As I sit in the press box at Hammond Stadium, I'm reminded that it's supposed to rain tonight. That's because the top of my head just brushed against a gray cloud. We're pretty high up. And the clouds are pretty gray. The wind is strong enough to lift the batting cage and carry it to the Red Sox's complex down the road. Popups will be an adventure tonight. But so far, no rain. Is it a bad sign that a bee stung manager Dave Trembley while he spoke to reporters in front of the visiting...

Does Kevin Millwood have a fifth pitch? OK, seriously, he gave up a run and two hits in the first inning, but he induced a double-play bouncer from Justin Morneau and returned to the dugout after throwing 14 pitches (nine for strikes). That's much better than his debut, when he allowed six runs and seven hits to the Tigers in two-thirds of an inning. Denard Span lined a single into right field and stole second to immediately put Millwood in a bind. Orlando Hudson struck out, with catcher...

I already used the "fifth pitch" joke, so I won't go there again. The Twins jumped all over Kevin Millwood in the second, beginning with Michael Cuddyer's leadoff homer and continuing with back-to-back singles by Jason Kubel and Delmon Young, a one-out triple from No. 9 hitter Nick Punto and a scorching liner by Denard Span that would have carried Robert Andino's glove to the outfield if he had gotten his left hand in front of it. Twins 5, Orioles 0. Orlando Hudson followed Span's...

Kevin Millwood left the game with two outs in the third after J.J. Hardy singled on the right-hander's 60th pitch, and his 35th strike. Wilfrido Perez stranded the runner after walking Nick Punto, so that ERA's coming down. It's settled at 29.70 through two starts. Millwood was charged with five runs and nine hits. He walked one and struck out two. We'll head downstairs to talk to Millwood after he's done running in the outfield.

Kevin Millwood broke the news to Orioles pitching coach Rick Kranitz after tonight's start. Just a little heads-up, in case Kranitz was wondering. The numbers aren't going to be pretty. Look past them. Kranitz didn't need the warning. This isn't his first rodeo. "I stink in spring training. I'm not a good spring training pitcher," Millwood said after allowing five runs in 2 2/3 innings. "I don't try to win any awards in spring training. I try to get myself ready, and so far it's...

Juan Portes hit a two-run homer off David Hernandez in the eighth inning to increase Minnesota's lead to 8-3, and the sky opened up as manager Dave Trembley left the dugout. It's an absolute downpour. Chris George is swimming to the mound. The Orioles scored twice in the top of the eighth on singles by Justin Turner, Miguel Abreu and Jonathan Tucker, and a double-play grounder from Rhyne Hughes. Give Tucker an RBI. Don't give one to Hughes. Abreu is playing right field. We've also seen...

The game ended with two outs in the eighth inning and the Twins ahead, 8-3. Next up: The sprint to the car. I'll leave you with some final words from manager Dave Trembley. "We got Millwood's pitch count up, but he's not where he's going to be when the season starts. He's making progress, but we've got to do better," Trembley said. "Koji was a bright spot. He threw the ball very well. Every time out he's thrown the ball well - down, life, finish on his pitches. Markakis swung the...

It's been pouring for most of the night and morning, and it's difficult to imagine this game being played later today. I'm not saying it won't happen. Nothing is official. But the forecast is bleak and the field already is drenched. I'll venture inside the clubhouse in about 15 minutes to grab the lineup and check on second baseman Brian Roberts. And I'll let you know if they bang this one - as they say in the sportswriting business. Jeremy Guthrie is scheduled to start today,...

Adam Jones CF Cesar Izturis SS Matt Wieters C Miguel Tejada 3B Ty Wigginton 2B Michael Aubrey 1B Lou Montanez LF Scott Moore DH Jeff Salazar RF Jeremy Guthrie RHP

It's still raining, and I hear thunder rumbling in the distance. The Marlins are heading here from Jupiter, but they might be turning around and going back. Meanwhile, third base at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers has been turned into a child's wading pool. Here's the Marlins lineup: Chris Coghlan LF Emilio Bonifacio CF Hanley Ramirez SS Jorge Cantu 3B Dan Uggla 2B Cody Ross DH Gaby Sanchez 1B Brett Carroll RF Brett Hayes C Andrew Miller LHP Brian Roberts emerged from the trainers room...

