Roch Kubatko

Strange day for Sarfate

March 24, 2010, 7:40am

Dennis Sarfate didn't allow a hit in the eighth inning, but the Twins scored a run to reduce the Orioles' lead to 3-1. Sarfate threw two wild pitches, the first as he recorded a strikeout and the ball got past catcher Caleb Joseph. He also committed a balk and issued a walk. The run scored on Drew Butera's ground ball to short. Sarfate struck out two batters. His fastball reached 94 mph.

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Post-game Trembley

March 24, 2010, 7:39am

Josh Perrault picked up the save in the Orioles' 3-1 victory, their third win in a row. Danny Valencia doubled over the head of center fielder Jeff Salazar, who froze on the ball before breaking late, but Perrault retired the last two batters. Salazar ended the game with a diving catch in right-center field to rob Juan Portes. As always, manager Dave Trembley met with reporters on the field after the game ended. "Most of the guys had command of their fastball," he said. "Hernandez was...

Johnson returned to Orioles (with quotes added)

March 24, 2010, 7:37am

While I was driving back from Fort Myers, the Orioles announced that pitcher Steve Johnson has been returned to the organization by the San Francisco Giants. Johnson has been assigned to Double-A Bowie and will report to the minor league camp. The Giants selected Johnson in the Rule 5 draft in December, costing them $50,000 in the process. The Orioles pay half that amount to reclaim him. Johnson, the son of former Orioles pitcher and current MASN analyst Dave Johnson, allowed three runs and...

Orioles lineup

March 24, 2010, 7:37am

Cesar Izturis SS Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Matt Wieters C Miguel Tejada 3B Nolan Reimold DH Garrett Atkins 1B Ty Wigginton 2B Jonathan Tucker LF Jason Berken RHP Felix Pie remains out of the lineup with some soreness in his left shoulder. He hit off a tee and threw yesterday, and will consult today with head athletic trainer Richie Bancells. "It feels much better today," Pie said. "Maybe Saturday I'll play in a game." Mike Gonzalez said he won't pitch today. The clubhouse...

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matt wieters t-shirt tuesday

Free your mind and the rest will follow

March 24, 2010, 7:36am

The rain is coming down hard here, but it's expected to stop before the first pitch is thrown. Just a morning shower, or so we're told. I'm savoring a rare morning at Ed Smith Stadium. We travel to Dunedin tomorrow and Clearwater on Friday and Sunday. The Orioles also play a split-squad game in Fort Myers on Saturday, but I'll cover the Sarasota game. Former Orioles farmhand Rommie Lewis accompanied the Blue Jays to Sarasota today. So did Raul Chavez and Joey Gathright. But no Adam...

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Craig Tatum

Gonzo almost a go

March 24, 2010, 7:34am

Closer Mike Gonzalez threw a bullpen session this morning and expects to pitch in Friday's game in Clearwater. "A couple batters came up and I tried to let it go a little bit," he said. Gonzalez, who has been dealing with tightness in his lower back, will play light catch tomorrow. "It's just little nagging aches," he said. "I've got to get it out."

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Adam Jones

B-Rob update

March 24, 2010, 7:33am

Second baseman Brian Roberts will wait another day to determine whether the epidural had a positive effect on his back, consult with Dr. Lee Riley in Baltimore and proceed from there. Not much of an update, but it's all I've got. "I'm just waiting a day or two to see what the results are," he said. "Not a whole lot different yet. "I had an epidural shot. Now it's just giving it a day or two to settle in. I'm not really doing much of anything right now." Roberts said he doesn't...

Pre-game Trembley

March 24, 2010, 7:32am

Mike Gonzalez is scheduled to throw one inning against the Phillies on Friday. Felix Pie threw and hit again today and will play in one of the intrasquad games on Saturday. "He probably could play on Friday, but because it's a night game, I'll hold him back and play him on Saturday," manager Dave Trembley said. "I'm encouraged by both Gonzalez and Pie." Trembley won't make more roster cuts before the split-squad games. Trembley said Chris Tillman, David Hernandez and Jason Berken...

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Dave Trembley

Berken's workin' (updated)

March 24, 2010, 7:31am

Jason Berken threw 12 of his 13 pitches for strikes and escaped a two-on, no-out jam in the first inning. Jarrett Hoffpauir reached on an error by left fielder Jonathan Tucker, who couldn't hold onto a sinking liner, and Alex Gonzalez followed with a broken-bat single into center field. Jeremy Reed struck out, Randy Ruiz popped to short and Brian Dopirak grounded to second. Cesar Izturis led off the bottom of the first with a single into right field. Meanwhile, the White Sox have released...

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Mike Gonzalez

Blue Jays take the lead (updated)

March 24, 2010, 7:28am

Jason Berken allowed three runs and four hits in the third inning. He also walked a batter. Alex Gonzalez lined a single into left field with one out. Jeremy Reed grounded a single into right and Nick Markakis overran the ball, allowing Gonzalez to score and Reed to take third base. Randy Ruiz walked on four pitches and Brian Dopirak lifted a sacrifice fly. Back-to-back singles by Travis Snyder and Brad Emaus increased the lead to 3-0 and brought pitching coach Rick Kranitz to the...

