Cesar Izturis committed his ninth error today, bobbling Austin Jackson's ground ball leading off the top of the fourth inning. Jackson stole second, but held as Brad Bergesen retired the next two batters. Ryan Raburn followed with a grounder up the middle that looked like it would produce the Tigers' first run, but Izturis ranged far to his left to make the pickup, and his throw narrowly beat Raburn for the final out. Raburn is the only Detroit baserunner. Bergesen has thrown 42 pitches, 27...

My favorite Kangaroo-brand pita chips, homemade chocolate chip cookies... Many thanks. Now I'm really sad that the season is ending. Too bad Peter Schmuck isn't here today. I usually rely on him to eat the crumbs off my shirt. Third base umpire Jerry Crawford is working his last regular season game. He's retiring after the playoffs. Manager Buck Showalter took the lineup card to home plate, which is unusual after the first game of a series, because he wanted to honor...

Over the last few days, the O's players have been asked a lot about the team's strong finish under Buck Showalter and what it could mean for the club's future. Here are some player opinions. Nick Markakis: "It shows you what we have and what we're capable of doing. I've said all along we've got a great group of guys and we have great talent. It's just a matter of putting it together. When we put it together, we can play with anybody." Markakis on the 14-13 record vs. the AL East...

Robert Andino 2B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Luke Scott DH Ty Wigginton 1B Felix Pie LF Matt Wieters C Josh Bell 3B Cesar Izturis SS Brad Bergesen RHP Longtime umpires attendant Ernie Tyler is resting comfortably at University of Maryland Medical Center after being diagnosed yesterday with a benign brain tumor. Tyler's son, Jimmy, the home clubhouse manager, joked that his father is "still running the place." Surgery is pending, but an exact date hasn't been set.

...The O's will: *Finish with a record of 67-95, topping last year's win total by three. *End the second-half of the season as they ended the first, with a four-game sweep. The O's won four straight at Texas from July 8-11 right before the All-Star game. *Have their seventh series sweep of the year of three or more games. *Finish the year with a .500 record combined at 36-36 in games vs. AL Central and Western division foes. *Finish the second-half with a winning record of 38-36. *End...

On a night when he had some of his best stuff of the season and produced a career-high nine strikeouts, Brian Matusz continued the O's starting pitching roll tonight in a 2-1 win over Detroit. He gave up just two hits and one run over six innings, throwing 100 pitches to finish his year at 10-12, 4.30. Over his final eight starts, the 23-year-old lefty went 6-0, 1.57 and tied his career-high with a six-game win streak. "All my pitches were working today. I was using them all in different...

Brian Matusz fell behind, 1-0, on Brandon Inge's home run in the second inning before clamping down on the Tigers and turning over the game to the bullpen after the sixth. Matusz went 6-0 with a 1.57 ERA in his last eight starts, allowing eight earned runs and 29 hits in 46 innings. "We've had two games in a row where a young starter gave up a home run early to go down and came back and pitched effectively, and that's impressive," manager Buck Showalter said. "I thought he was as crisp...

For the Orioles it was a case of another night and another outstanding performance from a starting pitcher. Brian Matusz had the honors on Saturday night, allowing just one run over six innings as the Orioles tamed the Tigers 2-1, in front of 35,332 at Camden Yards to take the first three games of this series. Matusz gave up just two hits and one was a solo homer by Brandon Inge in the 2nd. He improved to 10-12, 4.30 and won for the sixth time over his last eight starts. The O's three...

Jim Johnson retired the Tigers in order in the eighth inning - with a lot of help from his friends. The Orioles put on an amazing defensive display, beginning with Cesar Izturis' diving backhanded stop and throw to retire leadoff hitter Will Rhymes. Nick Markakis followed with a diving catch near the right field line to rob Austin Jackson and again bring the crowd to its feet. Johnson struck out Alex Avila to end the inning and preserve a 2-1 lead. The teams have combined for five hits,...

Tigers starter Armando Galarraga retired the first 10 batters he faced and checked to make sure umpire Jim Joyce wasn't working the bases tonight. His bid for perfection ended with one Nick Markakis swing in the fourth inning. Markakis drove a Galarraga fastball an estimated 344 feet to the flag court in right field to tie the game. Markakis, who placed third in the MVO voting, has 12 homers and 59 RBIs. Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz surrendered a bases-empty shot to Brandon Inge in the...