Jake Arrieta doesn't seem to mind the deep end of the pool.
Arrieta retired the Yankees in order in the first inning, getting two ground balls and a pop up.
Mark Teixeira swung at a 97 mph fastball and pulled it to first baseman Ty Wigginton, who flipped to Arrieta for the final out. Nick Swisher popped up a 95 mph fastball before Teixeira stepped to the plate.
Arrieta threw 16 pitches, including a few curveballs that must have barely missed. They looked pretty good from up here.
Update:...
I listened to a recording of Brian Roberts' interview on Scott Garceau's show, and he confirmed that he visited a back specialist in St. Petersburg on Tuesday and "no major structural damage" was found in his lower back.
The plan for now is to keep Roberts shut down and calm the inflammation.
"It'll probably take me a few weeks of down time and rehab and physical therapy and really taking it slow, and he thinks once I go through that progression, I shouldn't have any problems,"...
Interim manager Juan Samuel confirmed that Brian Roberts underwent more tests on his back, but there are "no major developments" to report. We're still waiting.
I'm told that Roberts called into The Scott Garceau Show today on MASN and talked about how he's dealing with some inflammation in his back that's causing the discomfort.
Samuel said he doesn't anticipate any more roster moves "as we go forward" besides Alfredo Simon possibly being activated from the disabled list next...
For the Orioles:
Corey Patterson LF
Miguel Tejada 3B
Nick Markakis RF
Ty Wigginton 1B
Luke Scott DH
Adam Jones CF
Matt Wieters C
Scott Moore 2B
Cesar Izturis SS
Jake Arrieta RHP
For the Yankees:
Jeter SS
Swisher RF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Posada DH
Granderson CF
Thames LF
Moeller C
Burnett RHP
Reminder: The Brooks Robinson High School All-Star Game, sponsored by Geier Financial Group, will be played Sunday following the Orioles' 1:35 p.m. game against the Mets at Camden Yards. It...
As I was driving to Camden Yards, the Orioles announced that they designated left-hander Alberto Castillo for assignment to clear room on the 25- and 40-man rosters for Jake Arrieta, who will make his major league debut tonight against the Yankees.
Castillo was 1-0 with a 10.13 ERA in 10 2/3 innings over 14 games.
This move can't be viewed as a shocker.
Castillo could be outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk if he clears waivers. I can't imagine that the Orioles will be able to work out a trade...
When first place and the wild card are so far away you'd need to take three buses to get close, you're grateful for the nights that a pitching prospect is handed the ball.
Big opportunity for Jake Arrieta, welcomed diversion for the rest of us.
Arrieta is supremely confident, and he's given off that vibe from the first time he reported to spring training last year and former manager Dave Trembley kept referring to him as "a man." He won't come unglued on the mound because he's facing...
The key inning was the sixth. The key moment was a ground ball to first base and a decision that didn't prevent the Yankees from scoring the go-ahead run.
Let's review:
The Yankees knotted the game at 2-2 on Robinson Cano's bouncing single to right field, the ball clearing Ty Wigginton's head at first base. Alex Rodriguez hustled to third, putting runners on the corners with no outs and causing Orioles starter Chris Tillman to lean more heavily on the ropes.
Jorge Posada followed with a...
Tonight's attendance: 16,451.
If you consider that Chris Tillman allowed one earned run in six innings, it sounds like he cruised through tonight's start against the Yankees.
No so fast.
Tillman littered the bases with runners and the Orioles committed three errors - including one by Tillman on an errant pickoff throw. The Yankees lead, 3-2, and Jason Berken is entering the game in relief.
Tillman allowed seven hits, walked three and struck out one. He threw 106 pitches, 58 for...
Chris Tillman got in a little trouble in the second inning, surrendering a leadoff single to Robinson Cano and walking Jorge Posada, but he retired the next three batters to keep the game scoreless.
Tillman has thrown 34 pitches.
The Orioles wasted a scoring opportunity in the first inning - stop me if you've heard this one - after Julio Lugo walked with the count full.
After Miguel Tejada struck out, Lugo broke too soon on a stolen base attempt and was an easy out. Naturally, Nick...
In case you didn't check the Nationals side of the MASNsports.com site, manager Jim Riggleman has laid out Stephen Strasburg's pitching schedule.
As Ben Goessling explained, Strasburg will throw every five days. He'll start Sunday in Cleveland and pitch again on June 18 and 23 at Nationals Park. He'll miss the Orioles, who host the Nats on June 25-27.
Orioles director of scouting Joe Jordan just met with reporters in the back of the press box. Steve Melewski will run quotes later in his...
