aubrey Huff and Al Martin coming up. Hentgen got a fly ball and grounder.
"The easiest thing would have been to go to the bullpen and bring a fresh guy in to match up lefty-lefty. The percentages say that's the thing to do,'' Hargrove said. "But there are times you have to show confidence in your people and let them know that you believe in them.''
Jeff Conine and Jerry Hairston drove in runs for the Orioles, outscored 35-13 during their skid.
Buddy Groom pitched a perfect eighth and Jorge Julio finished the three-hitter for his 10th save. Baltimore got its second shutout this season.
The Devil Rays did not record an assist in the game, the eighth time in major league history that feat was accomplished in a nine-inning game. Tampa Bay also did it May 1, 2002.
Tampa Bay was deprived of a season-high third consecutive win, but can still win three straight road series for the first time in franchise history by beating the Orioles on Sunday.
Jeremi Gonzalez, brought up from Triple-A Durham earlier in the day, allowed two runs and five hits over seven innings in his first major league start since July 24, 1998, for the Chicago Cubs. Gonzalez (0-1) struck out nine and walked two.
"I was pleased with the way Jeremi threw the ball,'' Tampa Bay manager Lou Piniella said. "He maintained velocity for seven innings and gave us the opportunity to win. ... We didn't swing the bats tonight.''
Conine's RBI single put Baltimore ahead 1-0 in the first. With one out, Melvin Mora singled and David Segui walked before Conine singled to right, scoring Mora.
The Orioles extended the lead to 2-0 in the fifth on a run-scoring double by Hairston.
Deivi Cruz led off the inning with a single to right-center, breaking a streak of 11 consecutive hitters retired by Gonzalez. After Brook Fordyce's sacrifice bunt, Cruz scored on Hairston's double into the left-field corner.
Notes: To make room on the roster for Gonzalez, the Devil Rays designated SS Felix Escalona for assignment. ... Conine has hit in 18 of 20 games. ... The Devil Rays have not won three straight series since the final three series of the 2001 season. ... Tampa Bay was shut out for the fourth time this season, both against Baltimore.