Roch Kubatko

Britton blanks Astros

March 12, 2011, 9:28am

Orioles

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Left-hander Zach Britton extended his spring scoreless innings streak to nine today by shutting out the Houston Astros through the fourth. Chris Tillman replaced him as scheduled. Britton allowed four hits, walked two and struck out two. By my unofficial count, he threw 57 pitches, including 38 for strikes. Britton's pace was slow in the first, when he walked Oswaldo Navarro with one out and gave up a single to Carlos Lee. But Jason Michaels grounded into a 6-4-3 double...

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Answering the Adams question

March 12, 2011, 8:47am

Orioles

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Ryan Adams was in the Orioles' original lineup today as the starting second baseman. Brandon Harris replaced him in the second lineup. Adam was re-inserted in the third lineup. Good idea to play him today. Adams gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a double to right field off Houston's J.A. Happ that scored Brandon Snyder, who also doubled. Adams initially slowed up at first before racing to second ahead of the throw. Robert Andino, batting leadoff,...

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Today's lineup and scratches (updated)

March 12, 2011, 6:51am

Orioles

KiSSIMMEE, Fla. - Catcher Matt Wieters was excused from making the trip today because of a tender thumb. He could play if this game meant anything. The club is just giving him a break. Also, first baseman Joe Mahoney was scratched after tweaking his hamstring yesterday on the basepaths. Infielder Cesar Izturis didn't make the trip because he played yesterday after being sidelined with a sore ankle. Second baseman Brian Roberts is scheduled to have an MRI on his back later this...

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Still waiting for lineup

March 12, 2011, 5:35am

Orioles

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter didn't post a lineup this morning and we're still waiting for his arrival at Osceola County Stadium. I'm looking at the travel roster and it doesn't include Cesar Izturis. He isn't making the trip, so forget what I wrote earlier about him starting. Change of plans. Matt Wieters didn't accompany the team here, either. He's not hurt, but he may be excused from playing today. More on that later. The Orioles added minor leaguers Xavier Avery, Greg ...

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Giving you a Kissimmee goodbye

March 12, 2011, 2:27am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - I'm heading over to Kissimmee today for the game against the Astros. I'm told it's not the end of the earth, but you can see it from there. The Sun's Dan Connolly will handle the driving and the choice of music. It's a small price to pay for the thrill of another exhibition game at a faraway place with the Orioles' lineup expected to be filled by reserves and minor leaguers. We know that Matt Wieters is serving as the designated hitter today. He could use the at-bats....

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Roberts MRI scheduled, 13 cuts made (updated)

March 11, 2011, 11:05am

Orioles

Roberts MRI scheduled, 13 cuts made (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts saw a back specialist today and received a few "trigger point injections," according to manager Buck Showalter. An MRI has been scheduled for tomorrow. Roberts will be shut down until Tuesday at the earliest. The cortisone is suppose to relax the spasms. "We're at a stage still in spring training where time is on our side a little bit," Showalter said. "The big thing is identifying it and seeing if we can do something to eliminate it...

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Guthrie talks about his outing (updated)

March 11, 2011, 10:11am

Orioles

Guthrie talks about his outing (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jason Berken needed a good outing today and he got it. He retired all six batters he faced. The Phillies continue to lead, 8-3, in the eighth inning. Here are some quotes from Jeremy Guthrie, who was charged with four runs and six hits on a blustery day. On getting through four innings: "I've been trying to work quickly, trying to keep the pitch count down and be aggressive. And that's something I've been able to do for the most part in all three of my outings." On the...

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Rapada on a roll

March 11, 2011, 9:40am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-handed specialist Clay Rapada just breezed through the sixth inning, which seemed appropriate on an extremely windy day. Rapada actually faced two left-handed hitters, striking out Brian Schneider on three pitches and retiring Pete Orr on a one-hopper to the mound. Four pitches, two outs. Freddy Galvis flied to left field to end the inning. Rapada threw 11 pitches, nine for strikes. The one that struck out Schneider was clocked at 74 mph, leading a scribe on press row...

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Guthrie goes four (updated twice)

March 11, 2011, 9:11am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - I didn't like Jeremy Guthrie's chances of going four innings today after he needed 20 pitches to get through a three-run first, but he made it. Guthrie threw seven pitches in the second inning and eight in the fourth. He left after throwing 53, including 33 for strikes. Guthrie is charged with four runs and six hits, with one walk and one strikeout. Kevin Gregg has replaced him. I swear, this guy pitches every single day. Raul Ibanez homered, doubled and drove in three...

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Forgettable first for Guthrie (updated)

March 11, 2011, 8:18am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Phillies scored three runs off Jeremy Guthrie in the first inning, the first two coming on Raul Ibanez's homer to center field. Guthrie walked Shane Victorino with one out, and Ibanez jumped on a 2-0 pitch. Ryan Howard struck out, but Ross Gload doubled and Delwyn Young singled to right for a 3-0 lead. Luke Scott cut off Nick Markakis' throw and got Young in a rundown between first and second. Score the putout 9-3-6-4. Guthrie threw 20 pitches, 12 for strikes. Instant...

