Fantasy Baseball Insiders Tonight 4/6: Orioles' Adam Jones Homers in Opener

Nick KappelApr 6, 2010

As part of our journey to watch and score 162 games this season, Tuesday night featured the Orioles/Rays opener in Tampa.

Game No. 3—Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Adam Jones went 3-for-5 with a single, double, and HR.

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Matt Wieters went 2-for-4 with a HR to lead off the sixth. In his first at-bat of the game, the soon-to-be 24-year-old crushed a ball that forced B.J. Upton to the wall in straight away center. I’ve been saying this since last April , Wieters will be a top-25 fantasy player by the end of this season.

Luke Scott went 1-for-3 and also hit a solo HR. The 31-year-old has quietly hit 48 HRs in the last two seasons. Batting in the middle of a potent Baltimore lineup, he should serve as a cheap source for power.

Brian Roberts and Miguel Tejada combined to go 0-for-10, while leaving 11 runners on base.

Kevin Millwood was surprisingly effective, allowing two runs in five-plus innings, scattering nine hits while allowing just one walk. The 35-year-old experienced a great deal of luck last season (4.80 FIP, 4.78 xFIP, .279 BABIP) on his way to a 3.67 ERA, the first time he’s posted a sub-4.50 ERA since 2005.

The former Brave, Phillie, Indian, and Ranger could be useful given the right matchup, but don’t expect this kind of success all season.

Mike Gonzalez blew his first save opportunity with the Orioles. After striking out Pat Burrell to start the ninth, he allowed a single and a double before issuing an intentional walk to Jason Bartlett to load the bases. Carl Crawford then split a gap, scoring two runs to end the game. Despite this, his job as Orioles’ closer is safe—for now.

Jason Bartlett, Ben Zobrist , and Dioner Navarro each had two hits. Evan Longoria hit the only HR for Tampa Bay, a moonshot off Millwood to lead off the sixth.

James Shields made few mistakes all night, allowing three solo HRs. In six innings, he yielded nine hits and two walks while striking out six.

Rafael Soriano struggled in his Rays debut, a non-save situation. After loading the bases, he induced a line drive to left field off the bat of Miguel Tejada to earn the win.

Other notes from around the league:

Hitter of the day: Torii Hunter (3-for-4, HR, 3 RBI)

Pitcher of the day: Dallas Braden (ND, 7 IP, 1 ER, 4 hits, 1 BB, 10 Ks)

Robinson Cano went 2-for-4 on Tuesday night, including a HR, two runs, and two RBI.

Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez combined to go 1-for-10, though each recorded an RBI.

Jon Lester , a man who many picked to win the A.L. Cy Young this year, allowed four earned runs on five hits and three walks in five innings while fanning four.

Jacoby Ellsbury and Adrian Beltre each had two hits and a stolen base. Victor Martinez also had two hits, including a HR and three RBI.

Aubrey Huff went 2-for-4 with an RBI batting cleanup for the Giants. The 33-year-old has quietly averaged 24 HRs and 87 RBI each season since 2002. In a run-starved lineup, Huff could approach 100 RBI this season.

Barry Zito shutout a pathetic Houston lineup for six innings, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out five.

Brian Wilson pitched a perfect ninth to record his second save in as many days.

Ian Stewart went 3-for-4, scoring three times while hitting his second HR of the season. Todd Helton also had three hits and one RBI.

Carlos Gonzalez went 2-for-5 leading off for the Rockies. He also scored once and drove in two runs.

Rickie Weeks went 1-for-2 with two walks, a HR, two runs, and a stolen base.

Casey McGehee went 2-for-3 with a HR and three RBI.

Justin Morneau went 2-for-3 with two runs and his first HR of the season. Michael Cuddyer went 3-for-4.

Joe Mauer went 1-for-4, his only hit a two-run HR in the first. The three-time A.L. batting champion is now batting .250. I’m just saying…

Matt Guerrier pitched a perfect eighth inning, and Jon Rauch followed up with a spotless ninth to record his first save in the absence of Joe Nathan.

Kurt Suzuki went 2-for-5 with a solo HR. Teammate Mark Ellis has three hits and an RBI.

Rajai Davis went 0-for-5 while stranding seven base runners.

Ian Snell pitched six solid innings, allowing just one run on three hits and two walks while fanning four.