FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - Playing without Alex Rodriguez, the Dominican Republic was rendered punchless by Koji Uehara and three far less notable pitchers for the Baltimore Orioles.
Uehara pitched three scoreless innings and the Dominican squad preparing for the World Baseball Classic managed only one extra-base hit - a double by Jose Guillen - in a 6-1 exhibition loss Wednesday.Uehara, Baltimore's first Japanese-born player, gave up two hits and hit a batter in his second strong outing of the spring. Facing a lineup that included All-Stars David Ortiz, Miguel Tejada and Hanley Ramirez, the right-hander struck out two and threw strikes on 23 of 36 pitches.
"I understand there are a lot of big-name players. To get that kind of result, I'm happy with that," Uehara said through a translator.
The Dominican lineup was missing one important piece: Rodriguez, who left for Colorado for an exam by a hip specialist after an MRI last weekend revealed a cyst on his right hip.
Ortiz provided the longest drive against Uehara, a shot that was deadened by the wind and caught by Nick Markakis near the warning track.
Asked if he was concerned about the lack of power displayed by his lineup, manager Felipe Alou said, "Our concern is some of the injuries we have, some of the people we're missing. The concern here is not the hitting. Rodriguez wasn't here, and I rested two of our better players, (Jose) Reyes and (Robinson) Cano."
Those who did play were no match for Uehara, who threw first-pitch strikes to all four batters in the first inning.
"I have experience pitching in international competition and I love the opportunity against the big, huge hitters," Uehara said. "I believe it's important to get a first strike. That's more important than worrying about the pitch. Obviously if the hitters swing at my first pitch, I won't necessarily start with a strike."
Ty Wigginton hit a three-run homer in the first inning against Johnny Cueto, who yielded five hits in three innings. He was followed by Pedro Martinez, who gave up two runs in two innings, although Baltimore's two-run fourth was aided by a popup that landed between the mound, the plate and Rodriguez's replacement at third, Tejada.
After Uehara left, Matt Albers allowed four hits in two innings, Brian Bass gave up one hit in two innings and Bob McCrory finished with two innings of three-hit ball.
Willy Tavaras went 3-for-3 for the Dominicans and scored their lone run on a double-play grounder by Ramirez.
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