Montanez to DL (w/quote added)

Montanez to DL (w/quote added)
The Orioles made today's roster move official by placing outfielder Lou Montanez on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 21, with a strained left oblique. Montanez batted .140 in 26 games, but interim manager Juan Samuel said the outfielder is talented enough to play in the majors - primarily because he doesn't lack in confidence. "He knows he's good," Samuel said, smiling. "He'll tell you he's good." It's a lot harder to prove it when you go long stretches without...
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Today's lineups

Today's lineups
For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Scott Moore 1B Julio Lugo 2B Cesar Izturis SS Brad Bergesen RHP For the Nationals: Morgan CF Guzman DH Zimmerman 3B Dunn 1B Willingham LF Rodriguez C Bernandino RF Kennedy 2B Desmond SS Hernandez RHP
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Not Dunn celebrating

Not Dunn celebrating
I'm waiting for the technician from Directv to arrive at my house and bring me back into the 21st century. I'm also waiting for Comcast to stop calling me like an ex-girlfriend. It's over. We'll always have our memories, but it's time to move on. I'll be joining MASNsports.com's Steve Melewski again today for the pre- and post-game shows on 105.7 The Fan, which means I'll miss the festivities surrounding the 40th anniversary of the 1970 World Series championship. My view will be...
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A little post-game chatter

A little post-game chatter
Nick Markakis is a lot happier with the Orioles' approach at the plate since he vented on the road trip. "For the most part, we're having good approaches up there," he said after tonight's 7-6 thriller. "They're going up there looking for a pitch to hit, and when they get it, we haven't been missing lately. It's a good sign, and hopefully we can keep it going." Markakis then excused himself and met up with Peter Angelos for a late-night snack. Not really. Interim manager Juan...
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Walk-off error

Walk-off error
It isn't the most dramatic way to win a game, but the Orioles will take it. Julio Lugo grounded to shortstop Ian Desmond with one out and runners on first and second in the bottom of the ninth. A sure double play and extra innings - except second baseman Cristian Guzman made a wide throw to first, and Adam Dunn couldn't get his glove down and stop the ball from shooting past him. Pinch-runner Jake Fox raced home with the winning run, and the Orioles completed their rally from a 6-0...
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It counts, and it doesn't (updated)

It counts, and it doesn't (updated)
Scott Moore just launched a pinch-hit, two-run homer off Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard in the bottom of the eighth to reduce Washington's lead to 6-5. Moore was batting for Garrett Atkins, which raised the following question: Does this count as the Orioles' first home run by a first baseman? So far, the answer is "no," because Moore hasn't played the position tonight. It just goes down as a pinch-hit homer - the second for the Orioles this season. Luke Scott came off the bench and...
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Random updates (and wild no-hitter)

Random updates (and wild no-hitter)
Tonight's attendance: 43,484. Nationals center fielder Nyjer Morgan is having the game of his life tonight. He's 4-for-4 with a double, RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base, he's robbed Corey Patterson of a home run and he's run down Miguel Tejada's bases-loaded shot to left-center field. He's made a much better impression than the one he left back in D.C. All three of the Orioles' runs in the fifth were unearned after two errors by Nats shortstop Ian Desmond. Are we really...
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The two Jakes (updated)

The two Jakes (updated)
We're getting the bad version of Jake Arrieta tonight. For those of you keeping score at home, that's two impressive outings followed by two poor ones. Arrieta has allowed six runs (five earned) and eight hits in four innings, as the Nationals provide a nice cushion for J.D. Martin. Arrieta also has issued two walks, and his pitch count is up to 84. I expected interim manager Juan Samuel to pop out of the dugout after Adam Dunn's two-run double with two outs in the fourth, but Arrieta...
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It's all bad so far (w/rehab updates)

It's all bad so far (w/rehab updates)
We can start with Jake Arrieta's marathon first inning, and how his pitch count stands at 57 through the third. We can proceed to the 3-0 deficit, and how Arrieta has allowed five hits and walked a batter. There's also the throwing error by Matt Wieters in the first. And the double play from Miguel Tejada, who swung at the initial offering from Nationals starter J.D. Martin after Corey Patterson led off the bottom of the first with a seven-pitch walk. Garrett Atkins, in his first at-bat...
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Bordick in dugout tonight

Bordick in dugout tonight
Former Orioles shortstop Mike Bordick will serve as hitting coach tonight. Terry Crowley left the team to tend to a personal matter, but he's expected to return tomorrow. Bordick will wear No. 85, in case you're wondering. Admit it, you were wondering. The Orioles are close to sending left-hander Michael Gonzalez on an injury rehab assignment. Jake Fox is the fourth outfielder tonight while Lou Montanez deals with an oblique injury and Luke Scott serves as the designated hitter. Ty...
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Wigginton and Montanez hurting (w/Erbe note)

