This is more like it. Brian Matusz needed only 10 pitches to dispose of the Twins in the second inning, including one to retire Chris Parmelee on a popup. Luke Hughes struck out to open the inning, and Drew Butera closed it by bouncing to the mound. That's four stirkeouts for Matuesz. His pitch count is up to 36, including 24 strikes.

Brian Matusz ran up his pitch count in the first, but he retired the last seven batters he faced and came out after 2 2/3 innings. Matusz threw 46 pitches, 31 for strikes. He allowed two runs and three hits - all in the first - and struck out six. He didn't walk a batter. Matusz struck out Ben Revere swinging and Nick Punto looking in the third. Michael Cuddyer stepped to the plate, and manager Dave Trembley stepped out of the dugout. Ross Wolf replaced Matusz, just as he did in the...

Closer Mike Gonzalez tossed a scoreless fourth inning, but he needed some help. Brendan Harris walked on four pitches and tried to score on Jacque Jones' double to deep center field. Adam Jones retrieved the ball and fired to shortstop Cesar Izturis, who threw to the plate. Luke Scott cut it off near the mound, which seemed like a poor decision at the time, but his throw home nailed Harris as the Twins' shortstop went in standing. Score it 8-6-3-2. Luke Hughes reached on an infield hit,...

Jim Johnson gave up a run in the fifth, extending the Twins lead to 3-0. Ben Revere tripled and Michael Cuddyer singled. Luke Scott just made another nice play at first, saving Scott Moore from a throwing error and getting the out. Mike Gonzalez worked on his changeup today, using it more than his first outing, and didn't miss high in the strike zone nearly as often. "I missed down in the zone, so that's a lot better today," he said. "Overall, it was a positive day for me." Gonzalez...

Matt Wieters singled for his first hit in spring training. No need to panic. Koji Uehara threw another scoreless inning, giving up a bloop single on a popup that Robert Andino couldn't run down in shallow right field. Uehara threw 11 pitches, eight for strikes. That's 19 pitches in two outings. Mike Hinckley is struggling again. He gave up a run in the eighth to increase Minnesota's lead to 4-0 with one out and a runner on second. He took the loss in his last outing and also was roughed...

Mike Hinckley was charged with two runs in two-thirds of an inning in today's 5-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins, the Orioles' fifth defeat in a row. He also gave up the winning run against the Tampa Bay Rays on a triple, two walks and a single. Hinckley allowed two runs in the intrasquad game, which don't count in the Grapefruit League stats. "Falling behind (in the count), and he really didn't have a lot of snap on his breaking ball today," manager Dave Trembley said. "His breaking...

The role of situational left-hander might fit Will Ohman, but he'd rather not be typecast. Ohman has held lefties to a .204 average during his career, compared to a .260 average for right-handers. The Orioles signed him to a minor league contract, after expressing interest in him last winter without striking a deal, because they wanted him to compete for a spot in the bullpen as... Well, you know the rest. One left-hander, Mike Gonzalez, will be the closer. Another one, Mark...

Robert Andino 2B Nolan Reimold LF Nick Markakis RF Garrett Atkins 1B Ty Wigginton 3B Rhyne Hughes DH Chad Moeller C Matt Angle CF Pedro Florimon SS Chris Tillman RHP

Nolan Reimold played a few innings in left field in the intrasquad game, but he'll make his first start there in an exhibition game at 1:05 p.m. Set your watches. You can't stop the presses on a blog, but you can make a big deal over anything. "I heard it's supposed to be a sellout," Reimold said. Thanks for playing along, Nolan. I reminded him that he's the second-biggest story today, behind Stephen Strasburg's debut for the Nationals. But I'm sure MASN will switch over each time...

Justin Turner and Robert Andino are taking ground balls at second base in early infield drills. No sign of Brian Roberts. The Orioles renewed the contracts of four players, including outfielders Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold, and catcher Matt Wieters. Jason Berken also is on the list. No substantial bumps for three of the better players on the team, who aren't arbitration-eligible, didn't voluntarily come to terms and had to settle for what the Orioles offered. Jones is eligible for...