Bell tolls again (w/extra fact)

Bell tolls again (w/extra fact)
I can't keep up (that's what I said). Josh Bell just clubbed a three-run homer to center field, his second today and the second of his major league career. He's up to five RBIs. The Orioles have hit three home runs in the fourth inning, and four this afternoon. Cliff Lee gave up three home runs to the Orioles during his July 10 debut with the Texas Rangers in Arlington. In his next seven starts, he served up a grand total of one. The Orioles have hit four today at Camden Yards. You...
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Get Bell that ball (updated twice)

Get Bell that ball (updated twice)
The Orioles are trying to retrieve Josh Bell's home run ball. They hope it's the first of many. Bell homered for the first time in 75 major league at-bats, bringing home Felix Pie in the second inning and giving the Orioles a 2-0 lead. Pie led off with a single and Craig Tatum struck out looking - because it's the thing to do in this series - before Bell stepped to the plate. The ball traveled 394 feet to center field. The Orioles would like for it to carry a little further - into his...
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Here we go again

Here we go again
Nick Markakis sat down to breakfast this morning, looked at his plate, and Jeff Nelson called him out on strikes. How is that possible? Maybe it didn't really happen, but Markakis struck out looking to end the bottom of the first inning. Mark Carlson's working behind the plate today, and he gave Cliff Lee the outside corner on an 87 mph cutter. Markakis froze in quiet protest, but didn't put up an argument. That's four straight at-bats for Markakis that ended with a called third strike....
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Showalter discusses JJ, Hernandez, Lugo and more

Showalter discusses JJ, Hernandez, Lugo and more
Manager Buck Showalter may accompany director of player development John Stockstill to Bowie tonight to watch Jim Johnson pitch. Johnson could be activated after throwing Tuesday and Wednesday for the Baysox, or the Orioles could wait until Sept. 1. A decision is pending. Johnson is on the 60-day disabled list, so room must be created for him on the 40-man roster. David Hernandez is expected to start playing catch on Sept. 1. There's still a chance that he'll be shut down for the rest of...
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Showalter: "Turn the page"

Showalter: "Turn the page"
Manager Buck Showalter usually takes the lineup card to home plate only before the first game of a series, but he'll handle those duties again today. He figures it's a good idea to wipe the slate clean after last night's two ejections. "Turn the page," he said. "It's part of it. It's a tough game to umpire, a fast game. I was talking to Larry Young about it, one of the umpire evaluators or whatever they call them, and you understand. The game moves so fast, sometimes it's an educated...
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Orioles lineup (& Rangers)

Orioles lineup (& Rangers)
For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Julio Lugo SS Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Felix Pie LF Craig Tatum C Josh Bell 3B Brad Bergesen RHP For the Rangers: Elvis Andrus SS Michael Young 3B Josh Hamilton LF Vladimir Guerrero DH David Murphy RF Bengie Molina C Mitch Moreland 1B Andres Blanco 2B Julio Borbon CF Cliff Lee LHP
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The Twilight Strike Zone

The Twilight Strike Zone
We have another afternoon FOX game today, which means a free night to get into all sorts of trouble. Not me, of course, but everyone else. Shortstop Manny Machado will speak to reporters via conference call today at 3 p.m. after signing his $5.25 million contract yesterday in Miami. He'll be introduced to the Camden Yards crowd on Sept. 3 or 4. Make him feel at home. Umpire Jeff Nelson was forced to skip breakfast today. The waitress brought his food, but he couldn't work the plate. JDB...
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Markakis: "I didn't get one strike thrown to me..."

Markakis: "I didn't get one strike thrown to me..."
I passed Nick Markakis on my way back up to the press box. We both did the ol' head nod and "Hey." Slightly awkward. Markakis was leaving the family room, not the umpires room. Markakis believes that arguing the first strike call with plate umpire Jeff Nelson in the sixth inning led to the next two strike calls and his eventual ejection. "I was frustrated," he said. "That's a one-run game there. I'm up there looking to get in scoring position or tie the game. I'm looking for a...
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Showalter: "We're trying to keep the field level"

Showalter: "We're trying to keep the field level"
Plate umpire Jeff Nelson declined comment after tonight's game, sending the message through crew chief Jeff Kellogg. Manager Buck Showalter had a few things to say, though he calmed down considerably after his ejection in the ninth inning. Probably a good idea. "It was just an accumulation of a lot of things," Showalter said. "It's unfortunate. Obviously, he was having a tough night and you're just looking for a sense of fairness, and emotions take over. That's one thing that can't...
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Now it's Buck's turn

Now it's Buck's turn
Plate umpire Jeff Nelson has ejected manager Buck Showalter in the top of the ninth inning with a 2-0 count on Elvis Andrus. Matt Albers' second pitch appeared to be a strike, bringing Showalter from the dugout. Nelson let him vent for a few seconds before tossing him. Second base umpire Jeff Kellogg rushed over and got between Showalter and Nelson. Showalter's face was blood-red as he continued to yell. And yes, he looked a lot like Earl Weaver on one of the MASN shots. Showalter is the...
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J.J. update

