Brad Bergesen has allowed a run in the first, second and third innings to fall behind, 3-0.
They've come in different forms.
Fred Lewis led off the top of the first with a double, Yunel Escobar reached on a bunt single and Vernon Wells hit a sacrifice fly with one out.
Aaron Hill led off the second with his 13th home run.
Lewis led off the third with a single to right field, took second on a passed ball and scored with two outs on Adam Lind's single to right. Bergesen also walked a batter...
Tonight's game could begin with only three umpires. The fourth is heading to Camden Yards, but he might arrive a little late. However, it won't affect the starting time.
Since we were kicking around lineup ideas earlier today, and I failed miserably with my assumption that Jake Fox would start at first base, I wanted to pass along some career numbers against Toronto left-hander Ricky Romero:
Fox is 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
Corey Patterson is 2-for-4 with two strikeouts.
Ty...
Interim manager Juan Samuel said he expects reliever Michael Gonzalez and outfielder/DH Luke Scott to be activated from the disabled list next week.
Gonzalez is pitching tonight at Triple-A Norfolk. Scott started in left field today for the GCL Orioles.
Kevin Millwood played catch yesterday, but he's "probably a week or so away," according to Samuel.
Brian Roberts is still aiming for an Aug. 1 return.
Samuel estimated that catcher Matt Wieters could have played early next week, but the...
Brian Roberts went 0-for-2 with a walk and strikeout today as the GCL Orioles' designated hitter.
Luke Scott, playing his second game in the GCL, started in left field and went 0-for-3. He served as the designated hitter yesterday.
Scott flied to right in each at-bat before leaving the game.
Lou Montanez tells me that his oblique injury has improved, but he's not game-ready.
For the Orioles:
Corey Patterson DH
Miguel Tejada 3B
Nick Markakis RF
Ty Wigginton 1B
Adam Jones CF
Felix Pie...
Am I the only person who slept through last night's earthquake?
A text message woke me at 4:30 a.m., but I didn't budge during a quake. I don't understand it, either.
I'll be heading to the ballpark in an hour. I want to make sure that the temperature is deep in the 90s before I enter the press box.
Later, I'll join Steve Melewski for the pre- and post-game shows on 105.7 The Fan. You can find us at the Bud Light Warehouse Bar from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
I heard "fan" and quickly...
Let the second half begin.
If I remember correctly, the Orioles won the toss back in April and elected to receive, so they'll begin tonight's game on defense.
They've got a spot to fill on their roster after placing catcher Matt Wieters on the disabled list, retroactive to Saturday. Third baseman Josh Bell is expected to be recalled.
Update: The Orioles just confirmed that they called up Bell.
Felix Pie is available tonight after injuring his quad last Friday night while swinging at a...
Brandon Waring hit his second homer in his last two games with Double-A Bowie, and his third in 10 games, raising his season's total to 15 and giving him 48 RBIs.
Waring went 2-for-4 to bump up his average to .245, and the Baysox rallied for three runs in the ninth inning to take an 8-6 victory over Richmond.
Ryan Adams, Tyler Henson and Joe Mahoney each had two hits for Bowie. Henson drove in the tying run in the ninth, and Mahoney tripled in two more to provide the winning margin.
Steve...
The Orioles placed catcher Matt Wieters on the 15-day disabled list today with a strained right hamstring. The move is retroactive to July 10.
A corresponding roster move will be announced tomorrow.
The Orioles held a workout at Camden Yards earlier today, and Wieters' leg must not be responding to rest. Better to go with a full bench.
I'm expecting Craig Tatum and Jake Fox to handle the catching load. The Orioles could recall Josh Bell as an injury replacement.
Bell didn't play for...
You won't find a Hallmark card to commemorate the occasion, but Rafael Palmeiro joined the 3,000-hit club exactly five years ago tonight.
Palmeiro made history by lining a double off Seattle's Joel Pineiro in the fifth inning at Safeco Field. I didn't realize it happened on this date until reading Billy Ed Smith's comment, which I'll post below.
On this final off day before the second half slog begins, we as Orioles fans should mark this solemn anniversary. Five years ago today, Rafael...
The All-Star Game earned its lowest rating on Tuesday.
See what happens when you don't let Ty Wigginton bat?
Luke Scott is listed on the Gulf Coast League Orioles' roster today, joining second baseman Brian Roberts.
Scott has been running and hitting at the minor league complex in Sarasota, and he's serving as the designated hitter and batting third today against the GCL Twins in his first injury rehab game. Roberts is leading off and playing second base.
