Roch Kubatko

Scott: "I don't feel good at the plate" (with lineup)

March 09, 2011, 4:27am

Orioles

Scott: "I don't feel good at the plate" (with lineup)

SARASOTA, Fla. - The good news for Luke Scott is he's fully aware of the glitch that's caused him to go hitless with five strikeouts in 12 spring training at-bats. The bad news is he's been unable to correct it. "I don't feel good at the plate. My timing's off," Scott said. "Batting practice, I feel great. My swing is fine. Mechanically, I'm sound. But getting my timing, getting comfortable, I just haven't found a good rhythm. It's early. I've only got 12 at-bats. It's coming...

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Updating Roberts and Izturis (with lineup)

March 09, 2011, 3:21am

Orioles

Updating Roberts and Izturis (with lineup)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Overheard this morning at breakfast: "Oh, it's going to be chilly Friday. Sixty-eight degrees." Yeah, chilly. Brian Roberts said his back feels a little better, but he won't play in today's game against the Twins in Sarasota. And there's no way he's traveling to Fort Myers tonight for the other split-squad game. "It's not too bad," he said. Roberts said he woke up with back spasms a few days ago. He said they weren't caused by him diving into first base during...

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Lee to have MRI tomorrow

March 08, 2011, 12:28pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Derrek Lee will have a precautionary MRI on his wrist tomorrow. According to the team, Dr. John Wilckens feels confident that there is no damage to the wrist and that the discomfort is the result of tendinitis due to a lack of baseball activity while he was recovering from surgery. However, just to be safe, Lee will have an MRI in Sarasota tomorrow.

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Post-loss Showalter

March 08, 2011, 10:57am

Orioles

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Rule 5 pick Adrian Rosario walked the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the ninth while protecting a 3-2 lead. The next batter, Michael Martinez reached on a bunt single, with Rosario falling backward after fielding the ball. Carlos Rivero followed with a single into center field, scoring two runs and giving the Phillies a 4-3 victory over the Orioles before a sell-out crowd of 9,039. Your lesson for today: Don't walk the first two batters you face while...

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Game update, Matusz talks

March 08, 2011, 10:12am

Orioles

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Orioles are taking a 3-2 lead into the eighth after scoreless innings from Michael Gonzalez and Jim Johnson. Gonzalez issued a two-out walk and gave up a hit in the sixth. Johnson gave up back-to-back hits with two outs in the seventh, though shortstop Pedro Florimon easily could have been charged with an error on the second one. Both relievers struck out one batter. Here are some quotes from left-hander Brian Matusz, who was charged with two runs in relief: "It was...

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Matusz done, Lee update, Duchscherer talks

March 08, 2011, 9:43am

Orioles

Matusz done, Lee update, Duchscherer talks

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Brian Matusz pitched 2 1/3 innings today before manager Buck Showalter sprinted out of the dugout and removed him from the game. Matusz was charged with one run at the time, on Ryan Howard's homer, but reliever Chris George allowed an inherited runner to score on Shane Victorino's double with one out in the fifth inning. Josh Bell just doubled with two outs in the sixth to score Nolan Reimold, who was hit by a pitch and stole second base. Orioles 3, Phillies 2. Matusz...

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Good stuff in the first (updated)

March 08, 2011, 8:27am

Orioles

CLEARWATER, Fla. - I figured you could use some positive news beyond Koji Uehara being scheduled to throw on Thursday. I'm starting to feel like Debbie Downer. Jake Fox took over the team lead with six RBIs when he doubled in the first inning to score Randy Winn. Josh Bell followed with a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead against Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels. Justin Duchscherer mowed down the Phillies in the bottom of the first, retiring the three batters he faced on 10 pitches. He got...

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More on the health issues

March 08, 2011, 8:04am

Orioles

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter said Derrek Lee's right wrist is "about the same at the very best" before revealing that the first baseman is visiting a hand specialist today. Nothing is imminent regarding Lee's debut with the Orioles. On the plus side, his thumb is fine. "It's nothing to the surgery side. That feels great," Showalter said. "I don't want to say tendinitis until they diagnose it. He's going to see a specialist in Sarasota just to make sure we know what...

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Lee seeing specialist, Roberts has back spasms

March 08, 2011, 7:39am

Orioles

Lee seeing specialist, Roberts has back spasms

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter dropped a few injury nuggets on reporters as batting practice ended. I'll send quotes later. Derrek Lee is seeing a hand specialist today in Sarasota because of soreness in his right wrist area. Lee was restricted to hitting off a tee and soft toss this morning. Brian Roberts couldn't work out today because of back spasms. They apparently flared up a few days ago while he stretched, then went away. Roberts is penciled into tomorrow afternoon's...

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Orioles lineup

March 08, 2011, 5:34am

Orioles

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Here's the Orioles' lineup for today's game vs. the Phillies: Randy Winn CF Brendan Harris 2B Nolan Reimold LF Jake Fox DH Josh Bell 3B Brandon Snyder 1B Nick Green RF Craig Tatum C Robert Andino SS Justin Duchscherer RHP Brian Matusz, Michael Gonzalez and Jim Johnson also will pitch today.

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Injury non-updates

March 08, 2011, 3:56am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla.- It feels like I just left the Ed Smith Stadium complex about 45 minutes ago, and I'm already back here. I'll be heading to Clearwater for today's game against the Phillies. I may take a few Sun reporters with me, just for laughs. The Orioles haven't posted their lineup. Cesar Izturis won't make the trip, which must be causing the delay. He apparently rolled his ankle last night, but it's nothing serious. Justin Duchscherer and Brian Matusz are pitching today. Here's...

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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...