Brad Bergesen

We (or at least Buck Martinez) may not know how to say his name yet, and this moment may be a bit rain delayed, but it's Brad Bergesen time! Updates with thoughts here as the game progresses...

Update (8:43): This guy works fast! I like it.

Update (8:45): He's getting some serious armside run on his fastball. That pitch may have only been 90mph, but it rode right into the kitchen of Josh Fields to induce a dribbler to the mound.

Update (8:49): Thirteen pitches later, Carlos Quentin strikes out. Three up, three down! When do Matusz, Tillman and Arrieta come up?

Update (9:00): Bergesen allows his first baserunner, a one-out, four-pitch walk to Jermaine Dye. He bounces right back with a first pitch strike to Konerko.

Update (9:03): A ground ball to third starts a 6-4-3 double play and Bergesen has faced the minimum through 2.0 IP. We also find out that, had he not signed with the Orioles after being drafted in 2004, Bergesen would have been teammates with Brian Matusz at the University of San Diego. They'll likely have that chance shortly.

Update (9:17): Another ground ball out to start the third inning, and one pitcher later Wiggington makes another nice play to retire the second batter of the inning. Eight outs: one strikeout, six ground balls.

Update (9:19): Strikeout. Man, that was a fast inning.

Update (9:27): After a Markakis single, Aubrey Huff crushed a home run down the right field line. 2-0 Orioles!

Update (9:33): Chris Getz walked to lead off the 4th, but Bergeson gets Fields to strike out. One out and a man on for the middle of the lineup.

Update (9:36): Wiggington boots a routine grounder off the bat of Carlos Quentin, putting runners on the corners for Jim Thome. Those leadoff walks always seem to haunt a pitcher.

Update (9:39): Big strikeout! Bergesen freezes Thome with a fastball up in the zone and over the middle of the plate.

Update (9:41): Jermaine Dye makes the Orioles pay for the walk and the error as he singles to center to plate the first White Sox run. Konerko then singles to right to score Quentin, but Markakis cuts down Dye at third base to end the inning. The pair of unearned runs tie the score at two.

Update (9:55): A.J. Pierzynski grounded a single through the hole to lead off the 5th, and then Alexei Ramirez doubled down the line in left. A ground ball to shortstop scores Pierzynski and gives the Sox the lead. Bergesen hasn't looked quite as good the second time through the order. He's up to 78 pitches, and with 46 going for strikes. He is still getting lots of groundballs, however.

Update (9:59): After a hit batter, a fly ball to right by Fields advances Ramirez to third. Should have been another run for the White Sox, but Ramirez didn't move up on the ground ball to short. Buck Martinez and Jim Hunter are all over it; a good piece of announcing. Another ground ball from Quention, Getz force out at second, and the 5th is history. So far for Bergesen: 5.0 IP, 4 hits, 3 runs (1 earned), 2 walks, 4 strikeouts, 85 pitches, 52 strikes, 9 ground outs, 1 fly out.

Update (10:05): Markakis is a great hitter. What a beautiful double up the gap in right center. His 17th RBI of the young season ties the game.

Update (10:11): Luke Scott gets the Orioles the lead, driving in Markakis with a single to right.

Update (10:17): Bergesen gives up a looong fly ball to centerfield, but Pie makes the catch against the wall. One down in the fifth.

Update (10:18): The ground ball machine is back on, as Dye grounds out to short.

Update (10:19): Trembley heads to the mound to lift Bergesen in favor of Baez as Paul Konerko comes to the plate. If you're trying to win tonight, I don't necessarily agree with this move, but if you're focused on developing Bergeson win in the future, I have no problem at all with lifting the kid now. 95 pitches, 58 strikes, 5.2 IP, 3 runs (1 earned), 4 hits, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts, 10 groundouts, 2 flyouts and he's in line for the win since Baez gets Konerko to ground out to first. Quite the successful debut; Orioles fans have a lot to be excited about considering that Bergesen is (at best) the 4th best pitching prospect in the system.

And, with that, I'm heading to bed to dream of the 2010 World Series.
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