J.J. update
Reliever Jim Johnson tossed a scoreless seventh inning tonight at Double-A Bowie, striking out the last batter he faced. Johnson retired the first batter on a fly ball to center and the second on a grounder to short. I'm told his fastball topped out at 94 mph according to the Prince George's Stadium radar gun. He got the called third strike on a curveball. Johnson has allowed four runs and 12 hits in 10 minor league innings on his injury rehab assignment, with one walk and eight strikeouts....
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The streak ended; so did Markakis' night

The streak ended; so did Markakis' night
Jake Arrieta has completed six innings tonight and held the Rangers to one run. He just escaped a two-on, two-out jam by getting Taylor Teagarden to ground into a force. His pitch count is up to 95 and Matt Albers was warming, so it's going to be tough for him to produce the Orioles' fourth consecutive eight-inning start. Albers sat down, and Arrieta will return for the seventh. He'll need to be economical with his pitches. Update: Arrieta is done after 6 2/3 innings. Mark Hendrickson...
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The ball found Lugo (updated)

The ball found Lugo (updated)
That didn't take long. Julio Lugo froze on a line drive from Josh Hamilton with two outs in the top of the first inning, then attempted to make a leaping catch. The ball glanced off his glove and rolled to the fence, and Hamilton was credited with a double. Looked like an error to me. Vladimir Guerrero swung at the next pitch and flied to deep right-center field. Inning over. The adventure might continue. Lugo has played 11 games in left field, but he's made only two starts. He shags fly...
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Pre-game this and that

Pre-game this and that
In his last 14 appearances, reliever Koji Uehara has surrendered only one earned run over 17 innings. Manager Buck Showalter has noticed. However, he's not ready to campaign for Uehara's return in 2011. "I don't throw out what's going on here for a year and three-quarters," Showalter said. "I know what I've seen since I've been here. I can see why he was somebody that was coveted to bring in. Keeping him healthy I know has been a challenge, but it's pretty obvious when he's...
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Reimold: Gone but not forgotten

Reimold: Gone but not forgotten
Manager Buck Showalter and president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail have discussed bringing up outfielder Nolan Reimold when rosters expand next month. Reimold is batting .247 with 11 doubles, 10 homers, 34 RBIs and a .750 OPS in 83 games at Triple-A Norfolk. As I noted last night, he's reached base in 30 of his last 31 games, batting .321 with four homers, 15 RBIs and 29 walks. "I can't say I know him well," Showalter said. "I do know he's playing well there consistently. I've...
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Lugo in left

Lugo in left
How much does manager Buck Showalter want to avoid putting left-handed hitters in his lineup tonight? Julio Lugo's starting in left field. It's not a huge reach. Lugo has played 18 games in the outfield, most recently patrolling left for one game with the Red Sox in 2008. He played six games in the outfield with the Astros in 2000 and eight more in 2001. He played three in the outfield with the Dodgers in 2006. "He's actually played more in the outfield than third base," Showalter said....
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Orioles lineup

Orioles lineup
Brian Roberts 2B Julio Lugo LF Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Adam Jones CF Jake Fox DH Matt Wieters C Cesar Izturis SS Josh Bell 3B Jake Arrieta RHP The last time the Orioles went four straight starts with eight innings or more from their starter was July 20-23, 1999 (Sidney Ponson, Mike Mussina, Scott Erickson and Juan Guzman.) The longest streak of consecutive starts with eight or more innings in franchise history was a 12-game run from Aug. 15-28, 1970.
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Looking back at the '05 streak

Looking back at the '05 streak
As you probably know by now, the Orioles' last three starters have each gone eight innings, which hasn't happened in this organization since May 2005. Yes, it's been a long time. And it's only occurred twice in the 2000s. On May 3, Daniel Cabrera was outdueled by former Oriole Josh Towers in a 1-0 loss to Toronto. He allowed one run and four hits, walked four and struck out eight while throwing 119 pitches. Sammy Sosa went 0-for-3 as the cleanup hitter. Javy Lopez, serving as the...
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Wigginton brings attitude to otherwise easy-going O's

Wigginton brings attitude to otherwise easy-going O's
I've been checking out various reports on last night's game, and one of them mentions how it was "marred" by a sixth-inning confrontation between Ty Wigginton and Andres Blanco. Funny, but it made my night. I had wandered to the far end of the press box to chat up Dave Johnson when the play occurred. I was watching a replay on one of the big screens when he tapped me on the shoulder to redirect my attention to the field, where players were coming out of the dugout and bullpen. At that...
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Brian's song

Brian's song
Before closing my laptop for the final time tonight, I wanted to pass along some quotes from Brian Matusz following tonight's gem. You might recall that Matusz was 1-1 with a 10.95 ERA in three career starts against the Rangers before tonight. In two outings this year, both in Arlington, he pitched into the third inning in one and finished three in another. That's it. "It definitely felt good out there today, especially coming off two bad outings against Texas this year," he said. "I...
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