Orioles' Chen shuts down Braves
ATLANTA -- Adam Jones had a one-word description of the Orioles' second straight shutout win:
"Chen-sational."
Wei-Yin Chen combined with four relievers on a seven-hitter yesterday as Baltimore continued its success in interleague play by beating the Braves, 2-0.
The Braves, who have lost six of seven, were shut out in back-to-back games for the first time since June 5-6, 2009. Jason Hammel threw a one-hitter in a 5-0 victory for the Orioles on Saturday night.
Jones said Hammel and Chen dominated by staying ahead in the count.
"It's been pretty fun to watch from centerfield," Jones said. "The important part of it is they always started with strike one. They've been able to do what they want because they've been ahead in counts."
The Orioles, who remained 11/2 games behind the first-place Yankees in the AL East, have won seven of eight. They are 9-3 in interleague play with series wins over Washington, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Atlanta.
Up next is a three-game set at Citi Field against the Mets starting tonight.
Chen (7-2) gave up six hits and one walk in seven innings to outpitch Randall Delgado (4-7), who allowed only two runs and three hits in eight innings.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter applauded Chen's ability to successfully bunt and field bunts.
Chen's sacrifice helped the Orioles score a run in the sixth.
"It's something you work on in spring training and it could be a difference-maker in the game, and I think it was today," Showalter said.
Chen fielded a poor bunt by Delgado in the third to start a double play that helped spoil a scoring opportunity for Atlanta.
"I'm sure they were rolling their eyes in spring training as we were going over and over bunt defense, being an American League East team," Showalter said. "It was nice that it helped us and made a difference."
Still, Chen is no fan of interleague play. "Not really, because I hate hitting," he said through a translator.
Jim Johnson pitched a perfect ninth for his 20th save. Darren O'Day, Troy Patton and Pedro Strop combined for a scoreless eighth. Delgado's eight innings matched his longest start. He walked one batter and struck out six.
Before the game, the Braves placed righthander Brandon Beachy on the 15-day disabled list. He will have an MRI today.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 15: LI's top basketball players On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay take a look top boys and girls basketball players on Long Island.
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