masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – If baseball allowed a mulligan, Ubaldo Jimenez wouldn’t just take it. He’d squeeze the stuffing out of it.
Jimenez faced seven Braves today and retired only one, as the Orioles fell behind 7-0 in the first inning. Six runs were charged to Jimenez, the last three scoring after Odrisamer Despaigne replaced him with the bases loaded and one out.
Braves leadoff hitter Mallex Smith stroked two triples in the inning, the second scoring two runs as Mark Trumbo broke toward the right…

SARASOTA, Fla. – If baseball allowed a mulligan, Ubaldo Jimenez wouldn’t just take it. He’d squeeze the stuffing out of it.

Jimenez faced seven Braves today and retired only one, as the Orioles fell behind 7-0 in the first inning. Six runs were charged to Jimenez, the last three scoring after Odrisamer Despaigne replaced him with the bases loaded and one out.

jimenez-stride-pitching-gray-sidebar.jpgBraves leadoff hitter Mallex Smith stroked two triples in the inning, the second scoring two runs as Mark Trumbo broke toward the right field line and raced back toward the fence. It appeared that the ball bounced on the warning track.

Atlanta sent 12 batters to the plate in the first. Smith tripled and scored on Michael Bourn’s single into center field. Jeff Francoeur walked, Tyler Flowers bounced to the mound and former Oriole Kelly Johnson poked a two-run single into center field.

Gordon Beckham and Nate Freiman walked, and manager Buck Showalter signaled for Despaigne.

Jimenez threw 34 pitches, 16 for strikes. And his day didn’t get any better after he reached the dugout.

Despaigne got the second out on a pop up to keep the sacks full, but Ozzie Albies followed with a two-run single and Smith brought home two more runs with his second triple.

Despaigne walked two batters in the second inning and gave up an RBI single to Frieman. He was charged with two runs and three hits, with three walks, in 1 2/3 innings.

Todd Redmond replaced him in the third with the Orioles down 8-4.

Chris Davis led off the bottom of the second with a home run to center field, and Jonathan Schoop hit a two-run shot to left with two outs. In between, Trumbo and Matt Wieters singled and Nolan Reimold reached on an infield hit. Trumbo scored when J. J. Hardy grounded into a 5-3 double play.

The wind’s blowing out and manager Buck Showalter predicted that we would be here a while. I’ve already unwrapped two Snickers bars.