Scoring change benefits Ayala

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

July 19, 2012, 6:22pm

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The Orioles tweeted tonight that there's been a scoring change in Tuesday night's game in Minnesota. I wouldn't want you going to bed without having all the details. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Twins center fielder Denard Span was credited with an infield hit, and Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy was charged with a throwing error. The single has been removed, and it's now just a straight error on the play. Why is this important? Well, reliever Luis Ayala no longer is tagged with an earned run, and he could use a break. Without the scoring change, Ayala had registered a 7.27 ERA in his last five appearances, with seven runs and 15 hits allowed in 8 2/3 innings. In his last nine outings, he allowed eight runs and 20 hits in 13 innings. Pedro Strop replaced Ayala with two outs, and he let both inherited runners score on singles by Ben Revere and Joe Mauer. Ayala remains the losing pitcher Tuesday night after replacing Zach Britton, but he's charged with only one earned run in 2 2/3 innings. Maybe it's a sign that his luck is improving.