masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgBrian Matusz may have had a rough day today and a short outing, but it had nothing at all to do with being hurt or any injury.

“I’m 100 percent healthy,” Matusz said.

It was the shortest non-injury start of Matsuz’s career, and he gave up four runs and four walks over just 1 1/3 innings today in a 9-6 loss to Tampa.

“From the get-go I didn’t get a good feel warming up in the bullpen,” Matusz said. “Just one of those days where you have to battle without your good stuff. They were…Brian Matusz may have had a rough day today and a short outing, but it had nothing at all to do with being hurt or any injury.

“I’m 100 percent healthy,” Matusz said.

It was the shortest non-injury start of Matsuz’s career, and he gave up four runs and four walks over just 1 1/3 innings today in a 9-6 loss to Tampa.

“From the get-go I didn’t get a good feel warming up in the bullpen,” Matusz said. “Just one of those days where you have to battle without your good stuff. They were able to find some holes and get some things going early and I was just unable to get untracked today.

“I’m fine confidence-wise. I know I have the stuff and what it takes to get outs and be successful. Just a matter of getting locked in and getting on a roll.”

Matusz took the blame for the Rays stealing four bases in their three-run top of the first.

“I’ve got to do a better job of holding runners,” said Matusz, who is now 1-1 with a 5.11 ERA. “It’s not fair for guys like that when I’m just taking my time and trying to get into a groove. I’ve got to be a little better with that so that’s something I need to work on.

“Holding runners is not the biggest problem right now. It’s a matter of being able to get ahead of guys and attack the zone with quality stuff. I need to throw strikes with all my pitches, get ahead and compete better.”

In the end, he just didn’t make nearly enough quality pitches on a day the Orioles got behind and could never catch up.

“It’s going to happen. You’ll have days where you don’t have everything clicking. It’s just a matter of being able to compete and grind with the stuff you do have that day. I was just erratic in that second inning. Not enough, too late,” he said.