Berken on Berken (updated)

March 24, 2010, 7:27am

Travis Snider hit an opposite-field home run off Kam Mickolio in the fifth. Blue Jays 4, Orioles 0. Mickolio has walked three batters in two innings. Matt Wieters threw out Brad Emaus trying to steal in the fifth. The Orioles have one hit, Cesar Izturis' leadoff single in the first. Update: Fifteen straight Orioles were retired until Ty Wigginton walked to open the sixth. Still only one hit as we enter the bottom of the seventh. Pedro Florimon pinch-ran for Izturis, who reached on a...

Blue Jays 4, Orioles 1

March 24, 2010, 7:26am

Miguel Abreu's bloop single with two outs in the ninth inning scored Pedro Florimon and prevented the Orioles from going hitless after Cesar Izturis' leadoff single in the first. Cla Meredith turned in another spotless performance today. He hasn't allowed a baserunner in five innings. No hits, no walks, no runs. "He's getting both right- and left-handed hitters out," manager Dave Trembley said. "For the most part he's kept his pitches down in the count. He locates down. And he's...

Orioles lineup (updated)

March 24, 2010, 7:25am

Cesar Izturis SS Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott 1B Matt Wieters DH Lou Montanez LF Craig Tatum C Justin Turner 2B Jeremy Guthrie RHP Ricky Romero is starting for the Blue Jays. Michael Aubrey says his injured groin is feeling better, but he's still day-to-day, with no target date for his return to the field. It's been a wasted spring for Aubrey.

Pre-game notes (updated)

March 24, 2010, 7:24am

Closer Mike Gonzalez will pitch an inning tomorrow in a minor league game, and another inning Sunday against the Phillies in Clearwater. Manager Dave Trembley said he didn't have any updates on Brian Roberts. Fourteen players from the minor league camp will join the Orioles on Saturday. Half will travel to Fort Myers for the split-squad game against the Red Sox, and half will stay in Sarasota for the split-squad game against the Pirates. Here's the Blue Jays lineup: Jose Bautista 3B Aaron...

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Josh Willingham

This and that (updated)

March 24, 2010, 7:23am

Manager Dave Trembley says he's seen the following from Jeremy Guthrie, who makes his fourth start today: "Better delivery, better location of his fastball," Trembley said. "You're never going to get a guy with a better attitude. I don't think there's ever going to be a fluctuation in his attitude. The guy's an A-plus in that category. "Jeremy Guthrie's probably the hardest-working guy I've ever had. No question about that. Everybody knows that about him. The guy never missed...

Izzy's busy (updated)

March 24, 2010, 7:22am

Shortstop Cesar Izturis had a hand in all three outs in the bottom of the first inning. He also failed to make a play that was scored a hit and started a rally that allowed Toronto to tie the game. Jose Bautista opened the inning by grounding to Izturis. Aaron Hill followed with a grounder that scooted past Izturis, who attempted to make a backhanded stop. Izturis made a leaping grab of Adam Lind's liner for the second out, but Hill moved up on a wild pitch from Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie...

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brian roberts

Mr. Jones and me (updated)

March 24, 2010, 7:20am

Adam Jones just led off the top of the third inning with a long home run to left-center field. Toronto 4, Orioles 2. The ball sailed past the scoreboard, giving Jones two home runs this spring. Luke Scott doubled to right with two outs. Jeremy Guthrie will come back out for the bottom of the third inning with his pitch count at 42, including 25 strikes. Update: Guthrie walked Lyle Overbay to begin the inning, and John Buck reached when third baseman Miguel Tejada was charged with two...

Guthrie's day (updated)

March 24, 2010, 7:18am

It didn't go the way he wanted. Guthrie has thrown 75 pitches through three innings, 43 for strikes, and he won't return for the fourth. He's done pitching in Dunedin. Guthrie is charged with seven runs (six earned) and seven hits. He walked three, struck out none and allowed three home runs. He also threw a wild pitch, and his spring ERA jumped to 9.28. The bottom five in the Blue Jays' order went 5-for-8 with three homers, six RBIs and six runs scored. Update: John Buck also has...

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Nick Markakis

Tatum leaves game (and so does Koji)

March 24, 2010, 7:17am

Catcher Craig Tatum left the game with one out in the fifth inning with an apparent injury to his hand. Koji Uehara struck out Travis Snider on three pitches and got ahead 0-1 on John McDonald when Tatum rose to his feet and began walking to the mound. We didn't see whether Tatum was hit by a foul tip. It seems like every person in the press box was looking down when it happened. I'll have an update later. Luis Bernardo has replaced Tatum. Keep in mind that Michel Hernandez is out four to...

Injury updates (updated)

March 24, 2010, 7:15am

Matt Wieters hit a monstrous home run to center field in the sixth inning after the Blue Jays' Aaron Hill unleashed a two-run shot off Alberto Castillo in the bottom of the fifth. I guess it's a good thing I listed his spring stats before the game. Toronto 11, Orioles 3. Koji Uehara exited the game with a strained left hamstring. Craig Tatum has a bruised left hand. That's one banged-up battery. Tatum and Uehara were hurt in a span of eight pitches. We'll check on them after the...