masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgJ.J. Hardy didn’t have an official at-bat as a leadoff hitter in the majors until tonight. On the second pitch thrown to him, Hardy homered to left field to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead.

It wasn’t supposed to work out that way, but manager Buck Showalter will take it.

Baseball-reference lists Hardy as appearing in the leadoff spot in one game, but not having an at-bat. Hardy can’t remember the circumstances. Maybe he was part of a double-switch.

Hardy jumped on an 0-1 pitch tonight from…J.J. Hardy didn’t have an official at-bat as a leadoff hitter in the majors until tonight. On the second pitch thrown to him, Hardy homered to left field to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead.

It wasn’t supposed to work out that way, but manager Buck Showalter will take it.

Baseball-reference lists Hardy as appearing in the leadoff spot in one game, but not having an at-bat. Hardy can’t remember the circumstances. Maybe he was part of a double-switch.

Hardy jumped on an 0-1 pitch tonight from Oakland starter Guillermo Moscoso and produced the Orioles’ first leadoff home run since Brian Roberts on Sept. 13, 2010 against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Chris Jakubauskas retired the side in order in the first inning, needing only 14 pitches to get a strikeout, fly ball and soft liner to second baseman Ryan Adams.

Jakubauskas was hit in the head by Lance Berkman’s line drive last April on his 12th pitch of the game, so he’s having a much better night.

Jakubauskas struck out Jemile Weeks tonight on a 92 mph fastball. Weeks, the 12th-overall selection in the 2008 draft, is making his major league debut.

Draft update: The Orioles selected center fielder Marc Wik of Cabot (Calif.) College in the 20th round, right-hander Jose Rivera of Hill Junior College in the 21st, shortstop Michael Miedzianowski of Martin County (Fla.) High in the 22nd, right fielder Adam Matthews of South Carolina in the 23rd, right fielder Jalen Simmons of Camden County (Ga.) High in the 24th, left-hander Michael Finnigan of San Bernardino Valley College in the 25th, right-hander Zachary Davies of Mesquite (Az.) High in the 26th, right-hander Christopher Oliver of Shiloh Christian (Ark.) High in the 27th, first baseman Kyle Roubinger of Arroyo Grande (Calif.) High in the 28th, catcher Cameron Edman of Gonzaga in the 29th and shortstop Mike Reynolds of Paradise Valley (Az.) Community College in the 30th.