Brad Bergesen doesn't know what tomorrow will bring.
Approached by reporters this afternoon, Bergesen could only confirm that he's in the bullpen tonight. The rest - Jake Arrieta coming up tomorrow and Jeremy Guthrie's start being pushed back to Friday - was "all news to me."
"I'm not really worried that it's my first time being in the bullpen," he said. "I'm going to go out there and try to do my thing and hope for the best right now."
He also should hope that the worst is...
The Orioles confirmed that Jake Arrieta will make tomorrow night's start against the Yankees. Jeremy Guthrie was told over the weekend that he wouldn't pitch again until Friday.
The Orioles will announce a corresponding 25- and 40-man move tomorrow.
Brad Bergesen stays in the bullpen to possibly back up Chris Tillman tonight. He could do the same for Arrieta tomorrow if he isn't involved in the roster move. Interim manager Juan Samuel didn't dismiss the possibility of Bergesen returning...
The Orioles have selected Palm Beach State second baseman Austin Knight, a Baltimore native, in the 37th round.
Knight, a switch-hitter who graduated from Boys Latin, has committed to play at the University of South Florida.
Anyone familiar with him? I'll take a scouting report.
Read more about him here. The story mentions how Knight will play this summer in the "Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League."
The Orioles also took Southeastern University utility player Joseph Donaldson in the...
Draft update: The Orioles selected Stanford third baseman Adam Gaylord with the third overall pick in the 31st round. Gaylord, a junior, batted .232 with two doubles, one homer and nine RBIs in 31 games (eight starts). He didn't commit an error.
The Orioles chose College of Southern Nevada right-hander Joe Robinson in the 32nd round, Notre Dame right-hander Steven Mazur in the 33rd and British Columbia shortstop Samuel Starr in the 34th.
Jake Arrieta apparently has become the latest player...
If my math is correct, the Orioles have 20 more rounds to complete on the final day of the first-year player draft. And if that's the highlight of my day, I might cry.
A few items to pass along:
A club official told me via text message that Nolan Reimold sat out the last two games at Triple-A Norfolk because he needed "a couple days rest, but nothing is wrong." We'll see if he's back in the lineup tonight. If not, then I'll start wondering if something is wrong.
I talked to Troy Patton...
The Orioles' offense has been the subject of ridicule and scorn for much of the season, so it's only fair to point out that it did plenty to deliver a win tonight. Too bad the pitching allowed 12 runs and 15 hits.
Matt Wieters notched his first three-hit game of the season, and his first multi-hit game since May 27 against Oakland.
"Very positive," interim manager Juan Samuel said. "I think those few days (off) just kind of helped get some things off his mind. It was very nice to see him...
Frank Mata retired the only batter he faced in the sixth inning, getting Alex Rodriguez to bounce out with the bases loaded and the count full. It wasn't tidy, but it was gutsy.
Interim manager Juan Samuel played the matchup game in the seventh, bringing in left-hander Mark Hendrickson with two left-handers and a switch-hitter due up.
Ah, the percentages.
The Yankees just hung six runs on the board, with Matt Albers replacing Hendrickson and giving up a bases-clearing double to Nick Swisher...
No action in the Orioles' bullpen, though Kevin Millwood is up to 99 pitches through five innings. He's allowed six runs and seven hits, walked four and struck out six.
Ty Wigginton just singled to score Julio Lugo and cut the Yankees' lead to 6-3. Interim third base coach Gary Allenson sent Lugo, though a few people in the press box doubted the wisdom. I wasn't one of them.
Matt Wieters has two singles and an RBI. This is the hardest I've seen him hit the ball in a while.
Maybe that...
The Orioles completed the second day of the draft by selecting South Houston High right-hander Jaime Esquivel in the 28th round, UNC Wilmington left-hander Cameron Roth in the 29th round and UNC Wilmington shortstop Michael Rooney in the 30th round.
Director of scouting Joe Jordan is heading to the press box to meet with reporters.
Update: Check Steve Melewski's blog for quotes from Jordan. You might find it interesting that the Orioles currently view third-round pick Daniel Klein as a...
The Orioles selected San Marcos High School right-hander Sebastian Vader (already my favorite name in the draft) in the 18th round, Santa Fe CC right-hander Kenneth Wise in the 19th round, UC Los Angeles left-hander Matt Drummond in the 20th round, Southern Mississippi right-hander Scott Copeland in the 21st round and Mountain Ridge High School catcher Tanner Murphy in the 22nd round.
Update: The Orioles selected Echerd College center fielder Christopher Clinton in the 23rd round, Georgetown...