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Monday, August 28, 2000
BALTIMORE -- With help from a maligned defense and a couple of former New York Mets, Jay Spurgeon added another milestone to his storybook season. Spurgeon takes
another step upAssociated Press
Spurgeon allowed two runs in seven innings to win his first start in the majors, and ex-Met Melvin Mora homered as the Baltimore Orioles defeated Tampa Bay, 3-2,.
Spurgeon started the season in Class A ball, then appeared in six games with Double-A Bowie and two more with Triple-A Rochester before being called up by the Orioles on Aug. 14.
The former University of Hawaii hurler made two appearances out of the bullpen before getting his first chance to start, and the right-hander made the most of the opportunity. He allowed eight hits, walked two and hit a batter, leaving after throwing 97 pitches.
"We wanted to leave a good taste in his mouth," Orioles manager Mike Hargrove said.
Mission accomplished.
"I felt good about my performance," Spurgeon said. "This whole season has been a dream come true. I started off in A ball and never gave up hope. I just wanted to keep us in the game, and I did that."
The Orioles trailed 2-0 before Mora hit a two-run homer in a three-run fifth inning against Ryan Rupe (5-5). Mike Kinkade, obtained with Mora in the July 28 trade that sent Mike Bordick to the New York Mets, doubled in the go-ahead run.
That was enough offense for Spurgeon (1-0), who was aided by three double plays from a defense that Friday had ended a club-record run of 16 straight games with at least one error.
"Double plays are a pitcher's best friend, and they were definitely my best friend today," Spurgeon said.
The only glaring flaw in Spurgeon's performance came in the second inning, when Aubrey Huff hit a two-run homer to dead center estimated at 443 feet.
"We were swinging at everything he was throwing," Huff said. "If you can sit back and wait for his fastball, he's very hittable. But he used his off-speed stuff well."
HAMPTON, AGBAYANI PACE METS:
Mike Hampton showed no ill effects from the cracked rib that had sidelined him, pitching eight sharp innings, and Hawaii's Benny Agbayani hit his 12th homer of the season as the New York Mets beat Arizona 2-1 Sunday and increased their wild-card lead over the Diamondbacks to five games