The good side of Chris Tillman (O's win 3-1)

The good side of Chris Tillman (O's win 3-1)
One start after failing to clear the first inning, Chris Tillman has held the Cleveland Indians to one run through the sixth. The only issue for Tillman was a lack of offensive support, but Jim Thome just belted a two-run homer off Indians right-hander Zach McAllister in the top of the seventh inning. Orioles 2, Indians 1. Thome has homered in back-to-back games, giving him 611 for his career. Tillman has allowed two earned runs in three starts and 15 innings with the Orioles this season,...

Pearce designated for assignment

Pearce designated for assignment
The Orioles created space for middle infielder Omar Quintanilla on their 25-man roster today by designating outfielder Steve Pearce for assignment. The decision came down to Pearce or Steve Tolleson. The Orioles decided they wanted to keep Tolleson, who has options remaining, so they would have a right-handed hitting infielder to share at-bats with Quintanilla and Ryan Flaherty. The Orioles could have placed reliever Matt Lindstrom on the disabled list after he took a Johnny Damon line drive...

Flaherty starting at second base tonight

Flaherty starting at second base tonight
Ryan Flaherty is getting another start at second base tonight for the Orioles. Newly acquired middle infielder Omar Quintanilla will join the team today, but he won't be in the starting lineup. And he's not listed on the lineup card among the reserves. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Jim Thome DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis LF Mark Reynolds 1B Ryan Flaherty 2B Chris Tillman RHP

Tillman's troubles in the first inning

Tillman's troubles in the first inning
Chris Tillman didn't make it out of the first inning in his last start against the Minnesota Twins, allowing one earned run (seven total) and five hits in two-thirds of an inning. A Mark Reynolds error complicated Tillman's night, but the opening frame has been a challenge throughout his career. In 38 career starts, Tillman has posted an 8.12 ERA in the first inning and opponents are batting .348/.416/.585 against him. Tillman has made two starts against the Indians, allowing seven runs...

Duquette: "We'll do everything we can to stay in the hunt"

Duquette: "We'll do everything we can to stay in the hunt"
In a brief phone conversation yesterday morning with executive vice president Dan Duquette, I asked whether the Orioles were comfortable platooning Steve Tolleson and Ryan Flaherty at second base, or whether they needed to bring in someone from outside the organization. "We'll see what comes on the market," Duquette replied. "If Tolleson and Flaherty can do it, we'll let them do it. If they can't do it, we'll have to look for some other alternatives." Later that afternoon, the Orioles...

Lindstrom leaves with injury (O's win 10-2)

Lindstrom leaves with injury (O's win 10-2)
Orioles reliever Matt Lindstrom took a Johnny Damon line drive off the inside portion of his left knee, forcing him out of the game with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Lindstrom bent at the waist a few times and kept grimacing as manager Buck Showalter and assistant athletic trainer Brian Ebel checked on him. He didn't bother to throw a few warmup tosses. His night was over. Kevin Gregg replaced Lindstrom with the bases loaded and retired Casey Kotchman on a fly ball to center...

Game tied and opportunities lost (O's lead 10-2)

Game tied and opportunities lost (O's lead 10-2)
J.J. Hardy was in a 7-for-70 slump before doubling in the first inning tonight and racing home on a wild pitch by Indians starter Derek Lowe. The lead didn't last long. Asdrubal Cabrera homered off Miguel Gonzalez in the bottom of the inning, and the Indians left the bases load. Gonzalez threw 25 pitches in the inning. Lowe threw 26. Gonzalez surrendered one home run with Triple-A Norfolk. He's given up one in each of his three starts with the Orioles. Since June 29, 19 of the last 21...

Orioles lineup against Indians (Bergesen quotes and note on trade)

Orioles lineup against Indians (Bergesen quotes and note on trade)
Ryan Flaherty gets another start at second base tonight, as manager Buck Showalter continues to platoon him with right-handed hitting Steve Tolleson. We'll see if that arrangement changes tomorrow after the Orioles acquired Omar Quintanilla from the Mets for future considerations or cash. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Jim Thome DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis LF Mark Reynolds 1B Ryan Flaherty 2B Miguel Gonzalez RHP Also, Brian's Baseball...

Orioles acquire infielder Omar Quintanilla from Mets, Indians lineup (updated)

Orioles acquire infielder Omar Quintanilla from Mets, Indians lineup (updated)
Looking to add middle infield depth after losing Brian Roberts and Robert Andino to injuries, the Orioles have acquired Omar Quintanilla from the Mets for future considerations or cash. Quintanilla, 30, can play second base and shortstop, which comes in handy on this team. The Mets designated Quintanilla for assignment a few days ago. He was batting .257/.350/.371 with five doubles, one home run and four RBIs in 29 games this season. Quintanilla is a career .218/.278 /.294 hitter in seven...

Diamondbacks claim Bergesen (updated)

Diamondbacks claim Bergesen (updated)
So much for Brad Bergesen staying in the Orioles' organization. The Arizona Diamondbacks have claimed Bergesen on waivers after the Orioles designated him for assignment on Wednesday to make room on the 25-man roster for pitcher Tommy Hunter. Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus tweeted the news earlier today. The Orioles hoped that Bergesen would clear waivers again, as he did back in May, and accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. Bergesen was out of options after accepting...