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Roberts could undergo more testing on back (with quotes)

March 11, 2011, 6:44am

Orioles

Roberts could undergo more testing on back (with quotes)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts isn't able to take infield or batting practice today, and he could undergo more tests on his back. Roberts hit in the cage yesterday, but he's been shut down again today. He hasn't played since Monday night because of spasms. Manager Buck Showalter couldn't provide more information on the tests or whether they were necessarily, but the idea has been discussed. "He's not any better today," Showalter said. "I know they're talking...

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More about Uehara and Lee

March 11, 2011, 6:05am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Koji Uehara spoke this morning about the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and his attempts to reach his parents and extended family. Speaking through interpreter Jiwon Bang, Uehara said the earthquake hit "in a different place, but there has been some damage where I live." "At this moment, I don't really know all the details yet, but I am guessing that the damage will be huge, so I am worried," he said. Uehara has lived through major earthquakes in the past. "All I can...

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Cuts made, lineup change, Uehara speaks

March 11, 2011, 5:38am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - We got a late start this morning, but it's been a busy one. The Orioles made their first round of cuts, which included catcher Caleb Joseph, infielder Pedro Florimon and outfielder Tyler Henson. Catcher Adam Donachie sat at his locker in shorts and a t-shirt, so we're assuming that he's also heading to the minor league side. The official list will be released later today. Randy Winn and J.J. Hardy are changing places in the lineup. Hardy will lead off. For the...

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Izturis returns, Roberts does not

March 11, 2011, 4:15am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Players were given a later report time this morning following last night's 11-8 win over the Pirates in Bradenton. The clubhouse opens to the media at 9:30 a.m. Brian Roberts isn't in today's lineup vs. Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee, though he took batting practice yesterday in Sarasota, and he's not supposed to travel to Kissimmee tomorrow. Guess the earliest we'll see him is Sunday. Cesar Izturis is back after turning his ankle during Monday's game against the Red...

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Fireworks after the fireworks

March 10, 2011, 6:25pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The fine folks at McKechnie Field set off fireworks after tonight's game, which seemed a bit redundant. The two teams supplied plenty of them - and a lot of errors. The Orioles outlasted the Pirates, 11-8, with left-hander Troy Patton leaving the Witness Protection Program to strike out two in the ninth and record the save. I packed up my laptop and drove back to Sarasota - note the dateline of this entry - before passing along manager Buck Showalter's comments. "Bergy...

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Adams homers again, Bergesen speaks (updated)

March 10, 2011, 3:45pm

Orioles

Adams homers again, Bergesen speaks (updated)

BRADENTON, Fla. - Ryan Adams hit his second spring training home run, and it went a mile. He cleared the palm trees in right field - yes, the opposite field - against Pirates reliever Joel Hanrahan in the fifth inning to give the Orioles a 5-4 lead. Adams' two-run shot followed a walk to Nolan Reimold, Brandon Snyder's RBI double and Craig Tatum's RBI single. Snyder is 2-for-2 with a walk. Tatum is 2-for-2. Adam Jones doubled later in the inning, making him 2-for-3. Nolan Reimold has...

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Bergesen banged around (updated)

March 10, 2011, 2:51pm

Orioles

BRADENTON, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter wanted to get four innings out of starter Brad Bergesen, but the right-hander's pitch count stands at 48 after the second. Even worse, the Orioles trail the Pirates, 4-1. The run in the first inning was unearned after Craig Tatum's error, but Bergesen surrendered four hits and walked a batter in the second. The defense let him down again, with right fielder Nolan Reimold sailing a throw over his cutoff man and allowing Gorkys Hernandez to take second...

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Trying to catch on (updated twice)

March 10, 2011, 2:06pm

Orioles

BRADENTON, Fla. - Jake Fox is starting in left field tonight, but he's primarily competing for the backup catching job. Though Fox could make the club in a utility role, it seems apparent that he's mostly going head-to-head with Craig Tatum, who's starting behind the plate against the Pirates. Asked what he's looking for in a backup catcher and whether versatility is a factor, manager Buck Showalter replied, "It's a moving target. It depends on what we go with in that other spot in the...

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Updates on Roberts and Uehara

March 10, 2011, 1:07pm

Orioles

BRADENTON, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter arrived during batting practice because he stayed back in Sarasota to watch Brian Roberts hit on the field. Roberts could return to the lineup tomorrow after being sidelined with back spasms. He won't make the trip to Kissimmee on Saturday. Pitching coach Mark Connor also stayed back to watch Koji Uehara throw on flat ground. How flat? We're talking the outfield. Uehara's arm seems fine, but he'll be re-evaluated tomorrow. Derrek Lee...

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Pirates lineup

March 10, 2011, 11:06am

Orioles

BRADENTON, Fla. - For those of you scoring at home, here's the Pirates lineup: Jose Tabata LF Matt Diaz RF Neil Walker 2B Lyle Overbay 1B Garrett Atkins 3B Ronny Cedeno SS Gorkys Hernandez CF Jason Jaramillo C Paul Maholm LHP No designated hitter for the Pirates tonight. Their choice. Jeff Karstans, Joel Hanrahan, Evan Meek, Chris Resop and Jose Veras also are slated to pitch for the Pirates. Atkins is hitting .250 (4-for-16) with one homer and four RBIs. The Orioles get left-hander Cliff...