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"Anytime you put up zeros on the board, you're doing something right. I had pretty good fastball command today. I was able to throw it on both sides of the plate. My slider was good. I threw about 10 changeups. I don't think I threw one for strikes, but going out there for my first three appearances, I didn't throw any changeups, so today I felt like I wanted to go out there and throw some in the game. It felt good. I just think at times I was telegraphing the changeup. It's something to work on.
"I felt like I could finish that (fourth) inning, but I was on a 60-pitch limit and I reached it. I felt really good for coming in and not throwing as much as all the other starters. Stamina was where it needs to be.
"Mainly I threw all two-seamers today (instead of his four-seamer). I want to get that pitch going. At times it's good, at times it leaks a little bit and stays flat and stays straight. It's a process, but this is the time to work on it, in spring training. That would be the pitch I'd want to go to right away to get ahead of hitters.
"It's definitely different coming out of the bullpen, but in spring training you know when you're coming in, so you still have plenty of time to get your mindset going. But starting, I was definitely able to get into my routine and play catch before the game actually started. It felt really good to start.
"I'm just going to go out there and try to put up zeros, and it doesn't matter if I'm starting or relieving. I'd definitely like to be a starter, but if they need me in the bullpen, then so be it. I'll be more than happy and I'll be ready."
Hernandez had a message for Jeff Salazar, who saved a run with an outstanding catch in center field.
"I told him, 'As long as you catch the ones that are going over your head, we'll be OK. You can let the ones in front of you drop. We'll be fine I'll take singles all day.'"
Quick game update (with Hernandez quotes added)
By Roch Kubatko
Quick game update (with Hernandez quotes added)
By Roch Kubatko
Chad Moeller just clubbed a two-run homer off Clay Condrey in the top of the seventh to increase the Orioles' lead to 3-0.
Koji Uehara tossed a scoreless fifth and Will Ohman was perfect in the sixth, though he needed some defensive help. Robert Andino made a nice play at short to retire Joe Mauer, and Jeff Salazar made another running catch near the warning track in right-center field.
Matt Albers has entered the game in the bottom of the seventh.
Update: Albers didn't allow a run, and the Orioles continue to hold a 3-0 lead heading to the top of the eighth.
Here are some comments from David Hernandez:
"Anytime you put up zeros on the board, you're doing something right. I had pretty good fastball command today. I was able to throw it on both sides of the plate. My slider was good. I threw about 10 changeups. I don't think I threw one for strikes, but going out there for my first three appearances, I didn't throw any changeups, so today I felt like I wanted to go out there and throw some in the game. It felt good. I just think at times I was telegraphing the changeup. It's something to work on.
"I felt like I could finish that (fourth) inning, but I was on a 60-pitch limit and I reached it. I felt really good for coming in and not throwing as much as all the other starters. Stamina was where it needs to be.
"Mainly I threw all two-seamers today (instead of his four-seamer). I want to get that pitch going. At times it's good, at times it leaks a little bit and stays flat and stays straight. It's a process, but this is the time to work on it, in spring training. That would be the pitch I'd want to go to right away to get ahead of hitters.
"It's definitely different coming out of the bullpen, but in spring training you know when you're coming in, so you still have plenty of time to get your mindset going. But starting, I was definitely able to get into my routine and play catch before the game actually started. It felt really good to start.
"I'm just going to go out there and try to put up zeros, and it doesn't matter if I'm starting or relieving. I'd definitely like to be a starter, but if they need me in the bullpen, then so be it. I'll be more than happy and I'll be ready."
Hernandez had a message for Jeff Salazar, who saved a run with an outstanding catch in center field.
"I told him, 'As long as you catch the ones that are going over your head, we'll be OK. You can let the ones in front of you drop. We'll be fine I'll take singles all day.'"
"Anytime you put up zeros on the board, you're doing something right. I had pretty good fastball command today. I was able to throw it on both sides of the plate. My slider was good. I threw about 10 changeups. I don't think I threw one for strikes, but going out there for my first three appearances, I didn't throw any changeups, so today I felt like I wanted to go out there and throw some in the game. It felt good. I just think at times I was telegraphing the changeup. It's something to work on.
"I felt like I could finish that (fourth) inning, but I was on a 60-pitch limit and I reached it. I felt really good for coming in and not throwing as much as all the other starters. Stamina was where it needs to be.
"Mainly I threw all two-seamers today (instead of his four-seamer). I want to get that pitch going. At times it's good, at times it leaks a little bit and stays flat and stays straight. It's a process, but this is the time to work on it, in spring training. That would be the pitch I'd want to go to right away to get ahead of hitters.
"It's definitely different coming out of the bullpen, but in spring training you know when you're coming in, so you still have plenty of time to get your mindset going. But starting, I was definitely able to get into my routine and play catch before the game actually started. It felt really good to start.
"I'm just going to go out there and try to put up zeros, and it doesn't matter if I'm starting or relieving. I'd definitely like to be a starter, but if they need me in the bullpen, then so be it. I'll be more than happy and I'll be ready."
Hernandez had a message for Jeff Salazar, who saved a run with an outstanding catch in center field.
"I told him, 'As long as you catch the ones that are going over your head, we'll be OK. You can let the ones in front of you drop. We'll be fine I'll take singles all day.'"
