Tonight's lineups

Tonight's lineups
For the Orioles: Julio Lugo 2B Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Jake Fox DH Craig Tatum C Cesar Izturis SS Brian Matusz LHP For the Athletics: Crisp CF Barton 1B Jackson LF Suzuki C Kouzmanoff 3B Rosales 2B Ellis DH Davis RF Pennington SS Braden LHP Did the Phillies pick up Garret Atkins today, or is it just a rumor? I haven't seen it confirmed.
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Dempsey interview postponed

Dempsey interview postponed
Former Orioles catcher and coach Rick Dempsey had his scheduled interview for the full-time managerial position postponed until Thursday. The interview had initially been scheduled for this afternoon. The interview has been moved to Peter Angelos' law office. The delay will allow certain members of the organization to attend who wouldn't have been available today.
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Finding room for Pie

Finding room for Pie
As I wrote earlier, Felix Pie will continue his injury rehab assignment tonight at Double-A Bowie after working out yesterday. He could return to the Orioles on Friday when they begin a three-city road trip in Boston. They'll need to figure out how to use him. Does Pie become the starting left fielder and leadoff hitter, with Corey Patterson taking a seat on the bench? Patterson has provided a spark at the top of the order, batting .272 and going 10-for-28 in his last seven games, but he...
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Updating Pie and Britton

Updating Pie and Britton
Felix Pie took batting practice and shagged fly balls at Double-A Bowie before retreating indoors because of the rain. He'll officially join the Baysox for tonight's game against Erie. Pie's injury rehab assignment began with the Gulf Coast League team and continued at Single-A Frederick. He's 6-for-20 with two RBIs, two walks and four runs scored. Once he's done with the Baysox, he could be activated from the disabled list this weekend. Pie played left field on Sunday and will continue...
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Reimold homers

Reimold homers
Nolan Reimold hit his fourth home run tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, which is trailing Louisville, 7-2, in the ninth inning. Reimold started at first base, where he's seeing regular action. Robert Andino, starting at shortstop, is 1-for-3 with a double and his 15th error. Ryan Adams hit a three-run homer in Double-A Bowie's 10-9 win over Erie. Steve Johnson didn't get the decision after allowing eight runs in 4 2/3 innings. He walked four, struck out six and surrendered two home...
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Is Berken lurkin' around All-Star berth?

Is Berken lurkin' around All-Star berth?
Michael Gonzalez's fastball was clocked again at 90-91 mph yesterday, according to a team official, during his start at Aberdeen. Gonzalez allowed two hits, including a two-run homer, in one inning against Brooklyn. Most pitching staffs on All-Star teams are comprised of starters and closers. You also might find the random set-up guy. Relievers like Jason Berken largely go ignored. Berken has the numbers to warrant strong consideration, but not the role. He was a long man who became a...
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This, that and the other

This, that and the other
I'll give Karl Ravech and ESPN's Baseball Tonight crew credit for not ignoring the elephants in the room. Two of the network's studio analysts, Bobby Valentine and Buck Showalter, have recently interviewed for managerial jobs. Ravech talked to them separately on the air before last night's game between the Yankees and Dodgers. Valentine mentioned how the Marlins are going through "the process." It sounds like he's still interested in the job - and still the favorite. Showalter...
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Gonzo's rocky inning

Gonzo's rocky inning
Michael Gonzalez's injury rehab assignment continued today in Aberdeen, where he gave up two runs and two hits in one inning. The big blow off Gonzalez was a two-run homer by Brooklyn's Cory Vaughn. Gonzalez induced three ground balls, one of them back to the mound that he turned into a force at second base. Tyler Sexton replaced him in the second inning. Gonzalez had thrown two scoreless innings for the Gulf Coast League Orioles, allowing one hit and striking out three, before moving up...
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Samuel offers his opinion on Lugo

Samuel offers his opinion on Lugo
Interim manager Juan Samuel didn't excuse Julio Lugo's baserunning blunder in the eighth inning. Lugo broke for third base with one out and Corey Patterson at the plate, tried to get back to second and was picked off by Nats catcher Wil Nieves. Patterson doubled and scored the go-ahead run on Miguel Tejada's single. "That is not a smart play. That is just not a smart play," Samuel said. "Lugo knows it. He's trying to help the club win, but that is just not something we want to try in...
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The finish

The finish
Alfredo Simon recorded his ninth save, and the Orioles pieced together their first four-game winning streak with a 4-3 victory over the Nationals. Simon struck out Mike Morse to open the ninth, but he walked pinch-hitter Willie Harris. Pinch-hitter Ivan Rodriguez flied to right, with Nick Markakis making an outstanding running catch in the corner, and Nyjer Morgan grounded sharply to first baseman Scott Moore. Moore had moved over from second base, and he made a clutch play on a ball that...
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The decision (and the blunder)

