masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgJosh Bell lined a 2-0 fastball from Trevor Cahill into left field in the seventh inning for his first major league hit. The Orioles retrieved the ball for him.

Jake Arrieta went six innings tonight and turned in a quality start by definition. Three of the four runs he allowed were earned.

Arrieta gave up seven hits, walked four and struck out two. He threw 99 pitches, 55 for strikes.

That’s an improvement over his last two starts, when he allowed 10 earned runs (12 total) and 13 hits over…Josh Bell lined a 2-0 fastball from Trevor Cahill into left field in the seventh inning for his first major league hit. The Orioles retrieved the ball for him.

Jake Arrieta went six innings tonight and turned in a quality start by definition. Three of the four runs he allowed were earned.

Arrieta gave up seven hits, walked four and struck out two. He threw 99 pitches, 55 for strikes.

That’s an improvement over his last two starts, when he allowed 10 earned runs (12 total) and 13 hits over 7 1/3 innings, but he had to battle. Nothing seemed to come easily after the first inning.

Meanwhile, left-hander Zach Britton had a sensational debut at Triple-A Norfolk. He shut out Charlotte on three hits over six innings, with no walks and four strikeouts. He threw 70 pitches, 45 for strikes.

Now that’s quality.

Not sure why he came out after 70 pitches, but he certainly left on a high note.

Update: Frank Mata was charged with four runs in the seventh and recorded only one out. The Athletics lead, 8-1, and the Orioles’ defense continues to make my eyes hurt.

Double-A Bowie’s Ryohei Tanaka gave up three home runs tonight against Akron – all to first baseman Matt McBride.