Roch Kubatko

Fit to be tied

March 07, 2011, 5:00pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles and Yankees played to a 0-0 tie in front of 8,471, the largest baseball crowd in Ed Smith Stadium history. The Orioles pulled their goalie, but still couldn't score. Manager Buck Showalter approved of Zach Britton's outing, but noted that the left-hander needs to throw more first-pitch strikes. "That'll come," Showalter said. "Stayed off the sweet part of the bat and got a lot of ground balls. Good start for him." Showalter won't shield the minor...

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Britton relaxed, Diaz in house

March 07, 2011, 3:39pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Cameron Diaz took her seat beside the Yankees' dugout at exactly 8:25 p.m., but who's counting? If she looks over at me one more time, I'm going to start getting uncomfortable. Kevin Gregg tossed a perfect fourth inning, striking out one. He hasn't allowed a run in three innings this spring. Jeremy Accardo survived a one-out double by Melky Mesa in the fifth and a walk to Mark Teixeira in the sixth. The Orioles have four hits, courtesy of Brian Roberts, Mark Reynolds,...

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Nerves? What nerves? (updated)

March 07, 2011, 2:16pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla.- Young left-hander Zach Britton looks calm and composed on the mound tonight. It doesn't matter that he's facing the Yankees before a standing-room-only crowd in a game that's airing on MASN. Britton admitted to a case of the jitters after his first appearance against the Phillies, but he mowed down the Yankees on 13 pitches in the first inning. He retired Derek Jeter on a grounder to short, Robinson Cano on a bouncer to second and Mark Teixeira on a tapper to the mound. The...

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VandenHurk not concerned about control

March 07, 2011, 11:06am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles lost to the Boston Red Sox, 6-5, in Fort Myers. Yamaico Navarro singled off Mark Worrell to score Oscar Tejada with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth. Steven Bumbry, the son of former Orioles center fielder Al Bumbry, nearly broke a 5-5 tie in the top of the ninth with a one-out single into left field, but Daniel Nava threw out Matt Angle at the plate. Angle had reached on a bunt single to start the rally. Angle, Nolan Reimold and Cesar Izturis each had...

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Duchscherer and Matusz still ready (updated again)

March 07, 2011, 10:09am

Orioles

Duchscherer and Matusz still ready (updated again)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Justin Duchscherer is still scheduled to start tomorrow's game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater. And left-hander Brian Matusz will follow. Duchscherer had his debut delayed last week by a sore left hip, but he's ready to take the ball tomorrow. "I threw BP the other day and it felt good," he said. "I'm excited. It's been a while. It's been almost a year since I pitched in the bigs. It's exciting for me. I just hope I can go out there and feel good...

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Rough first inning for Tillman (updated)

March 07, 2011, 8:36am

Orioles

Rough first inning for Tillman (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Tillman got roughed up in the first inning today in Fort Myers, allowing three runs and four hits to fall behind 3-0 to the Boston Red Sox. Kevin Youkilis had an RBI single off Tillman, and J.D. Drew singled to drive in two more runs. Matt Angle led off the top of the first with a single and stole second. He reached third on Randy Winn's sacrifice bunt, but was stranded. Tillman hit Jason Varitek to open the second inning, but he retired the next three batters. He's...

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Working on their night moves (updated)

March 07, 2011, 4:00am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will play under the lights tonight at the new Ed Smith Stadium. They'll also play under a blue sky this afternoon in Fort Myers. It's a split-squad kind of day, and you can be sure that the A-Team will stay back in Sarasota for the game versus the Yankees that will air on MASN. I thought about attending both games, but the logistics just don't work in my favor. The clubhouse here opens to the media at 2 p.m. and I need to be inside of it. The game against the...

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Final thoughts on 3-0 loss

March 06, 2011, 10:58am

Orioles

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Armando Gabino tossed a perfect eighth inning, and the Orioles' bullpen held the Minnesota Twins to one run over the last five innings. Unfortunately for the Orioles, they managed only four hits and were blanked, 3-0. The Orioles were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Here are some post-game quotes from manager Buck Showalter: On Jeremy Guthrie: "He gave up a duck flare in the first and made a great pitch. I think Jeremy's fine. He's right on schedule. He's...

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Guthrie talks about outing

March 06, 2011, 10:19am

Orioles

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Wynn Pelzer's pickoff throw in the seventh inning got past Brandon Snyder and nailed Twins first base coach Jerry White on the left shin. White hit the ground hard and stayed on his back as trainers rushed to his aid. He eventually was helped up and finished the inning before the Twins replaced him. Pelzer allowed a hit and walked two batters before recording an out on his own. Adam Donachie threw out a runner attempting to steal second before Pelzer induced a ground ball...

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VandenHurk struggles with control

March 06, 2011, 10:00am

Orioles

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Twins scored once off Rick VandenHurk in three innings, increasing their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the seventh. VandenHurk walked four batters, which overshadows everything else today. He needs to find the plate if he's got a chance to make this team. VandenHurk threw only eight strikes among his 19 pitches in the fourth inning, but he didn't allow a run until the fifth, when Denard Span singled and raced home on Tsuyoshi Nishioka's triple. Keep in mind that...

