Canadian left-hander Adam Loewen has impressed for Baltimore at spring training following an inconsistent 2006 season, going 2-1 with a 1.38 earned-run average. He has also struck out 18 batters in 13 innings. (Charlie Riedel/Associated Press)

A confident Adam Loewen toed the rubber at Fort Lauderdale Stadium, preparing for an apparent mismatch, er, showdown with St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols.

Coming off a 49-homer season in 2006, Pujols settled into the batter's box in recent Grapefruit League play against the six-foot-five left-hander, who mustered just six wins and a 5.37 earned-run average as a rookie last year with the Baltimore Orioles.

Undaunted, Loewen reeled back and unleashed a fastball ... and another ... and another, to the first baseman for the defending World Series champs.

Ahead in the count with two strikes, the native of Surrey, B.C., opted for another fastball – this one at eye level – that Pujols chased and missed to give Loewen four strikeouts in two innings of work.

"Against a guy like that, you gotta pay attention, throw your best pitches and go after him," Loewen told CBC Sports Online over the phone from Florida.

"You're going to need to get big guys like that if you're going to be successful, so why not make it in spring training? My focus all off-season was getting command of my fastball."

But shortly after arriving in Fort Lauderdale, Loewen began drawing rave reviews for his success with a new-look curveball adopted from Orioles teammate and fellow Canadian Erik Bedard.

Loewen, 22, took an interest in the pitch as he watched Bedard become more efficient with each start last season, but elected to wait until this spring to put it to use.

New grip a work in progress

"I started to get in a groove and wasn't going to tinker with pitches that late in the season," said Loewen, who posted a 4-2 record and 4.72 ERA over his final 14 starts. "That way I would have a window to work on it if I was struggling."

Loewen admitted he is still "getting a feel" for the new grip and a different release point.

"I'm not going to throw it hard," Loewen said of the pitch, which has more movement than his old curveball. "I want to get it over [the plate] early in the [pitch] count. I want hitters to have [the curveball] in the back of their mind and be able to go to my other pitches."

A glance at Loewen's spring results – 13 innings pitched, five walks and 18 strikeouts as of March 21– suggests he has been throwing his fastball, curveball, slider and changeup consistently for strikes.

Loewen shone for Team Canada at last year's World Baseball Classic, blanking the heavily favoured United States over 3 2/3 innings to earn the win in an 8-6, Round 1 upset. (Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press)

That's a far cry from the three previous spring trainings when Loewen couldn't survive the first set of cuts and failed to strike out a batter.

The Orioles' first-round pick (fourth overall) in 2002, Loewen is happier and more comfortable this time around, thanks in large part to a more productive winter.

He returned to Canada at the end of last season and hired a personal trainer after gaining 13 pounds during the 2006 campaign.

Balance and resistance drills became part of Loewen's daily routine, while snowshoeing in the mountains in Vancouver became an alternative to running 20 minutes in the gym.

Loewen a fit 230 pounds

Loewen headed to Florida in late February weighing 230 pounds – five fewer than the previous spring – determined to earn a spot in the Orioles' rotation.

"My arm's in better shape and I feel like I'm throwing more with my legs rather than just my upper body," said Loewen, who has a virtual lock for a starting job.

It has also helped having a throwing partner like Bedard, who found himself in a similar position as Loewen a year ago. After winning just six of his 24 starts in 2005, Bedard rebounded with 15 victories and a 3.76 ERA in 33 outings.

"I think I'm capable of that type of year," Loewen said, "but I don't want to set real high goals like that. My main focus is staying healthy, and I think I've put myself in a position to stay healthy."

And if Loewen needs help with the mental aspect of the game, he can always lean on renowned pitching coach Leo Mazzone.

Entering his second season with Baltimore, Mazzone helped lead the Atlanta Braves to 14 National League East division titles from 1992 to 2005 working with all-star hurlers like John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux.

"He [Mazzone] really doesn't tinker with my mechanics because he likes where I'm at," said Loewen, who may be best known for the 3 2/3 shutout innings he tossed for Canada in an 8-6, Round 1 upset of the United States at the World Baseball Classic last March. "It's more about approaching situations in the game.

"If I step off the mound and I'm not feeling well, he'll give me a tip to block something out. He's seen the best pitchers and helped the best pitchers. You have to take everything he says into account."

Mazzone told Sports Online that Loewen has been professional in his approach this spring, and excelled with his quality of pitches, control and mound presence.

Loewen's stuff tremendous: Mazzone

"I like his makeup," said Mazzone. "His stuff is tremendous. He has four pitches and isn't afraid to use any of them in any situation. He should have a fine career."

While Mazzone isn't tempted to put Loewen, Bedard and Orioles right-hander Daniel Cabrera in the same class as Smoltz, Glavine and Maddux, he is clearly excited about the promising trio.

Through March 21, they had thrown a combined 41innings, allowing only 26 hits while striking out 43.

"I can't curb my enthusiasm," Mazzone told the Baltimore Sun. "I just want to get them out of [Florida] healthy. That's the bottom line."

If that happens, Loewen said the Orioles' pitching will match up well with their rivals in the American League East – Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays.

"Our offence has always been good," he said. "And with the additions of [outfielder] Jay Payton and [first baseman] Aubrey Huff, [opposing] managers are going to have a tough decision in the eighth and ninth innings whether to bring in a left-handed or right-handed pitcher."

By that time, Loewen hopes another win is all but in the books.