masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgLet’s start with Derek Jeter’s leadoff double, on a ball that bounced past first baseman Garrett Atkins and up the right field line. I counted 12 hops before it passed the bag.

OK, not really, but I expected it to be retrieved by someone other than right fielder Nick Markakis.

Nick Johnson followed with a single into left field, and the ball skipped past Lou Montanez for an error that allowed both runners to advance and gave New York a quick 1-0 lead.

The miscue’s importance grew when…Let’s start with Derek Jeter’s leadoff double, on a ball that bounced past first baseman Garrett Atkins and up the right field line. I counted 12 hops before it passed the bag.

OK, not really, but I expected it to be retrieved by someone other than right fielder Nick Markakis.

Nick Johnson followed with a single into left field, and the ball skipped past Lou Montanez for an error that allowed both runners to advance and gave New York a quick 1-0 lead.

The miscue’s importance grew when Johnson moved to third on Mark Teixeira’s grounder to first and scored on Alex Rodriguez’s fly ball to left-center field.

In the bottom half of the inning, Adam Jones laid down a bunt but was thrown out by Rodriguez.

Remember manager Dave Trembley suggesting that Jones try to bunt for a hit once a game? I guess Jones wanted to get it out of the way early.

The Orioles collected two hits in the inning – a double by Markakis and infield single by Miguel Tejada – but couldn’t score.

Update: It hasn’t gotten any better for the Orioles in the second inning. Jeremy Guthrie drilled Jorge Posada in the right knee – didn’t he hit two Yankees in a spring training game? – Curtis Granderson singled and both runners scored on Nick Swisher’s triple. Swisher came home on Jeter’s sacifice fly.

Yankees 5, Orioles 0.

Posada left the game, and we’re wondering whether CC Sabathia will retaliate. The Yankees already had issues with Guthrie before tonight.