That's a wrap

That's a wrap
Brad Bergesen gave up 11 hits in six-plus innings tonight. If you win, you scatter 11 hits. When you lose, you give them up. The Orioles have won twice since sweeping the Nationals at Camden Yards. So much for turning around their season, or at least getting it a little more straight. Three moments really stood out for me tonight: 1. Johnny Damon laying down a sacrifice bunt in the first inning after Austin Jackson's leadoff double. That's pretty early to be playing for one run, which the...
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Safe at third (updated)

Safe at third (updated)
The Orioles have tripled in four straight games, with Felix Pie producing the latest one tonight. Pie collected the Orioles' second hit, and we just completed the top of the fifth. Tigers starter Max Scherzer has been tying them in knots. Pie lined the ball into the right field corner with two outs in the fifth and motored into third base. He dived into the bag, stood up and pointed to the heavens. No injury. That's about as good as it gets for the Orioles, who are losing, 2-0, Josh...
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The 'pen is no longer mightier

The 'pen is no longer mightier
The Orioles' bullpen has fallen into a collective slump. The club's relievers have worked 10 2/3 innings in the last two games and allowed 13 earned runs and 19 hits, with seven walks and 13 strikeouts. In the 10 previous games, the bullpen had surrendered nine earned runs in 32 2/3 innings for a 2.48 ERA. Brad Bergesen could do the Orioles a huge favor and pitch deep into tonight's game. Julio Lugo has recorded consecutive three-hit games for the second time this season. The last Oriole...
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Reimold homers (updated)

Reimold homers (updated)
Nolan Reimold hit his fifth home run today as part of Triple-A Norfolk's six-run seventh inning, and the Tides have taken an 8-2 lead over Gwinnett. Reimold, starting again at first base, is 1-for-3 with two RBIs. He's batting .209. Rhyne Hughes has two more hits, leaving his average at .279. Robert Andino is 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Matt Angle is 2-for-3 with a stolen base. Left-hander Troy Patton has allowed two runs and four hits over six innings, with no walks and three strikeouts....
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Pie still in one piece (w/lineups)

Pie still in one piece (w/lineups)
Felix Pie is hitting .385, but the Orioles have lost all nine games that he's played. Don't blame Pie. It's not entirely his fault. I checked on him an hour ago and he's feeling fine after making his first start with the Orioles since April 15. No shoulder or back pain. It must be behind him, so to speak. "I still feel good," he said. "Before we played here, I played a couple more (rehab) games and I'm conditioned. I'm ready." Pie had two hits and an RBI last night. "I'm not...
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Looking ahead to tonight (w/update)

Looking ahead to tonight (w/update)
We've discussed the Orioles' failings with runners in scoring position. I just hope they can get some runners on base tonight. Tigers starter Max Scherzer has allowed two earned runs and struck out 23 in his last three starts covering 20 2/3 innings, and he's won his last four starts at home. Scherzer struck out 14 batters in 5 2/3 innings in a May 30 start against Oakland. That's 14 of his 17 outs coming on strikeouts. Nice percentage. The current Orioles are a combined 2-for-10...
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Glancing back at last night

Glancing back at last night
Have you noticed that the Orioles seem to win more games when they hit with runners in scoring position? They were more productive in those situations while sweeping the Nationals at Camden Yards. They went 3-for-17 last night and lost to the Tigers in 11 innings. I don't believe it's a coincidence. Better results from their bullpen would have reversed the outcome, but they couldn't hold a 4-1 lead. We've debated interim manager Juan Samuel's decision to use Alfredo Simon for a...
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When 17 hits aren't enough

When 17 hits aren't enough
Seriously, would 20 do the trick? What's it going to take? Johnny Damon's two-run, walk-off home run off David Hernandez in the bottom of the 11th inning gave the Tigers a 7-5 victory over the Orioles. Gary and Mike ask Juan Samuel about the O's 7-5 11-inning loss to Detroit I had a bad feeling about this game once interim manager Juan Samuel called upon Alfredo Simon to get a five-out save. Was Hernandez unavailable until the 10th? Jason Berken has been outstanding this season, but the...
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Trying to hold on (and failing)

Trying to hold on (and failing)
Nick Markakis is 3-for-5 with three RBIs, including a two-run shot in the seventh inning that wiped out Detroit's 1-0 lead, and Felix Pie has two hits and an RBI in his return. Will it be enough? The Tigers scored twice in the eighth against Jason Berken to dial up the drama. It's up to Alfredo Simon to record the five-out save. More drama. Update: Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer off Simon in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game, 5-5. More frustration. Jake Arrieta held the Tigers...
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Loewen behold

Loewen behold
We have a late addition to the Eastern League All-Star Game. His name is Adam Loewen, and he plays the outfield for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. We'll deal with "Fisher Cats" later. Loewen is batting .278 in 77 games, with 22 doubles, two triples, 10 homers, 49 RBIs and an .853 OPS. He's also 10-for-14 in stolen base attempts. That's quite an improvement over last season, when Loewen batted .236 with four homers, 31 RBIs and a .695 OPS with Single-A Dunedin, and his plan to...
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Millwood to DL official

