As Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez’s career has progressed, he has leaned on his splitter more often to get opposing hitters out.
But in the raw chill that Jimenez faced in the Orioles’ 6-5 comeback win over the New York Yankees, he struggled getting a grip on the pitch.
The Yankees made Jimenez pay, hitting both of their home runs – Matt Holliday’s two-run homer in the third and Gary Sanchez’s two-run shot in the fifth – on Jimenez splitters that didn’t break.
“It’s hard to get a grip on it,” Jimenez said.