The decision (and the blunder)
Today's attendance: 22,951 Jason Berken tossed another scoreless inning today, getting a ground ball, pop up and fly ball in the seventh to keep the game tied, 3-3. Interim manager Juan Samuel removed Berken after one inning and brought in left-hander Will Ohman with two lefties, Adam Kennedy and Adam Dunn, due up for the Nationals in the eighth. Kennedy and Ryan Zimmerman singled to put runners on first and second with no outs. Dunn struck out swinging, and David Hernandez replaced Ohman...
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The latest deficit vanishes (w/farm update)

The latest deficit vanishes (w/farm update)
The Orioles have rallied from deficits of 3-0, 6-0 and 5-0 to win three straight games heading into today. They were down, 3-0, going into the bottom of the fifth, which must have made the Nationals uncomfortable. What transpired didn't improve their collective mood. Back-to-back doubles by Luke Scott and Adam Jones produced the Orioles' first run off Nats right-hander Luis Atilano, whose six wins tie him for second among National League rookies. So this is the phenom everybody has been...
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Dueling no-hitters (updated)

Dueling no-hitters (updated)
Nationals starter Luis Atilano has retired the first nine batters he's faced, striking out three along the way. Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie hasn't allowed a hit in three innings, but he's walked three batters. Two of those walks came in the second, but were sandwiched around a double play. Guthrie threw eight pitches in the first, but his count is up to 52 heading into the fourth. Guthrie has lost five straight starts, but he's gone at least six innings in 10 consecutive outings and...
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Is Atkins gone? (yes)

Is Atkins gone? (yes)
The Orioles are activating Koji Uehara from the disabled list this morning. The corresponding roster move was expected to involve a reliever, but interim manager Juan Samuel summoned first baseman Garrett Atkins into his office. The meeting includes president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. Atkins had just arrived at the ballpark and was getting dressed when Samuel motioned for him. Update: Atkins was designated for assignment to make room for Uehara. The Orioles figure that Felix...
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Waiting on Koji (w/ update &lineups)

Waiting on Koji (w/ update &lineups)
The Orioles will decide within the next two hours whether to activate Koji Uehara from the disabled list or wait until the homestand resumes on Tuesday. Uehara threw a simulated game on Thursday and needed a few days to recover. Interim manager Juan Samuel had suggested that Uehara could rejoin the 25-man roster yesterday, but it didn't happen. I'm probably reading too much into it, but I was curious about Samuel's short responses when asked about Uehara before and after yesterday's game....
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Sweet relief

Sweet relief
Starter Brad Bergesen didn't last beyond the fourth inning, but the Orioles' bullpen cushioned his fall. Four relievers combined for five scoreless innings, holding the Nationals to one hit and one walk, with two strikeouts. Major props to Mark Hendrickson, Jason Berken, Will Ohman and Alfredo Simon. Hendrickson gave up the only hit in his two innings. Berken issued the only walk over 1 1/3 innings and earned his first victory. "He's doing a tremendous job for us coming in late,"...
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Storming back again (updated)

Storming back again (updated)
The Orioles have trailed 3-0, 6-0 and 5-0 the past three games. They've won two and just tied this one, 5-5, in the bottom of the fifth inning. Matt Wieters' two-out single brought in the fourth and fifth runs, but there were plenty of key at-bats before he stepped to the plate. Corey Patterson doubled to put runners on second and third with no outs, and Miguel Tejada followed with an RBI single. Both hits went to the opposite field, as Nats starter Livan Hernandez kept working the outer...
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Mr. Jones and me

Mr. Jones and me
Adam Jones hit home run No. 12 in the fourth inning to reduce Washington's lead to 5-1. Left fielder Josh Willingham stumbled as he approached the fence and couldn't jump for the ball. Jones has hit safely in seven straight games (five multi-hit games) and 16 of his last 19. He was batting .347 in his last 18. Jones has six homers and 15 RBIs in 19 games. Brad Bergesen is gone after four innings and 72 pitches. He's charged with five runs and six hits, with two walks and no...
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Present and past (updated)

Present and past (updated)
The Orioles wasted consecutive singles by Corey Patterson and Miguel Tejada in the first inning. Livan Hernandez escaped the jam by retiring Nick Markakis on a fly ball, striking out Luke Scott and inducing a ground ball from Adam Jones. How appropriate that Hernandez is starting today, since he also pitched against the 1970 Orioles. The last three members of the '70 Orioles who were introduced to fans today: 3. Brooks 2. Frank 1. Earl Would you move Brooks behind Frank or keep it this...
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It doesn't get much better

It doesn't get much better
Having grown up in Anne Arundel County, a kid whose mood was dictated by the Orioles' score, I can't quite describe what it's like, this many years later, to turn my head and see Brooks Robinson, Paul Blair and Davey Johnson walking toward me. Or to have Brooks shake my hand as if we're old friends. Earl Weaver also walked past. So did Frank Robinson, Boog Powell and Jim Palmer in the next wave, all of them headed inside the auxiliary clubhouse for today's 40th anniversary celebration...
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