Amidst a very quiet Orioles clubhouse, Jason Berken had to feel happy and relieved.
He pitched well and it appears he'll get more chances in the future in the O's rotation.
Berken gave up just two runs and six hits over six innings Tuesday vs. Kansas City. He was in line to win for the first time since May 26th until KC tied it in the 8th.
Still, it was a positive night for a pitcher who entered with an ERA of 6.55.
"I felt like I threw well the last few innings at New York and I was...
Seven of the Orioles last eight losses have been by one or two runs. The Royals improve to 4-1 in extra-innings while the O's fall to 4-4.
O's Player of the Night - Catcher Matt Wieters. His single in the 6th gave Baltimore a 3-2 lead it could not hold. Wieters went 4 for 5 with four singles and an RBI. It's his first career four-hit game.
Wieters is now 10 for 21 with 3 RBI during a five-game batting streak. He is hitting .273 on the season.
Nolan Reimold went 2 for 4 with two...
Among many keys to the Orioles getting off to a good start this year is this one - can the starters pitch deep into games to rest the bullpen and keep the pen pitchers in their planned roles?
O's manager Dave Trembley hopes the staff will follow Kevin Millwood's lead in that regard.
"Millwood did that for us and that's why we got him at the top of the rotation. He needs to set that tone for everyone. You want your guys to go deeper, but common sense has to prevail.
"You have to look...
Well, it looks like O's fans are almost none the worse for wear this morning after another high-wire act by Mike Gonzalez.
That's a little too much drama this early in the year, especially for some of us, if you know what I mean.
Glad to we don't have to wake up to 0 and 3 with two blown saves, that would put a damper on Opening Day in Baltimore.
I'm at the Yard and we'll get some pregame comments and notes when the clubhouse opens before too long. By 6 tonight, the O's could be 2...
This time Mike Gonzalez got the save, although it was a very shaky one. He got Ben Zobrist to fly out with the bases loaded and two outs as the O's beat Tampa 5-4.
Gonzalez, who fanned and walked two, threw 26 pitches, just 12 for strikes.
The kid won another one: Brian Matusz picked up his 6th Major League win in just his 9th big league start. He gave up two runs over five innings, walking five, fanning seven and throwing 97 pitches.
He is 2-0 in two career starts vs. Tampa at the Trop....
This time Mike Gonzalez got the save and the Orioles got the win. Barely.
He got the first two outs of the last of the 9th before the Rays loaded the bases. Ben Zobrist came up with a chance to win the game, but Gonzalez got him to fly to right on a 1-1 pitch to end it and win it by a 5-4 score.
Dave Trembley and O's fans everywhere can start breathing again. Gonzalez made Don Stanhouse proud.
After suffering a blown save in the 9th in the season opener, Gonzalez gained his first O's...
Chris Tillman has impressed the Orioles in many ways. With his talent, with his poise and with the ability he has at just 21 years of age.
Tonight, the young right-hander will make his Major League debut when the O's host Kansas City at 7:05 p.m.
In spring training, he impressed O's Minor League Pitching Coordinater, Dave Schmidt. Tillman looked to improve one aspect of his game without any suggestions from the coaches.
He worked to perfect his changeup.
"He made a big jump with it...
Here are some comments from Orioles' players about Chris Tillman and his debut tonight.
David Hernandez - "When I was brought up from Norfolk, he was just starting to get going. If he just pitches how he pitches, he shouldn't change a thing when he gets up here.
"He's a guy that when he goes out there and if he's getting hit around, if you look at the guy you wouldn't know he was getting hit around. It's just how his demeanor is. If things are going good, he's the same."
Nolan...
O's left fielder Nolan Reimold entered the All-Star break in a slump, but he's out of it now.
Reimold was 3 for 28 heading into the break as his average dropped to .257.
But he is batting .457 since the break with five doubles, four RBI and four stolen bases.
"I just fell into some bad habits and had to work my way out of them. That happens during the year," Reimold said. "Now I'm ready to get some more hits."
In the last five games, the hits are coming in bunches. Reimold is 11...
Game Preview
Kansas City (40-59) at Orioles (42-57)
The Kansas City Royals were struggling when they arrived in Baltimore on Monday. They had just completed a 1-8 road trip and had lost 11 of 12 games.
They have the worst record in the American League.
But they have posted back-to-back, 5-3 and 4-3 wins over the Orioles. Tuesday's win came in 11 innings as KC tied it 3-3 in the 8th and won it on John Buck's RBI single in the 11th.
Seven of the O's last eight losses have been by two...
RHP Chris Tillman tonight makes his Major League debut.