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Showalter rushes to Jones' defense (updated)

March 06, 2011, 8:29am

Orioles

Showalter rushes to Jones' defense (updated)

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Twins used a two-out double by Danny Valencia and a soft single to center field by Luke Hughes to take a 1-0 lead against Jeremy Guthrie. Guthrie threw 18 pitches, 13 for strikes. On consecutive plays in the first inning, Josh Bell made a nice stop on a sharp ground ball at first base and dug out a low throw from shortstop Cesar Izturis. Jake Fox just led off the top of the second inning by singling to right field after falling behind, 0-2, in the count. Felix Pie...

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Duchscherer slated to start Tuesday (updated)

March 06, 2011, 7:40am

Orioles

Duchscherer slated to start Tuesday (updated)

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Assuming that Justin Duchscherer's hip remains pain-free, the right-hander will start Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed that Duchscherer will work the first inning. He also could return for the second if his pitch count is down and he isn't forced to sit for a prolonged stretch while the Orioles bat. "I'm going to let Duke start the game," Showalter said. "We don't want him to sit around for a...

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Twins lineup and looking ahead

March 06, 2011, 5:35am

Orioles

FORT MYERS, Fla. - It's been raining in Fort Myers, and one of the locals says more precipitation is on the way. Could arrive around noon. For the Twins: Denard Span CF Tsuyoshi Nishioka 2B Danny Valencia 3B Luke Hughes DH Jeff Bailey 1B Jason Repko RF Rene Tosoni LF Steve Holm C Alexi Casilla SS Brian Duensing LHP Sean Burnett, former Oriole Jim Hoey, Chuck James, Scott Diamond and Anthony Swarzak also are slated to pitch. Besides Jeremy Guthrie and Rick VandenHurk, the Orioles brought...

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Lee won't play tomorrow

March 06, 2011, 3:31am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles first baseman Derrek Lee will stay back in camp today and hit soft tosses in the indoor cage. He doesn't expect to debut tomorrow because of "general soreness" in his right wrist area, and he won't project when he'll enter the starting lineup. "I don't want to put days on it," he said. "I probably made that mistake the first time. When it feels good enough to go out there, I'll go out there. "I haven't done anything today, so I'm not sure where it is...

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Today's lineup

March 06, 2011, 3:07am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - I'm minutes away from getting back in my car and heading to Fort Myers for today's game against the Minnesota Twins. For the Orioles: Randy Winn RF Robert Andino 2B Nolan Reimold LF Jake Fox DH Josh Bell 1B Felix Pie CF Brendan Harris 3B Craig Tatum C Cesar Izturis SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP Rick VandenHurk will follow Guthrie to the mound.

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Post-tie comments from Showalter

March 05, 2011, 11:30am

Orioles

The Orioles and Red Sox played to a 4-4 tie in 10 innings. If you predicted that outcome, go to the window and collect your money. Josh Bell drew a two-out walk, which is newsworthy when you consider that he walked twice and struck out 53 times in 53 games with the Orioles last season. He took a close 2-2 pitch, fouled a ball off his foot and took another pitch outside of the strike zone. Tyler Henson grounded into a force to end the game. Matt Wieters was supposed to make the trip to Fort...

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Fox isn't outfoxed

March 05, 2011, 11:00am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jake Fox has taken this game into extra innings. Fox belted a solo home run off Red Sox reliever Matt Fox, giving him three bombs this spring. You can't sneak a fastball past this guy. When will they learn? Left-hander Chris George is pitching for the Orioles in the top of the 10th inning, and he just struck out the first batter he faced.

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Bergesen talks about today's start (updated twice)

March 05, 2011, 9:41am

Orioles

Bergesen talks about today's start (updated twice)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Brad Bergesen took the good from today's start at Ed Smith Stadium, which meant overlooking the three runs and six hits he allowed to the Red Sox. He was stretched out to three innings and 46 pitches. He got in his work. Bergesen immediately brought up the three runs he allowed in the second inning after getting the first two outs and two quick strikes on Drew Sutton, who's double started the rally. "Having two outs and an 0-2 count and then you give up a three-spot,...

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Bergesen labors vs. Red Sox

March 05, 2011, 8:52am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Brad Bergesen has allowed three runs and six hits in three innings against the Boston Red Sox, who kept most of their regulars in Fort Myers. Bergesen has also walked a batter and struck out two. The Red Sox did all their scoring with two outs in the second inning on Drew Sutton's double, Jose Iglesias' RBI single, a walk and Oscar Tejada's two-run triple. Bergesen gave up a leadoff single to Will Middlebrooks in the third, but got a double play with the next pitch and...

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A little pregame Showalter and Duchscherer

March 05, 2011, 7:36am

Orioles

A little pregame Showalter and Duchscherer

SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter said there's "nothing definitive" regarding first baseman Derrek Lee, who's dealing with some soreness above his right wrist. "He feels a little better than he did yesterday," Showalter said. "We'll see how he is tomorrow. We don't plan on taking him to Fort Myers tomorrow. At the very earliest Monday, but it may be later than that. It's not a big deal for me right now." Luke Scott and Josh Bell will take ground balls at first base tomorrow...