Major League Baseball

Orioles 11, Mets 0

Published Apr. 3, 2010 10:19 p.m. ET

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Rookie Brian Matusz gave the Baltimore Orioles four more reasons to believe that he's ready for the regular season.

Each one was a scoreless inning.

Matusz held the New York Mets to three singles and didn't walk a batter on Saturday, and Miguel Tejada hit a grand slam to lead the Orioles to an 11-0 victory over the New York Mets.

Matusz finished the exhibition season with a 2.59 ERA, striking out 21 and walking three in 24 1-3 innings. The left-hander will start the third game of the opening series against the Tampa Bay Rays, following newly acquired ace Kevin Millwood and Jeremy Guthrie in the rotation.

``It took me a little while to get in a groove today,'' Matusz said. ``I was getting behind guys. It wasn't like me. I just had to get in my groove and finally in the third and fourth innings, I was able to do that.''

``It was a good start to get going for the season,'' he said. ``It was nice to work with Matt (catcher Wieters) to get on the same page. I didn't shake Matt one time. When I faced Luis Castillo the second time, we went four fastballs down and away. ... I was unsure why we were going four pitches down and away in a row and then I talked to Matt afterwards. I didn't shake, I didn't doubt it. I just continued to do it. After I talked to Matt, it was the right thing to do. Just to trust Matt was good for me.''

Matusz retains his rookie status this year after making eight starts and pitching 44 2-3 innings last season. The rookie qualification is 50 innings.

``It was a good spring,'' Matusz said. ``Not even looking at numbers, but just how I progressed and I was able to get all four pitches going. It was great for me in keeping the walks down. It was huge. I only walked three guys the entire spring. That's what I wanted.''

Tejada's slam was his first home run this spring, connecting off Jonathon Niese. Nolan Reimold added a two-run shot for Baltimore.

The Mets open the regular season at home Monday against Florida. The Orioles start Tuesday at Tampa Bay.

Tejada drove in five runs, raising his spring RBIs total to eight. He rejoined the Orioles in the offseason as a free agent.

``I've been working pretty hard in the cage and I've been working pretty hard on my defense, too,'' said Tejada, who's moving to third base this season. ``I feel like I'm ready to go. It's good to see the last day of spring training and for me to do what I did today. The season starts in a couple days and I feel like I'm ready.''

NOTES: The Mets confirmed that Major League Baseball investigators met with shortstop Jose Reyes and outfielder Carlos Beltran ``a few weeks ago'' concerning their dealings with Canadian doctor Anthony Galea, who is under investigation by federal and Canadian authorities. Galea faces four charges in Canada related to human growth hormone and Actovegin. ... Reyes went 1 for 3 with two walks and played all nine innings in the field in an intrasquad game in Port St. Lucie, Fla. He's on the disabled list. ... Darryl Strawberry will throw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Mets on opening day. He is the team's career home run and RBIs leader, and will be enshrined in the Mets' Hall of Fame on Aug. 1. ... The Orioles designated utility INF Robert Andino for assignment. Baltimore selected the contract of LHP Will Ohman from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned RHP Kam Mickolio to Norfolk.

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