Former 49er John Maine Earns First Major League Win

Former 49er John Maine Earns First Major League Win

Baltimore - Former Charlotte 49er John Maine pitched five innings of shutout ball, then watched as reliever Todd Williams came through with a pair of inning-ending double plays to preserve the former Niner's first-ever major league win. Maine led the Baltimore Orioles to a 1-0 decision over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Maine allowed two hits and three walks while striking out three to earn the win in his second major league appearance.

The former 49er had made his major league debut on July 23, 2004 - just two years after being drafted out of Charlotte - losing that day against the Minnesota Twins.

But on Saturday, Baltimore snapped Toronto's four-game winning streak behind the pitching of Maine in his first start of the season for the O's. Shortstop Miguel Tejada singled home a run in the third inning to stake the former 49er to a 1-0 lead, which he carried through the fifth inning before being lifted after 88 pitches.

The former 49ers standout, recalled from Triple-A Ottawa on Friday night, then watched from the bench as the Orioles bullpen got out of a pair of jams to lock down the victory. Reliever Tim Byrdak entered in the sixth and got four outs, but left with two men on in the seventh. Todd Williams induced double plays to end both the seventh and eighth innings, while closer B.J. Ryan picked up his 26th save with a perfect ninth inning.

Ironically, the opposing starter for the Blue Jays was former Wake Forest All-American Dave Bush, and this was not the first time the two pitchers had pitched against one another.

Maine led Charlotte to a 1-0 win over Wake Forest on April 25, 2001, also throwing five innings of shutout ball that day. Bush pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in the losing effort for the Demon Deacons.

 

The Orioles need pitching. And a drug councilor.