masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe tarp is back on the field at Camden Yards, with time called at 5:19 p.m. We’re experiencing our second delay, this one caused by actual rain.
Meanwhile, the legend of Joey Rickard continues.
Only the state has changed.
Rickard was a spring training sensation, batting .397 to lead American League hitters in the Grapefruit League. Needing to do something special today for an encore, he stepped to the plate with two outs in the second inning and lined a single into center field.
First major…

The tarp is back on the field at Camden Yards, with time called at 5:19 p.m. We’re experiencing our second delay, this one caused by actual rain.

Meanwhile, the legend of Joey Rickard continues.

Only the state has changed.

Joey-Rickard-swing-spring-sidebar.jpgRickard was a spring training sensation, batting .397 to lead American League hitters in the Grapefruit League. Needing to do something special today for an encore, he stepped to the plate with two outs in the second inning and lined a single into center field.

First major league at-bat, first major league hit. And so it goes.

Twins starter Ervin Santana threw three consecutive sliders to Rickard, who took one for a strike and fouled off another. The crowd roared and the Orioles saved the ball for him, with first base coach Wayne Kirby tossing it into the dugout.

Pedro Alvarez drew a five-pitch walk in his first plate appearance with the Orioles. Santana retired the next two batters, with a strong wind knocking down J.J. Hardy’s drive to left field.

Manny Machado struck out after Rickard’s single, giving the Orioles four stranded runners in two innings. Chris Davis walked on four pitches with two outs in the first and Mark Trumbo, in his Orioles debut, poked a soft single just beyond the reach of second baseman Brian Dozier.

Matt Wieters struck out looking to end a 10-pitch at-bat and the threat.

The delay comes at a particularly bad time for Orioles starter Chris Tillman, who’s struck out five of the six batters he’s faced, including five in a row.

Dozier popped up the first pitch following a 1 hour, 41 minute delay. Tillman struck out Joe Mauer, Miguel Sano, Trevor Plouffe, Eddie Rosario and Byung Ho Park in succession, the latter taking an 87 mph slider in his first major league at-bat.

Tillman’s fastball is touching 95 mph. He’d like to plant his feet on the mound again, but it depends on the length of the latest delay.

Tillman has thrown 17 of his 22 pitches for strikes. He needed only nine pitches to get through the first inning.

Update: Tyler Wilson will replace Tillman. Right-hander Ryan Pressly will replace Ervin Santana for the Twins.

Rickard is the first Oriole to collect a hit in his first major league at-bat since Jonathan Schoop on Sept. 25, 2013 versus the Blue Jays. He’s the 27th Oriole to get a hit in his first major league at-bat.