masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – I didn’t like Jeremy Guthrie’s chances of going four innings today after he needed 20 pitches to get through a three-run first, but he made it.

Guthrie threw seven pitches in the second inning and eight in the fourth. He left after throwing 53, including 33 for strikes.

Guthrie is charged with four runs and six hits, with one walk and one strikeout.

Kevin Gregg has replaced him. I swear, this guy pitches every single day.

Raul Ibanez homered, doubled and drove in three…SARASOTA, Fla. – I didn’t like Jeremy Guthrie’s chances of going four innings today after he needed 20 pitches to get through a three-run first, but he made it.

Guthrie threw seven pitches in the second inning and eight in the fourth. He left after throwing 53, including 33 for strikes.

Guthrie is charged with four runs and six hits, with one walk and one strikeout.

Kevin Gregg has replaced him. I swear, this guy pitches every single day.

Raul Ibanez homered, doubled and drove in three runs. He’s 3-for-13 with a double, homer and three RBIs lifetime against Guthrie. I’m not counting today’s stats, of course. I’m talking about the regular season.

Adam Jones hit his third spring home run in the third inning, another shot to center field. The wind isn’t a pitcher’s best friend today.

Luke Scott made a nice back-handed stop of a sharp grounder to start a 3-6-1 double play in the fourth.

The Nationals released former Orioles reliever Cla Meredith.

Instant update: Gregg allowed his first spring run when Shane Victorino doubled with two outs and scored on Ibanez’s single to right. Victorino drove a ball into left-center field, and the wind again presented a challenge.

Update II: Ryan Howard followed with a towering home run to right. The wind had nothing to do with that one. And Ross Gload just cleared the fence in right. Phillies 8, Orioles 3.

Gregg could have enjoyed a 1-2-3 inning if the wind hadn’t carried Victorino’s ball into the gap. Instead, he’s surrendered four runs and the Phillies have a runner on third base after a double and wild pitch.

Inning over. Finally.