A third look at Gonzalez in the rotation (and Guthrie note)

A third look at Gonzalez in the rotation (and Guthrie note)
It may come as a shock to many of you, but the Orioles don't have any current plans to adjust their rotation. Continue to breathe normally. Wei-Yin Chen got the start and a much-needed win yesterday. Miguel Gonzalez, Chris Tillman, Zach Britton and Tommy Hunter will make the starts against the Indians in a four-game series that begins tonight. Then it's back home, and back to Chen. Unless the Orioles pull off a trade for a starter, they're not sitting atop a pile of pitching options....

Scoring change benefits Ayala

Scoring change benefits Ayala
The Orioles tweeted tonight that there's been a scoring change in Tuesday night's game in Minnesota. I wouldn't want you going to bed without having all the details. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Twins center fielder Denard Span was credited with an infield hit, and Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy was charged with a throwing error. The single has been removed, and it's now just a straight error on the play. Why is this important? Well, reliever Luis Ayala no longer is tagged with an...

Back-to-back beauties from Orioles' rotation (O's win 4-3)

Back-to-back beauties from Orioles' rotation (O's win 4-3)
Tommy Hunter held the Twins to one run over 7 1/3 innings last night. Wei-Yin Chen allowed three runs in seven innings today. In case you don't recognize it, those are back-to-back quality starts from the Orioles' rotation. Chen hasn't won since June 17 in Atlanta, a game I listened to on WBAL Radio on my drive back home from Ocean Pines. I listened to most of today's start on my return trip, arriving at my destination seconds before Mark Reynolds blooped a two-run single into center...

Orioles lineup against Twins (and Twins lineup)

Orioles lineup against Twins (and Twins lineup)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter worked in a few more left-handed hitters for today's series finale against the Twins. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Jim Thome DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis LF Mark Reynolds 1B Ryan Flaherty 2B Wei-Yin Chen LHP For the Twins: Denard Span CF Ben Revere RF Joe Mauer C Josh Willingham DH Justin Morneau 1B Trevor Plouffe 3B Ryan Doumit LF Brian Dozier SS Alexi Casilla 2B Cole DeVries RHP

While waiting for the lineup ...

While waiting for the lineup ...
The Orioles have an early game today before flying to Cleveland to continue their road trip. They had to "sleep fast," as manager Buck Showalter likes to say. You'll get the lineup quicker than usual on a Thursday, but until then ... Showalter told MASN's Gary Thorne before last night's game that he hoped Tommy Hunter's familiarity with catcher Taylor Teagarden from their days in Texas would prove beneficial. He mentioned their bond. Hunter had a 4.58 ERA in six career major league...

Bergesen talks about being designated (O's win 2-1)

Bergesen talks about being designated (O's win 2-1)
Reliever Brad Bergesen is in the process of boarding a flight to Chicago. He won't get into Baltimore until early tomorrow morning. Then he'll wait. Bergesen was designated for assignment this afternoon to make room on the 25-man roster for Tommy Hunter, who's starting against the Twins. If he clears waivers, he'll accept the outright assignment and board another flight to Syracuse, where Triple-A Norfolk will be playing. Bergesen could refuse the assignment, but he'd forfeit the rest...

Jones owns Liriano

Jones owns Liriano
Well, that might be a bit extreme, but I liked the way it sounded. Adam Jones homered for the second consecutive night, his two-run shot in the first inning giving the Orioles a 2-0 lead. The ball traveled an estimated 411 feet and landed in the last row of the second deck in left field. Jones is 4-for-10 with three home runs lifetime against Francisco Liriano. If the Orioles are looking for encouragement tonight, they're 30-14 when they score first. Down on the farm, Steve Johnson has...

Orioles DFA Brad Bergesen (Twins lineup and notes)

Orioles DFA Brad Bergesen (Twins lineup and notes)
The Orioles officially recalled Tommy Hunter from Triple-A Norfolk today and designated reliever Brad Bergesen for assignment. Hunter is starting tonight against the Twins. Bergesen is wondering again where his career is headed. Bergesen had his contract purchased yesterday because the Orioles needed a long reliever, but he didn't get into last night's game. Bergesen is 4-3 with a 4.03 ERA and one save in 22 games (10 starts) with Norfolk this season, with 90 hits, 23 walks and 41...

Orioles lineup against the Twins

Orioles lineup against the Twins
Taylor Teagarden gets another start behind the plate tonight for the Orioles, with Matt Wieters serving as the designated hitter. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters DH Mark Reynolds 1B Steve Pearce LF Wilson Betemit 3B Taylor Teagarden C Steve Tolleson 2B Tommy Hunter RHP The Orioles will try to rediscover their winning touch tonight against Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano, who gave up five earned runs (six total) and eight hits in four...

Starters have ended the bullpen's effectiveness

Starters have ended the bullpen's effectiveness
So, about that rotation ... Zach Britton didn't record an out in the fifth inning last night. Chris Tillman didn't get out of the first inning on Monday. Miguel Gonzalez couldn't get the final out in the sixth on Sunday. Now it's Tommy Hunter's turn - because the Orioles don't have a whole lot of choices. Hunter is working on normal rest. He's on the 40-man roster. He's got a pulse. Advantage, Hunter. The bullpen is completely out of whack. Manager Buck Showalter has done a...