Heating up leftovers

For breakfast? Why not? Here's how Brian Matusz responded when asked if last night's start was one of his best: "Absolutely. I think it's one of the better starts of my career. I didn't walk a guy today and I threw a lot of strikes. I made a couple mistake pitches with the solo home runs, but that's going to happen when you're throwing a lot of strikes. I was just attacking the zone today and, unfortunately, came out with the loss." What about Jose Reyes' leadoff home run? "I just made a bad pitch. I tried to go in with a fastball and I just left it up. I feel like I've done that a couple times this year where I'm just not getting in enough. I made that adjustment early and was able to go in on guys well today. So, it was just a bad pitch, I was able to shake that off and get in a good groove today." How hard is it to not get frustrated when the runs are at such a premium? "You know it's out of our control, really. Our focus is to focus in on our pitching and do what we can do to keep our team in the game. Like I said, it was a tough one today, but I did a lot of good things. All my pitches were working really well and it's something I can carry over to my next start." How important was it for Matusz to try to finish the game? "Absolutely I wanted to stay in. My pitch count was down, I felt good, I felt like I was in a good groove, I was attacking the zone and doing a lot of good things. So, yeah, I wanted to stay in, but I know Kranny and Juan made it clear that I threw a good game, gave it up to Berken and Berken went 1-2-3, so it was a good move. But of course, you never want to come out of a game." And what about that failed double-play? "It was tough. I made a good pitch with that changeup down. That was the idea, I wanted to throw him a changeup down, try to get a ground ball double play, and I got it, right back to me. Lugo made a bad throw, pulled Wiggy off the bag, but that happens. I made the pitch I needed to. That type of thing happens." Luke Scott lamented a called third strike that wasn't close, among other things: "It's the same thing I've said. It has just been difficult, trying to overcome obstacles. There's just been things that just haven't gone our way - from large strike zones to balls right at people. That's part of the game, that happens, but what can you do? We have to find a way to overcome these obstacles. You've just got to find a way." Down on the farm, Double-A Bowie's Steve Johnson waited out a long rain delay to record the win over Harrisburg, allowing two runs and four hits in six innings. Joel Guzman hit his 14th home run and added three RBIs. Shouldn't he be playing in Norfolk? Heck, shouldn't he be playing in Baltimore? Shameless plug alert: It's Sunday, which must mean O's Xtra in the bullpen area. Pre-game show starts at 1 p.m.