masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles drew a walk and collected a hit off Toronto starter Brandon Morrow over the first three innings, but he faced the minimum number of batters. And he didn’t need a double play.

How is this possible?

Corey Patterson broke too soon for second and was caught stealing after his leadoff walk in the first. Julio Lugo reached on a fielder’s choice in the third, but he was caught stealing after getting a late jump and glancing back at the plate as if he expected Cesar Izturis to chase the…The Orioles drew a walk and collected a hit off Toronto starter Brandon Morrow over the first three innings, but he faced the minimum number of batters. And he didn’t need a double play.

How is this possible?

Corey Patterson broke too soon for second and was caught stealing after his leadoff walk in the first. Julio Lugo reached on a fielder’s choice in the third, but he was caught stealing after getting a late jump and glancing back at the plate as if he expected Cesar Izturis to chase the pitch.

Also disturbing was the Miguel Tejada at-bat in the first inning. He swung at the first pitch from Morrow and flied out after Patterson walked.

The outfield play also has been shoddy. Adam Jones misplayed Vernon Wells’ double, though he avoided the error. Felix Pie circled around Adam Lind’s fly ball that fell inside the left field line for a double, and he allowed Aaron Hill’s fly ball to drop in front of him for a single – in consecutive at-bats.

Morrow has thrown 40 pitches in four innings, but Jeremy Guthrie has escaped a couple jams to keep the score 1-0.

Update: This night has improved. The Orioles loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth, and Izturis followed a Lugo strikeout by lining a two-run single into left-center field.

Jones singled and Pie reached on an infield hit. Craig Tatum walked to load the bases after failing to lay down a sacrifice bunt.

Down on the farm, Robert Andino (10th) and Michael Aubrey (eighth) homered tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, and Zach Britton has shut out Columbus on one hit over three innings.

Billy Rowell (eighth) and Pedro Florimon (third) have homered for Single-A Frederick. Jeremy Shelby, drafted in the 38th round, has a triple and three RBIs for rookie-league Bluefield.