Roch Kubatko

We're tied (updated)

March 24, 2010, 11:03am

Armando Gabino gave up three runs in the top of the eighth inning and retired only one batter before manager Dave Trembley went to his bullpen again. Both teams have four runs and nine hits. David Hernandez has replaced Gabino, who came off the 40-man roster when the Orioles signed Mark Hendrickson. Angel Sanchez hit a two-run triple off Gabino. Update: Hernandez got the last two outs, including a strikeout. Today's crowd of 8,088 is the largest in Ed Smith Stadium history for a baseball...

Sox take the lead

March 24, 2010, 11:02am

David Hernandez struck out the first two batters in the top of the ninth and got ahead of Mark Wagner, 1-2. Then it all went horribly wrong. Wagner reached out for a pitch and somehow drove the ball over the left field fence to give Boston a 5-4 lead. It wasn't a classic swing, but it worked.

Post-game Trembley

March 24, 2010, 11:01am

A wind-aided home run by catcher Mark Wagner in the ninth inning gave the Boston Red Sox a 5-4 win over the Orioles. David Hernandez took the loss. "His fastball was good," manager Dave Trembley said. "He got beat on his changeup." Trembley also praised Kam Mickolio and noted that starter Jeremy Guthrie "didn't have much feel for his secondary pitches. That's why he got his pitch count up. But there was some improvement." Second baseman Miguel Abreu made a nice impression today at...

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Kevin Millwood

Orioles lineup

March 24, 2010, 11:00am

Felix Pie LF Adam Jones CF Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott 1B Matt Wieters DH Lou Montanez RF Cesar Izturis SS Craig Tatum C Robert Andino 2B Brian Matusz LHP

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Koji Uehara

Notes from the clubhouse

March 24, 2010, 10:59am

Justin Turner says his left foot feels "a lot better," but it's still heavily taped. He'll get a better read on his condition during batting practice - and if he can avoid the line drives. Brad Bergesen is scheduled to throw two innings or 35 pitches on Wednesday. "I feel good," he said. "The rehab and the progression has gone to their standards. I didn't know exactly how it would work, what they'd want me to do, but that's the plan - 35 pitches, two innings. I'm happy about...

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Ty Wigginton

Pre-game notes and Twins lineup

March 24, 2010, 10:59am

The Orioles will try to get 50 pitches out of Brian Matusz today, and he's expected to expand his selection after staying away from the curveball in his debut. Nolan Reimold will start in left field tomorrow. Justin Turner is expected to play tomorrow. Kevin Millwood turned in a quality side session today, according to manager Dave Trembley. Luke Scott will get another start at first base this week, perhaps on Wednesday. He'll take tomorrow off. For the Twins: Revere CF Punto 3B Cuddyer...

More nuggets from this morning

March 24, 2010, 10:58am

My favorite line of the day: After the success of the Michael Oher movie, Hollywood is making a film about Adam Terry's life called "The Hurt Blocker." Brian Matusz conferred with pitching coach Rick Kranitz this morning, as all the starters do, while formulating a plan for today's start against the Minnesota Twins. They'll decide whether he works on a certain pitch, as Kevin Millwood did Saturday with the changeup, or uses his entire repertoire. Manager Dave Trembley leaves it to...

Matusz's first inning (updated)

March 24, 2010, 10:57am

Brian Matusz gave up two runs and three hits in the first inning to fall behind, 2-0, to the Minnesota Twins. The good news: He struck out the side. Ben Revere took a strike and doubled over the head of left fielder Felix Pie. Nick Punto struck out looking with the count full, but Michael Cuddyer singled to right-center field to score Revere. Jason Kubel followed with an RBI double to the left-center field fence on Matusz's 16th pitch. He was getting hit hard. These weren't...

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matt wieters

Matusz much better in second

March 24, 2010, 10:56am

This is more like it. Brian Matusz needed only 10 pitches to dispose of the Twins in the second inning, including one to retire Chris Parmelee on a popup. Luke Hughes struck out to open the inning, and Drew Butera closed it by bouncing to the mound. That's four stirkeouts for Matuesz. His pitch count is up to 36, including 24 strikes.

Matusz's day

March 24, 2010, 10:55am

Brian Matusz ran up his pitch count in the first, but he retired the last seven batters he faced and came out after 2 2/3 innings. Matusz threw 46 pitches, 31 for strikes. He allowed two runs and three hits - all in the first - and struck out six. He didn't walk a batter. Matusz struck out Ben Revere swinging and Nick Punto looking in the third. Michael Cuddyer stepped to the plate, and manager Dave Trembley stepped out of the dugout. Ross Wolf replaced Matusz, just as he did in the...