Millwood to DL official
The Orioles placed pitcher Kevin Millwood on the 15-day disabled list and activated Felix Pie for tonight's game in Detroit. Millwood's injury is described as a "strained right forearm (flexor mass)." Millwood is 2-8 with a 5.77 ERA in a team-leading 18 starts. Pie is 8-for-20 with two doubles and a home run for the Orioles, but he's been on the DL since April 16 with a torn muscle in his back. The 40-man roster is now at capacity with Pie's removal from the 60-day disabled list. For...
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Waiting on Millwood

Waiting on Millwood
The Orioles won't determine pitcher Kevin Millwood's status until he arrives at Comerica Park in a few hours, but the right-hander is expected to go on the disabled list unless the club's thinking undergoes a drastic change. Interim manager Juan Samuel and pitching coach Rick Kranitz expressed concern over Millwood's health - specifically, his right elbow - after yesterday's one-inning start. Millwood could probably use the break, no matter the reason. The Orioles will need a starter...
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Funny how things change - Part II

Funny how things change - Part II
When I spoke to president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail on Friday, he said that no other interviews with managerial candidates were scheduled in the near future. Multiple reports surfaced last night that the Orioles contacted Buck Showalter again. It doesn't sound like another formal interview, so I guess we've ventured into a gray area here, but it seems to confirm that Showalter remains the favorite to replace interim manager Juan Samuel. Like I've been saying, just make a hire...
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Hobgood back on the hill

Hobgood back on the hill
Single-A Delmarva pitcher Matt Hobgood, making his first start since June 11, allowed one run and three hits in three innings against Hickory. Hobgood, last year's first-round draft pick who had been shut down with a sore right shoulder, recorded seven of his outs on ground balls. Nathan Moreau, who threw a no-hitter in his Carolina League debut with Single-A Frederick, has allowed one hit in three scoreless innings against Kinston. He's also struck out two. We'll find out tomorrow...
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Samuel: "We're starting to be concerned"

Samuel: "We're starting to be concerned"
Interim manager Juan Samuel expressed concern for starting pitcher Kevin Millwood during his post-game interview on MASN. Millwood lasted only one inning, allowing five runs and throwing 45 pitches before Samuel began parading relievers to the mound. He's posted a 9.89 ERA in his last seven starts, raising his season ERA to 5.77. "We're starting to be concerned," Samuel said. "We don't know if something's there, his elbow or something. We just know today that Kranny (pitching coach...
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Tillman's gem (w/Orioles final)

Tillman's gem (w/Orioles final)
Chris Tillman didn't throw another no-hitter today, but he came awfully close. Tillman tossed a one-hit shutout in Triple-A Norfolk's 2-0 victory over Charlotte. He walked one batter and struck out five, and threw 64 of his 99 pitches for strikes. Tillman, who improved to 8-4 with a 2.72 ERA with the Tides, gave up a one-out single to Jordan Danks in the third inning. The next batter, Robert Hudson, grounded into a double play. Danks walked in the sixth inning, but Tillman retired the last...
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Koji's latest (& 2 Tillman updates)

Koji's latest (& 2 Tillman updates)
Making his third appearance since coming off the disabled list, Koji Uehara surrendered two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to increase Detroit's lead to 10-7. Yes, they're only through the fifth inning at Comerica Park. And the pace actually increased for a short time. Uehara gave up three hits, including Ramon Santiago's bunt single to open the inning. Austin Jackson followed with a triple, and he later scored on Magglio Ordonez's single. Uehara also issued a walk before...
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Time of game: 5 hours, 47 minutes (updated)

Time of game: 5 hours, 47 minutes (updated)
That's just a prediction. The Orioles and Tigers are entering the bottom of the second inning. That's it. More than an hour since the first pitch, and it's the bottom of the second. Kevin Millwood is out of the game after one inning and five runs, but he won't be tagged with the loss. The Orioles rallied to take a 6-5 lead and knock out Tigers rookie left-hander Andy Oliver by scoring five times in the top of the second. Oliver is charged with all six runs (five earned), though two...
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Funny how things change (updated)

Funny how things change (updated)
I sat in the interview room at Camden Yards and listened to interim manager Juan Samuel say that Felix Pie would return to left field and the leadoff spot once the Orioles activated him from the disabled list. Samuel told reporters in Boston over the weekend that Pie would hit lower in the order while Corey Patterson continued to occupy the top spot. Samuel now wants to ease Pie back into the leadoff role. The last time I checked, the Orioles had room for Pie on their 40-man roster after...
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Today's lineups (w/ Bell update)

Today's lineups (w/ Bell update)
For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Jake Fox 1B Julio Lugo 2B Cesar Izturis SS Kevin Millwood RHP For the Tigers: Austin Jackson CF Johnny Damon DH Magglio Ordonez RF Miguel Cabrera 1B Brennan Boesch LF Carlos Guillen 2B Brandon Inge 3B Alex Avila C Ramon Santiago SS Andy Oliver LHP Update: Josh Bell, who left yesterday's game with right leg cramping, is available today.
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