Wigginton and Montanez hurting (w/Erbe note)
Ty Wigginton's back began to tighten up late in last night's game, and it's still bothering him today. That's why he's out of the lineup. He's listed as - you guessed it - day-to-day. Also, Lou Montanez injured his oblique in batting practice a few days ago, and he's expected to go on the disabled list tomorrow to make room for Brad Bergesen. Montanez was examined yesterday, and interim manager Juan Samuel said the results weren't good. Garrett Atkins is safe at home, at least for...
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Dempsey's next

Dempsey's next
Former Orioles catcher and coach Rick Dempsey will become the fourth candidate to interview for the managerial position when he meets next week with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. Dempsey will sit down with MacPhail on Tuesday, according to a source. I couldn't reach Dempsey today, and I'm not sure whether he'd confirm the meeting, but he's on deck. The Orioles also have interviewed Eric Wedge, Bobby Valentine and Buck Showalter. Valentine is out of the running after...
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About last night

About last night
While waiting for Nick Markakis to announce that he wants to manage... I'm sorry to inform you that I'll be attending tonight's game at Camden Yards. I miss one, just one, and the Orioles blow out the Marlins. I can't help but feel responsible for everything that's gone wrong this season. Don't worry, I'm not interviewing for the manager's job. I've been asked about Adam Jones possibly tweaking his back last night. I wasn't there, and I'm sitting at my kitchen table in Sykesville...
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Samuel and Millwood on Millwood

Samuel and Millwood on Millwood
Kevin Millwood picked up his second victory tonight, but it wasn't easy. Millwood lasted only five innings, and he needed 116 pitches to get through them. He also fell behind, 3-0, before the Orioles rallied. Millwood walked the first two batters in the fifth. He allowed a run, but struck out Mike Stanton to end the inning and put himself in line for the win. Kevin Millwood discusses his outing to help the Orioles beat the Marlins 11-5 "I was going to try to stick with him as long as I...
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It's been a long time

It's been a long time
Miguel Tejada hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning to extend the Orioles' lead to 10-4. Tejada hadn't gone deep since April 30 against Boston. Amber Theoharis talks with Miguel Tejada about his 3-run homerun in the O's win There's more. He hadn't collected three RBIs in a game, let alone with one swing, since May 14 against Cleveland. He has four RBIs tonight. There's more. He hadn't driven in more than two runs since May 27 against Oakland. You'd like to...
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Up and Adam

Up and Adam
That's a pretty nice power surge by center fielder Adam Jones, who homered again tonight to give the Orioles a 6-4 lead going into the top of the sixth inning. Jones raised his home run total to 11, four of them coming in the last eight games. He's 2-for-3 tonight, giving him five straight two-hit games, and seven multi-hit games in his last 10. Felix Pie is 2-for-3 with an RBI as Single-A Frederick's DH and leadoff hitter. Double-A Bowie's Chorye Spoone is shutting out Reading on four...
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Tillman on the hill (updated twice)

Tillman on the hill (updated twice)
Chris Tillman has turned in two perfect innings for Triple-A Norfolk today, striking out one and throwing 16 of his 22 pitches for strikes. Nolan Reimold is making his third consecutive start at first base. He singled in his first at-bat. As expected, outfielder Felix Pie is reporting to Single-A Frederick today to continue his injury rehab assignment. He'll move up to Double-A Bowie next week. Pie was 1-for-8 with a run scored in two games with the Gulf Coast League Orioles. He served as...
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Movin' on up

Movin' on up
That would be me into a new townhouse, not the Orioles in the AL East standings. I'm listed as questionable for tonight's game because I've got movers arriving this morning and furniture later in the afternoon. I normally report to Camden Yards around 3 p.m., 30 minutes before the clubhouse opens, but I don't like my chances today. Friends and colleagues are saying I'm crazy if I don't take the entire night off, but they've got better examples than that one. Steve Melewski can do the...
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More post-game chatter

More post-game chatter
Brian Matusz offered a simple explanation for the two home runs he surrendered in the third inning that turned a 4-0 lead into a 4-4 tie. "I left the ball up, and when your team scores four runs in the second for you, you want to go out and throw up zeros - just go out and go 1-2-3, keep the momentum our way, and I just lost concentration and left the ball up," he said. "A lineup like that, they will take advantage of it. It's a good hitting team." It would be understandable if the...
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Post-game Samuel

Post-game Samuel
So how much does tonight's loss hurt, after the Orioles bolted to a 4-0 lead in the second inning? "They all hurt," interim manager Juan Samuel told reporters. "We are trying to win as many games as we can. They all hurt. After scoring those four runs, we thought, 'OK, we could add,' but we've been in that situation before many times. They all hurt." Each and every one. Juan Samuel talks with the media following the O's 7-5 loss to the Marlins Matt Wieters wasn't bunting on his...
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