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Koji Uehara

Gonzo scoreless; Scott at first

March 24, 2010, 10:55am

Closer Mike Gonzalez tossed a scoreless fourth inning, but he needed some help. Brendan Harris walked on four pitches and tried to score on Jacque Jones' double to deep center field. Adam Jones retrieved the ball and fired to shortstop Cesar Izturis, who threw to the plate. Luke Scott cut it off near the mound, which seemed like a poor decision at the time, but his throw home nailed Harris as the Twins' shortstop went in standing. Score it 8-6-3-2. Luke Hughes reached on an infield hit,...

Gonzalez on Gonzalez

March 24, 2010, 10:54am

Jim Johnson gave up a run in the fifth, extending the Twins lead to 3-0. Ben Revere tripled and Michael Cuddyer singled. Luke Scott just made another nice play at first, saving Scott Moore from a throwing error and getting the out. Mike Gonzalez worked on his changeup today, using it more than his first outing, and didn't miss high in the strike zone nearly as often. "I missed down in the zone, so that's a lot better today," he said. "Overall, it was a positive day for me." Gonzalez...

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Luke Scott

Brian's song (updated)

March 24, 2010, 10:53am

Matt Wieters singled for his first hit in spring training. No need to panic. Koji Uehara threw another scoreless inning, giving up a bloop single on a popup that Robert Andino couldn't run down in shallow right field. Uehara threw 11 pitches, eight for strikes. That's 19 pitches in two outings. Mike Hinckley is struggling again. He gave up a run in the eighth to increase Minnesota's lead to 4-0 with one out and a runner on second. He took the loss in his last outing and also was roughed...

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Ernie Harwell

Feeling left out

March 24, 2010, 10:52am

Mike Hinckley was charged with two runs in two-thirds of an inning in today's 5-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins, the Orioles' fifth defeat in a row. He also gave up the winning run against the Tampa Bay Rays on a triple, two walks and a single. Hinckley allowed two runs in the intrasquad game, which don't count in the Grapefruit League stats. "Falling behind (in the count), and he really didn't have a lot of snap on his breaking ball today," manager Dave Trembley said. "His breaking...

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luke scott

A good Ohman

March 24, 2010, 10:52am

The role of situational left-hander might fit Will Ohman, but he'd rather not be typecast. Ohman has held lefties to a .204 average during his career, compared to a .260 average for right-handers. The Orioles signed him to a minor league contract, after expressing interest in him last winter without striking a deal, because they wanted him to compete for a spot in the bullpen as... Well, you know the rest. One left-hander, Mike Gonzalez, will be the closer. Another one, Mark...

Orioles lineup

March 24, 2010, 10:51am

Robert Andino 2B Nolan Reimold LF Nick Markakis RF Garrett Atkins 1B Ty Wigginton 3B Rhyne Hughes DH Chad Moeller C Matt Angle CF Pedro Florimon SS Chris Tillman RHP

Keep on Nolan

March 24, 2010, 10:49am

Nolan Reimold played a few innings in left field in the intrasquad game, but he'll make his first start there in an exhibition game at 1:05 p.m. Set your watches. You can't stop the presses on a blog, but you can make a big deal over anything. "I heard it's supposed to be a sellout," Reimold said. Thanks for playing along, Nolan. I reminded him that he's the second-biggest story today, behind Stephen Strasburg's debut for the Nationals. But I'm sure MASN will switch over each time...

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Jeremy Guthrie

Contract updates

March 24, 2010, 10:48am

Justin Turner and Robert Andino are taking ground balls at second base in early infield drills. No sign of Brian Roberts. The Orioles renewed the contracts of four players, including outfielders Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold, and catcher Matt Wieters. Jason Berken also is on the list. No substantial bumps for three of the better players on the team, who aren't arbitration-eligible, didn't voluntarily come to terms and had to settle for what the Orioles offered. Jones is eligible for...

Roberts temporarily shut down

March 24, 2010, 10:47am

Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts was confined to the trainers room today after taking medication on Sunday that upset his stomach. Roberts was prescribed a megadose pack, similar to a cortisone shot, to reduce the inflammation in his back caused by a herniated disk. His reaction to it forced the Orioles to eliminate his baseball-related activities for three days. Roberts began feeling ill last night. Manager Dave Trembley described Roberts' condition as "a stomach virus." "He'll be...

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Rhyne Hughes

Run for cover

March 24, 2010, 10:46am

The next issue of Sports Illustrated hits newsstands nationwide tomorrow, and you'll recognize the player on the cover. Matt Wieters better not believe in jinxes. Wieters is the subject of the cover story, written by Tom Verducci. No Oriole has appeared on the front of the magazine in more than 13 years, according to an SI spokesman. Verducci goes into great detail about how rare it is for an MLB team to find a young catcher who has great skills, both offensively and defensively. "In...