The Orioles-Marlins game at Ed Smith Stadium has been cancelled due to rain. They don't make up exhibition games, so we're not using the term "postponed." We'll pretend it never appeared on the schedule. Fans can exchange their tickets for any remaining game at the stadium, subject to availability, or obtain a refund. You can get a refund by sending the original tickets via certified mail to: Baltimore Orioles March 12 spring training rainout Ed Smith Stadium 2700 12th St. Sarasota,...

Team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens examined Brian Roberts this morning and prescribed more anti-inflammatory medication. The club will wait a few days to see how his back and stomach respond to it. The Orioles will play a seven-inning B-squad game against the Marlins tomorrow at 10 a.m. at Ed Smith Stadium. Mark Hendrickson will start, followed by Mike Gonzalez, Dennis Sarfate, Kam Mickolio, Mike Hinckley and Chris George. Sean West will start for the Marlins. Nolan Reimold will serve as the...

You already know that Jeremy Guthrie is starting tomorrow's game against the Yankees in Tampa, but we had some uncertainty over the bullpen because of the rainout. Alfredo Simon, Jason Berken, Cla Meredith, Matt Albers and Alberto Castillo also are making the trip. Brian Matusz starts Sunday against the Phillies, followed by Jim Johnson, Koji Uehara, Kam Mickolio and Will Ohman. Jake Arrieta starts the B-squad game in Pirate City, followed by Brandon Erbe, Troy Patton, Chorye Spoone and Luis...

Adam Jones CF Cesar Izturis SS Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Matt Wieters C Garrett Atkins 1B Ty Wigginton 2B Lou Montanez LF Michael Aubrey DH Jeremy Guthrie RHP The Triple-A and Double-A guys are arriving today. I just saw pitchers Jim Miller, Jim Hoey and Ryohei Tanaka in the parking lot. Miller said his shoulder feels great and he likes the way the ball is coming out of his hand. We haven't heard that term in a while, so I was relieved. Miller is hoping to get in a few games and...

Scott Moore is feeling under the weather this morning. And the weather is really nice today - sunny and warm. Moore is moving slowly through the clubhouse and looking like he needs a long nap. Troy Patton has appeared in one game this spring, allowing a solo home run to former Pirates first-rounder Tony Sanchez in the March 5 game in Sarasota. He also struck out one. Patton says his shoulder is healthy. He's scheduled to go two innings in tomorrow's B-squad game in Pirate City. So...

Brett Gardner CF Nick Johnson DH Jorge Posada C Robinson Cano 2B Curtis Granderson LF Randy Winn RF Juan Miranda 1B Brandon Laird 3B Ramiro Pena SS Javier Vazquez RHP The Phillies will use the following pitchers for tomorrow's game against the Orioles in Sarasota: Kyle Kendrick Andrew Carpenter Sergio Escalona

Jeremy Guthrie is scheduled to go four innings today. The Orioles might schedule an intrasquad game for Tuesday in Sarasota to provide more innings for their pitchers. Felix Pie could return to the lineup by Monday or Tuesday. He's dealing with a sore left shoulder. "It's more from lifting weights than it is anything else - throwing or swinging a bat," manager Dave Trembley said. Nolan Reimold is serving as the designated hitter in today's B-squad game in Sarasota. He's also doing...

If you're prone to obsessing over spring training records, the rebuilding Indians are 5-0. They're the only unbeaten team in the Cactus League. The offensively challenged Giants are 8-2. The Royals are 4-3. The Dodgers are 2-4. The Angels are 2-5. The Rays are 9-1 in the Grapefruit League, their only loss coming against the Orioles in the opener. Final score: 12-2. The Blue Jays are 5-3 and the Yankees are 4-5. The Cardinals, the favorites to win the NL Central, are 3-5. What's it all...

Today's game will go a full nine innings, no matter the score. The Yankees will bat in the bottom half. The first five batters reached against Jeremy Guthrie in the first inning, and the Yankees took a 3-0 lead. Guthrie walked the leadoff hitter, Brett Gardner, with the count full, and Nick Johnson followed with a run-scoring double over left fielder Lou Montanez's head. Jorge Posada singled to right to put runners on the corners, and Robinson Cano lined the next pitch into left field to...

Jeremy Guthrie surrendered another run in the second inning. He threw 16 pitches, 10 for strikes. Guthrie gave up singles to the first three batters - one ball nicking Cesar Izturis' glove, another bouncing through the hole on the right side of the infied, and another almost taking Guthrie's head off. Jorge Posada's single gave New York a 4-2 lead, but Ty Wigginton backhanded Robinson Cano's grounder up the middle and flipped the ball to Izturis without removing it from his glove,...