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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Here today, gone by July 31?

Here today, gone by July 31?
It's always difficult to gauge how active the Orioles will be at the non-waiver trade deadline that arrives at the end of this month. I brace for a repeat of the 2000 roster purge, and it doesn't come. Maybe one guy gets moved, like closer George Sherrill last summer, or maybe none until the end of August. The Orioles have another batch of candidates who are in the final year of their contracts - including Ty Wigginton, Kevin Millwood, Miguel Tejada, Cesar Izturis and Mark Hendrickson - or...
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Better outing for Gonzo (updated)

Better outing for Gonzo (updated)
Left-hander Michael Gonzalez threw a scoreless inning tonight at Double-A Bowie, striking out two batters in the process. The other out came on a ground ball. Gonzalez's fastball registered at 92 mph on the Prince George's Stadium radar gun. You'll recall that Gonzalez gave up home runs in two of his rehab appearances before tonight. The Orioles want Gonzalez to pitch Tuesday at short-season Single-A Aberdeen and go twice more at Bowie. Brandon Waring hit his 13th home run tonight for...
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Markakis: Make his a double (updated)

Markakis: Make his a double (updated)
Nick Markakis has taken over the AL lead in doubles with 25. His two-bagger in the fourth inning eventually led to the game's first run. Markakis moved to third base and scored on John Lackey's wild pitch. Markakis has plenty of supporters who believe he should represent the Orioles in the All-Star Game. He's probably a victim of his position. AL manager Joe Girardi needs another second baseman, and Ty Wigginton qualifies. Those 14 home runs didn't hurt Wigginton's cause, either. And...
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Congrats to Wiggy

Congrats to Wiggy
Ty Wigginton has been chosen as a reserve and will represent the Orioles in the All-Star Game. Wigginton is batting .251 with 12 doubles, 14 homers and 42 RBIs. I'm taken back to FanFest and all the questions Wigginton fielded about the club's decision to sign Garrett Atkins for first base and Miguel Tejada for third. Wigginton was disappointed, but he never publicly ripped the club or demanded a trade. Brian Roberts showed up at spring training with a herniated disk in his back, Atkins...
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Today's lineups

Today's lineups
For the Orioles: LF Corey Patterson DH Miguel Tejada RF Nick Markakis 1B Ty Wigginton CF Adam Jones 3B Josh Bell 2B Scott Moore C Craig Tatum SS Cesar Izturis LHP Brian Matusz For the Red Sox: SS Marco Scutaro CF Darnell McDonald DH David Ortiz 1B Kevin Youkilis 3B Adrian Beltre RF J.D. Drew 2B Bill Hall LF Daniel Nava C Gustavo Molina RHP John Lackey Nolan Reimold's two-out double in the ninth inning scored Jeff Salazar last night and gave Triple-A Norfolk a 7-6 win over...
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Getting defensive

Getting defensive
The Orioles completed tonight's game at Fenway Park having committed 14 errors in the last 12 games after making 10 errors in the previous 19. And we're not taking into account the numerous balls misplayed in the outfield, the grounders that weren't fielded cleanly and were scored a hit, the double plays that weren't turned that gave teams an extra out. "We are defensively challenged and we just have to be better at it," said president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. "Here we're...
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Pie hit; Orioles could use one (updated)

Pie hit; Orioles could use one (updated)
Felix Pie was hit by a pitch in the wrist/forearm area tonight at Double-A Bowie, but he stayed in the game. He's 0-for-2. Disaster averted. Update: Pie is 1-for-3. If you have him in some weird pool...he's 1-for-3. Steve Johnson allowed two runs (one earned) in five innings, but he also walked five Akron batters. Control has never been an issue with him. Maybe the umpires do more squeezing in the Eastern League. Nolan Reimold has suddenly become Triple-A Norfolk's everyday first...
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Tonight's lineups

Tonight's lineups
For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Jake Fox DH Julio Lugo 2B Cesar Izturis SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP For the Red Sox: Marco Scutaro SS Eric Patterson 2B David Ortiz DH Kevin Youkilis 1B J.D. Drew RF Adrian Beltre 3B Daniel Nava LF Mike Cameron CF Kevin Cash C Jon Lester LHP The Orioles have agreed to terms with 27 of their 49 selections: Trent Mummey (4), Riley Hornback (12), Jeremy Nowak (13), Michael Mosby (14),...
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