Hernandez Prevents Dirty Dozen

If David Hernandez has a checklist on what he is supposed to do to stay in the majors it probably looks something like this. Dominate in AA Bowie. Check. Drop ERA by one whole run in 4 starts. Check. Outperform the two best hitting teams in the division. Check. End an 11 game losing streak at Fenway. Check. Prevent Dave Trembley from having to continue talking about yet another long losing streak. Priceless and double check.

Sunday, a day that haunted Trembley last season, marked the end of of a year long losing streak for the Orioles at Fenway. The streak can be measured by how dominate the Sox have been outhitting the Orioles in the previous 11 games by 54, outscoring them by 51 and just plain outplaying them in every way. Trembley is a self admitted hater when it comes to discussing these long losing streaks. So he is more then happy that another one is over, "It's one more negative thing that people can cross off, because what we're all about is being positive [and] understanding we have young players showing a lot of perseverance."

So let's stay positive. In his past two outings Hernandez has outperformed some pretty impressive names. Last week in New York he had a decent game in which Andy Pettitte out K'ed him but in 6 innings 3 hits were allowed to the potent Yankee lineup. He held Jeter and A-Rod hitless and kept the O's in the game. Unfortunately for us he could only get through 6 innings. Yesterday marked a day when he wouldn't let the bullpen ruin another great outing. Using his 95 mph fastball and his excellent placement of breaking balls on the corners he struckout 2 batters and walked none. You hear that Daniel Cabrera, no walks! Zero, zilch, nada, a donut (mmmmm donuts). John Smoltz had no shot on the other side. So in his past two starts he has kept even or outperformed some probable hall of famers. I mean I have done that...on Wii.

So thank the baseball gods O's fans because we have a young arm performing well. Now if we win a couple more in Fenway that is called a winning streak. It has happened before.