Tonight's silver lining (updated twice)

Tonight's silver lining (updated twice)
Chris Tillman hasn't walked a batter in six innings. Tillman walked six in his first three starts covering 12 1/3 innings, including three on the night that he held the Rays hitless. Tillman has allowed three runs and six hits, with five strikeouts. He's retired nine in a row since Michael Cuddyer's double with no outs in the fourth. Nobody is warming in the Orioles' bullpen with Tillman's pitch count at 91, including 58 strikes. The Twins have gone down in order in the third, fifth...

Early opportunities lost (updated)

Early opportunities lost (updated)
The Orioles put two runners on base with one out in the first inning on Brian Roberts' leadoff single and Derrek Lee's walk. Francisco Liriano retired the next two batters on a ground ball and called third strike. Jake Fox walked with one out in the second inning, but Matt Wieters grounded into a 5-4-3 double play. Again, the Orioles just can't seem to get that one big hit. Chris Tillman was much better in the third inning, retiring the side in order. He got two ground balls and struck...

Talking about Tillman, Reimold and Bell (updated)

Talking about Tillman, Reimold and Bell (updated)
Chris Tillman got through a scoreless first inning on 13 pitches. That's quite an improvement over his last start in New York, when Alex Rodriguez hit a three-run homer in the opening frame. Tillman's fastball topped out at 92 mph against the Twins. His first heater registered at 87 mph, and the drop in his velocity has become a hot topic considering that he used to touch the mid-90s. He hit 90 at least twice, including his strikeout of Jim Thome to end the inning. Jason Kubel singled with...

Feats of Clay Rapada

Feats of Clay Rapada
When the Orioles sent Clay Rapada to their minor league camp toward the end of spring training, they never gave him a timetable for a return to the majors. It turned out to be April 18. "They kind of told me to keep doing what I was doing and when the time came, they said to be ready," he said earlier today after reporting to Camden Yards. "I felt like I did what I needed to do in spring training to impress Buck (Showalter). I told him I was going to come in and get lefties out, and...

Notes and quotes from Showalter (and Twins lineup)

Notes and quotes from Showalter (and Twins lineup)
Clay Rapada isn't here to serve exclusively as a left-handed specialist. He'll also be needed to retire right-handed hitters. "He's a guy who has the ability to defend himself against some right-handed hitters, too, so we feel confident he'll be able at times to be able to pitch a clean, full inning," manager Buck Showalter said. "As our rotation gets straightened out a little bit, hopefully the need for longer relief stints isn't as prevalent." Left-handers went 1-for-19 against...

Postive reports on Matusz and Hardy

Postive reports on Matusz and Hardy
The Orioles made their roster moves official. They placed Chris Jakubauskas on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 17, with a strained right groin and purchased the contract of left-hander Clay Rapada from Triple-A Norfolk. Justin Duchscherer was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to create room on the 40-man roster. Jakubauskas began experiencing some tightness in his groin in New York, and he aggravated his condition in Cleveland while fielding a ball and throwing to second...

Today's lineup against the Twins

Today's lineup against the Twins
Jake Fox is making another start in left field today, as the Orioles attempt to break a seven-game losing streak. Otherwise, no major changes to the lineup. Here's the lineup: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Mark Reynolds 3B Adam Jones CF Jake Fox LF Matt Wieters C Robert Andino SS Chris Tillman RHP

The Duchscherer timetable keeps changing

The Duchscherer timetable keeps changing
Once it became clear that Justin Duchscherer wouldn't be ready for opening night, the Orioles targeted him for an April 10 start. He would be placed in the bullpen until the club needed a fifth starter. Once it became clear that Duchscherer needed more time and innings after making only one appearance in an exhibition game, the Orioles decided to place him on the 15-day disabled list and get him ready for an April 21 start. They're now ready to go with Plan C, which eliminates any...

Lining up your suggestions

Lining up your suggestions
Are the Twins going to be the team to revive the Orioles? They're sitting in last place in the AL Central. They haven't won a series this year. They've scored only 45 runs, six fewer than the Orioles, who have become allergic to home plate. Catcher Joe Mauer is on the disabled list with a viral infection and first baseman Justin Morneau sat out yesterday's game with an illness that makes him questionable for tonight. A closer controversy culminated with Matt Capps unseating Joe...

Rapada coming to Baltimore (updated twice)

Rapada coming to Baltimore (updated twice)
Left-handed reliever Clay Rapada will join the Orioles at Camden Yards tomorrow, signaling another roster move involving the bullpen. Rapada will give the Orioles a second left-handed reliever, along with struggling veteran Michael Gonzalez. Chris Jakubauskas will be placed on the disabled list to make room for Rapada. Rapada has appeared in two games with Triple-A Norfolk, allowing one hit, walking one and striking out three in two scoreless innings. He looked like an early favorite to make...