Update: Roberts lined a single...
Thanks to the PR staff's detailed first-half notes, I can answer a question regarding Craig Tatum that's cropped up more frequently on this blog since the Orioles ran off four consecutive wins in Arlington.
What is the club's record with its backup catcher behind the plate?
The Orioles are 10-9 in games that Tatum has started, compared to 19-50 with Matt Wieters in the lineup.
Read as much or as little into it as you want. I'm just tossing out the numbers.
Tatum needed a crash course...
Double-A Bowie outfielder Tyler Henson went 2-for-4 with two doubles tonight for the West team, which defeated the East, 10-3, in the Eastern League All-Star Game.
Baysox closer Pedro Beato needed one pitch to retire former Orioles farmhand Nate Spears and end the game.
Triple-A Norfolk outfielder Jeff Salazar went 0-for-1 for the International League, which defeated the Pacific Coast League, 2-1.
Steven Bumbry, Brian Conley and Levi Carolus hit their third home runs tonight for Single-A...
Within the span of a few minutes, I had four readers ask whether the Orioles would have any interest in claiming left-hander George Sherrill off waivers.
Unfortunately, I'm giving the same answer: I really don't know. He just became available.
I can only speculate that the Orioles will pass because they currently have two left-handers in their bullpen - though Mark Hendrickson and Will Ohman are trade candidates - and Michael Gonzalez nearing a return from his injury rehab assignment....
Left-hander Michael Gonzalez will report to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday and pitch in three games before the Orioles decide whether to activate him.
Gonzalez will pitch Friday and Sunday. He'll throw again on Monday or Tuesday, depending on whether he needs the rest.
John Stockstill, the Orioles' director of minor league operations, said there's a "slight possibility" that the club could activate Gonzalez on Friday, but the reliever's rehab assignment is expected to continue in the...
We're not quite ready for the second half of the season to begin, but here's how the rotation unfolds when the Orioles get back on the field at Camden Yards:
Brad Bergesen
Jeremy Guthrie
Brian Matusz
Chris Tillman
Jake Arrieta
Bergesen has come full circle. His first start of 2010 came against the Blue Jays on April 9 at Camden Yards.
Let the circle be broken.
Bergesen allowed five runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings, though he didn't get the decision in a 7-6 loss.
Alex Gonzalez...
I kept tuning in and out of last night's All-Star Game while waiting for Ty Wigginton to bat. I spotted him in the AL dugout a few times, leaning on the railing. But when would he actually play?
I glanced up from my plate of sushi and saw Wigginton at third base. I saw his name listed as leading off the next inning.
So what happened?
Wigginton must have done his best Nick Swisher impression. And to think I had no idea that he could bat from the left side.
AL manager Joe Girardi actually...
Left-hander Michael Gonzalez, continuing his injury rehab assignment tonight at short-season Single-A Aberdeen, recorded the last two outs in the top of the fifth inning.
Gonzalez induced a pop up and struck out an Auburn batter after replacing starter Justin Anderson.
The Orioles want him to go more than one inning, so he's expected to return for the sixth.
For those of you keeping score at home, Gonzalez has allowed three runs and eight hits in 10 innings, with one walk and 11...
Brian Roberts went 2-for-3 with a double, walk and run scored today for the Gulf Coast League Orioles in their 4-1 victory over the GCL Rays.
Bring on the GCL Yankees.
Serving as the Orioles designated hitter, Roberts lined a single into center field and a double into left. His only out in two rehab games came on a fly ball to center.
Roberts is 5-for-6 with a double and walk since reporting to the GCL team. He's scheduled to join Double-A Bowie next week and hopes to be activated from the...
Brian Roberts has singled and walked in three plate appearances as the Gulf Coast League Orioles' designated hitter. He's 4-for-5 in the first two games of his injury rehab assignment.
I know the Yankees don't elicit much sympathy around here, but it's been a rough week with the passing of Bob Sheppard, the team's revered public address announcer, and owner George Steinbrenner within the past three days.
Steinbrenner died early this morning in Tampa after suffering a massive heart...
I watched about 12 seconds of the Home Run Derby before realizing that I no longer care about the Home Run Derby.
David Ortiz won? Fabulous.
Does the winner get a free spot in the slam dunk contest?
Did Dwyane Wade really claim that he's now part of the greatest trio in NBA history?
Bird, McHale and Parish would like a minute for rebuttal.
They'll have to beat Magic, Kareem and Worthy to the door. And we'll wait for Wilt, West and Baylor to park their cars. Just leave enough room for...