The 21-year-old right-hander was acquired by the O's from Seattle on February 8, 2008 as part of the Erik Bedard deal.
At 21 years, 106 days old, Tillman will become the youngest Oriole to make his Major League debut since Hayden Penn did so at 20 years, 228 days old on May 28, 2005.
Tillman has had two excellent years pitching in the O's farm system and is among the best pitching prospects in all of baseball.
This season with...
Chris Tillman allowed solo homers to Alberto Callaspo and Miguel Olivo in the second inning tonight. It's the first time this year he has allowed more than one homer in a start.
In 96 2/3 innings at Triple-A, he gave up only five homers.
Over his last six Triple-A starts before tonight, he had given up just one homer, a span of 36 2/3 innings.
He has thrown 53 pitches through three innings with 15 in the first, 22 in the second and 16 in the third inning.
The Orioles have had now five pitchers make their Major League debuts this year. Chris Tillman was the first of the five to allow more than two earned runs, as he gave up three over 4 2/3.
It was not a great outing by any stretch, but a start for a 21-year-old who has to deal with hype and high expectations.
The five debuts added together produced an ERA of 2.77. That is impressive.
Tillman left tonight trailing 3-2 and the O's still trail by that score after five innings. He can only...
On a night where Chris Tillman allowed three solo homers in his Major League debut, the Orioles rallied for five late runs to gain a much-needed win. The Birds topped Kansas City 7-3 Wednesday in front of 19,741 at Camden Yards.
The O's came to bat in the 7th down by 3-2. But after 116 pitches, Zack Greinke was taken out of the game and the Orioles rallied for three runs and the lead vs. the KC bullpen.
Robinson Tejada walked the first two hitters to hand the O's a rally. An Adam Jones...
He didn't pitch as well as he had been at Triple-A this year, but Chris Tillman can relax a little now. The first one is out of the way.
"I had some nerves in the beginning but then I got my feet under me a little bit. I was just trying to get ahead of hitters but I hurt myself falling behind at times. The off speed wasn't there for me tonight. The mound was wet and I was slipping a little bit," Tillman said.
After giving up five homers in 18 Norfolk starts, Tillman gave up three solo...
Chris Tillman got a no decision in his Major League debut. In 4 2/3, he gave up three runs and seven hits. He allowed three solo homers. He had given up just five homers in 18 starts at Triple-A.
Tillman threw 93 pitches, 58 for strikes and has a one-start ERA of 5.79.
Matt Albers got the win with 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. He threw just 22 pitches. After giving up a key homer last night, Jim Johnson pitched the last two innings to record his second save of 2009.
Johnson, who...
Game Preview
Kansas City (40-60) at Orioles (43-57)
For the Orioles, it's 100 games down and 62 to go in this 2009 season.
The O's are 43-57 at the 100-game mark after Wednesday's 7-3 win over KC. Adam Jones and Nick Markakis knocked in three runs each. Jones hit a first-inning homer for the third straight game in this series.
The four-game set comes to an end this afternoon with a matinee contest set for 12:35 p.m. Brad Bergesen (6-5, 3.56) faces KC's Luke Hochevar (6-3, 4.84)
The...
RHP Brad Bergesen (6-5, 3.56) today makes his 19th start of the year, his 11th at home and the 1st of his career vs. the KC Royals.
Bergesen, who has just one win over his last five starts, last worked on Friday at Boston. He gave up nine hits and three runs over six innings vs. the Sox.
Bergesen has been outstanding at home this year, going 6-1, 2.82 and the team is 8-2 in those ten home starts. The O's are 9-9 in Bergesen's 18 starts on the season.
Right-handed batters hit .274 vs....
Brandon Snyder must finally be warming up to Triple-A pitching.
He is 1 for 2 in Norfolk's game this afternoon. That extends his current batting streak to eight games. He has 12 hits in his last 29 at bats (.414) as his average has climbed from .200 to its current .245.
Snyder has 69 RBI on the year to lead all O's minor leaguers.
Earlier this year, he batted .343-10-45 in 58 games with Double-A Bowie.
He began today hitting .241-2-24 in 38 contests with Norfolk.
Brad Bergesen gave up just one run over seven innings to get his 7th win as the Orioles beat Kansas City 7-3 to split the four-game series.
Bergesen left the game in pain as Billy Butler's liner back to the mound hit him on his left shin. Catcher Matt Wieters would field the ball and throw Butler out to end the seventh.
As of this writing, there was no further update on the extent of Bergesen's injury.
He improves to 7-5, 3.43. He is now 7-1, 2.68 at home and over his last 12 starts is...