SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) - The Philadelphia Phillies scored four runs in two innings off Ubaldo Jimenez and beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-5 Wednesday for their third win in 15 spring training games.
A.J. Burnett took a three-hitter into the fifth inning for Philadelphia but was pulled after giving up a leadoff walk and two-run homer to Nolan Reimold. The 37-year-old Burnett was 0-2 with a 12.60 ERA in his first two starts.
Burnett had a 3-0 lead before throwing his first pitch. Domonic Brown hit a two-out, three-run triple in the first, and Ben Revere and Freddy Galvis hit successive triples in the second to make it 4-0.
Jimenez was making his second appearance with Baltimore since signing a $50 million, four-year contract last month. In his first outing, the right-hander struck out three in two perfect innings against Philadelphia.
In this one, Jimenez allowed four hits and walked three with no strikeouts.
Burnett also experienced a reversal of fortune. In his previous start, against the Orioles, the right-hander yielded six runs and seven hits in three innings.
Philadelphia (3-10-2) hit four triples in its second win since Feb. 28.
STARTING TIME
PHILLIES: Burnett’s line wasn’t overwhelmingly impressive, but he did lower his ERA to 10.00.
He allowed three runs, four hits and a walk and two strikeouts in three-plus innings
“I’m getting there. My timing is still a little off,” Burnett said. “I did strike out a guy with my curveball today; I was going to throw a party.”
For Burnett, improvement in increments is the goal.
“You don’t want to hit guys, you don’t want to give up doubles and you don’t want to give up homers,” he said. “But the more times that happens, you learn from it. It’s getting better, getting a little bit better. Some guys take a little longer.”
He acknowledged tiring in the fifth.
“A little bit. I’m not going to lie,” Burnett said. “But the next time out I’m going to be stronger.”
ORIOLES: Jimenez was scrambling from the moment Revere opened the game with a single to left.
“It was a tough day,” Jimenez said. “The first time I got to pitch from the stretch in a game and it got the best of me. I couldn’t find a good release. That was after the leadoff guy got on base right away, so it was a little bit tough to get in a good rhythm.”
Jimenez has been around long enough to know the results of these games are irrelevant.
“You’re never happy to give up runs,” he said, “but you’re here to get your work done and get your arm ready for the regular season.”
CAL’S PITCH
Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. threw out the ceremonial first pitch, a solid strike from the Orioles’ former shortstop to their current shortstop, J.J. Hardy.
Ripken was in town to hawk his new novel for young adults. He’s found plenty to keep him busy since his retirement in 2001, but hasn’t entirely dismissed the notion of returning to the game in the front office or as a manager.
“The safe answer is to say, I’m very happy doing what I’m doing right now because anything else I say can be pulled in different directions,” Ripken said.
He did, however, bristle at the notion that a 13-year layoff might deter his capabilities as a manager.
“Have they changed the distance of the mound, of the bases?” Ripken said. “I think the things that I learned for 21 years as a player and the years before that are all applicable. If there’s a re-familiarizing yourself with today’s game, if there is a learning curve, it would be very short.”
In the end, he didn’t dismiss the notion of getting back in the game.
“There is a side of me that would like to be able to apply what you know at this level,” Ripken said. “I have no plans. I have no business strategy. I have no professional baseball strategy whatsoever, but there’s a side of me that feels that way. Does that leave the door open?”
MAKING CUTS
The Orioles assigned RHP Brock Huntzinger, LHP Eduardo Rodriguez and INF Ivan De Jesus to their minor league camp.
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