Uehara walks, Orioles stumble again

Uehara walks, Orioles stumble again
The Orioles trailed by two runs in the top of the ninth. Derrek Lee swung at the first pitch from Indians reliever Chris Perez and flied out. Vladimir Guerrero swung at the second pitch and flied out. Luke Scott swung at the first pitch and missed it, putting him in an 0-1 hole. Scott eventually ran the count full before taking a called third strike to run the losing streak to seven games. The ball was so far outside, it would have rolled into the third base dugout, but why should anything go...

Calling Triple-A

Calling Triple-A
No, the Orioles aren't calling up anyone from Triple-A Norfolk. The Tides, off to a 1-8 start, are leading Charlotte, 8-1, in the bottom of the fifth inning. That's what I call a reversal. Mike Ballard has allowed one run and four hits, walked one and struck out seven. He signed a minor league deal and didn't receive a spring training invite, though he got into five games and racked up a 10.00 ERA. Nick Green and Brendan Harris have homered today for the Tides. Green has four...

Bergesen's day is done (updated)

Bergesen's day is done (updated)
Brad Bergesen is shaking hands in the dugout and seeking warmth beneath a sweatshirt, so we'll assume that he's finished for the day. Bergesen threw two innings on Wednesday and was making his first start since April 6. He's registered the Orioles' last three complete games, but manager Buck Showalter told reporters earlier today that the right-hander wasn't going nine innings. Showalter settled for 88 pitches in five. Bergesen is charged with two earned runs. A third run scored after...

Today's silver lining (updated)

Today's silver lining (updated)
The Orioles are losing again today, 1-0, on a Carlos Santana home run leading off the second inning. They're in another early hole, though not as deep as we've seen in other games on this awful road trip. Here's the good news: Brad Bergesen is mostly forcing the Indians to hit the ball on the ground. Of the six outs he's recorded, five have come on ground balls. He also struck out Matt LaPorta to end the second. When Bergesen makes hitters pound the ball into the ground, he usually wins...

Matusz staying in Sarasota

Matusz staying in Sarasota
Manager Buck Showalter told reporters in Cleveland that Brian Matusz is making progress in his throwing program in Sarasota, Fla., but there are no immediate plans to bring the left-hander to Baltimore. There was early talk of Matusz throwing a bullpen session this week for pitching coach Mark Connor and bullpen coach Rick Adair, but he hasn't advanced enough to schedule one. Showalter wouldn't commit to a date or speculate whether Matusz might remain at the minor league complex throughout...

Orioles lineup against Indians

Orioles lineup against Indians
Can Brad Bergesen be the stopper today? Someone has to apply the brakes on this six-game losing streak. Here's the Orioles' lineup for the final game of their miserable road trip, which doesn't include Adam Jones: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Mark Reynolds 3B Felix Pie CF Matt Wieters C Cesar Izturis SS Brad Bergesen RHP The Indians activated Grady Sizemore from the disabled list. He'll bat leadoff and play center field...

Fox on the run (updated with final score)

Fox on the run (updated with final score)
Just once, I'd like for Tim Belcher to have a mound conference with Nick Bierbrodt. I think it would be a gas. OK, sorry. Jake Fox started a seventh-inning rally with a triple into left-center field. Taking third base was a huge gamble on Fox's part, considering that the Orioles were down by four runs. If he's out, he may as well keep walking into the clubhouse. And make sure not to pass manager Buck Showalter in the dugout. Fox made it safely on a close play and scored on Brian...

Silver lining time again

Silver lining time again
Luke Scott had no homers and one RBI before today. Now he has one homer and two RBIs. Could this be the start of a hot streak? Indians starter Josh Tomlin might have fanned the flames, instead of the slugger, in the fifth inning. Scott has a hit in four straight games and six of his last seven. Scott is a former Indians farmhand, in case you forgot. The Astros acquired him in a 2004 trade. Did you know that Scott spent his first professional season on the disabled list after undergoing...

Fox trots around the bases (updated 3 times)

Fox trots around the bases (updated 3 times)
Jake Fox provided the first run today and some comic relief. Fox homered in the third inning to reduce the Indians' lead to 2-1 over the Orioles. Fox stumbled as he rounded first base and had to go back to make sure he touched the bag and avoid an embarrassing appeal and out. Players were laughing in the dugout as he came down the steps. You'll recall that Fox had 10 home runs in spring training, 11 if you count the interleague game. He was 0-for-7 before today's game. Fox is making his...

Offense has been all wet

Offense has been all wet
The sun came out in Cleveland and then it disappeared again. Another bad storm moved through the area, but they're projecting a 3:05 p.m. start at Progressive Field. How are the bats supposed to heat up in these conditions? The Orioles rank 24th in the majors with a .226 average. They've scored 46 runs, more than only four teams. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters earlier today that he doesn't have any immediate plans to juggle the lineup. He believes in track records and figures that...