More on Hardy and 9-5 win

More on Hardy and 9-5 win
Is it just me, or does it seem like every Orioles win is accompanied by a health crisis? The latest one came tonight. The Orioles rally to defeat the Tigers, 9-5, but shortstop J.J. Hardy is day-to-day after experiencing tightness in his lower left ribcage. "I was going to play through it - playing catch, doing everything, getting ready for the game," he said. "I wanted to put a little bit of Icy Hot on it, just to keep it warm. At that point, it got back to Buck (Showalter) that it was...
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Update on Hardy

Update on Hardy
Shortstop J.J. Hardy was scratched from the lineup because of tightness in his lower ribcage area. Hardy felt it while taking batting practice, and again while trying to hit in the indoor cage. Manager Buck Showalter found out at 6:50 p.m. and inserted Cesar Izturis into the lineup. "I didn't feel like it was worth the risk," Showalter said, adding that Hardy could have played later if needed. Showalter's initial concern was that Hardy injured his intercostal or oblique. Also, the...
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Jones delivers go-ahead run (updated)

Jones delivers go-ahead run (updated)
Vladimir Guerrero tied the game, 5-5, in the bottom of the seventh with a single into right field off Tigers reliever Enrique Gonzalez that scored Brian Roberts and gave the Orioles' designated hitter two RBIs tonight. Third base coach John Russell sent Roberts, and right fielder Brennan Boesch's throw almost went into the Orioles dugout, allowing Guerrero to take second. Gonzalez walked Luke Scott intentionally to load the bases with one out, and Adam Jones hit a long sacrifice fly to...
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Missed opportunity in the fifth (not in sixth)

Missed opportunity in the fifth (not in sixth)
The Orioles had a chance to pull within one run in the bottom of the fifth inning, but they left runners on second and third. Third base coach John Russell held Cesar Izturis on Brian Roberts' one-out double into the right-field corner. Russell was more than halfway down the line before raising his arms and bringing Izturis to a halt. Fans booed the decision - and I thought Russell should have sent him - but replays showed that Izturis didn't run full speed until he rounded second base. It...
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Tillman can't clear the fifth

Tillman can't clear the fifth
Alex Avila has struck again. Get this guy out of town. Avila homered and drove in five runs last night, and his solo homer tonight broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning. Keep in mind that Avila had one RBI before last night. A two-out double by Brennan Boesch scored Will Rhymes, who walked, and knocked Chris Tillman out of the game. Tillman threw 97 pitches, 59 for strikes, in 4 2/3 innings. He allowed four runs and six hits, with two walks and four strikeouts. His fastball stayed in that...
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Is the middle of the order heating up?

Is the middle of the order heating up?
After they combined for three hits and three RBI last night, both Derrek Lee and Vladimir Guerrero hit the ball pretty hard off Brad Penny in their first at-bats tonight. Lee, who hit a two-run homer last night, lined out to short to end the first and Vlad led off the last of the second with a bomb to center. It's his first homer as an Oriole, traveling 395 feet on the first pitch. It's Guerrero's 437th career homer, that is fourth best among active big leaguers. He hit 29 last...
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Bullpen not being saved (updated)

Bullpen not being saved (updated)
Manager Buck Showalter needs Chris Tillman to pitch deep into tonight's game and save his bullpen after Brad Bergesen's abbreviated start last night. So far, the plan isn't working. Tillman threw 32 pitches in the first inning, and the Tigers parlayed four singles into a 2-0 lead. Don Kelly bailed out Tillman by bouncing into a 6-3 double play to end the inning. The fourth single, by Victor Martinez, came on a ball that caromed off the out-of-town scoreboard in right. Will Rhymes,...
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Izturis replaces Hardy

Izturis replaces Hardy
We have another lineup change. Shortstop J.J. Hardy is a late scratch. Cesar Izturis will replace him and bat ninth. We're waiting for an explanation. Also, if tomorrow night's game is postponed because of rain, the Orioles would play a day-night doubleheader on Saturday. The Rangers don't return to Camden Yards, so the game would have to be made up during this homestand. The Orioles have an open date on their schedule Monday, but the Rangers are in Detroit.
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Scott added to lineup

Scott added to lineup
Luke Scott took batting practice, ran and threw without any issues. His groin injury has improved to the point where he can play tonight. Scott moves to left field, and Felix Pie goes to the bench. Here's the new lineup: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Chris Tillman RHP
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B-Rob on the 4-1 start: "There is a different feel in the city right now."

B-Rob on the 4-1 start: "There is a different feel in the city right now."
He's been in the major leagues since 2001, but Brian Roberts is still waiting for his first winning season and first crack to play in really important games late in the year. Just like the fans, he wonders if this good Orioles start will turn into an ever better one and if this is the year the O's move up in the standings. "I think we believe we can (keep winning), but only time will tell for sure. It's one of those things where you honestly really only want to take this one game at a...
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Pregame Showalter

Pregame Showalter
Jeremy Guthrie said his fever spiked at 103 degrees over the weekend. "Just a tick below my fastball," he said. Glad to see he hasn't lost his sense of humor. Guthrie is playing catch again today and is scheduled to throw a bullpen session tomorrow. The Orioles will have to determine afterward whether he's able to make Sunday's start, because they would need time to bring up his replacement from Triple-A Norfolk. One option is to push back Guthrie until Tuesday in New York. An early...
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Guthrie remains hopeful of starting Sunday

Guthrie remains hopeful of starting Sunday
O's pitcher Jeremy Guthrie is still hoping to pitch Sunday against Texas and he was back at the ballpark today. "I feel good," Guthrie said. "Just a little bit tired, but I don't feel any of the symptoms I felt when I went into the hospital - the achiness, headache and stomach ache. "I prepared mentally to pitch on Sunday since the day I went into the hospital. Had conversations with a few people about Texas. Even when I was sick, getting IVed up, I was thinking about Texas." He will...
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Quick hits and Tigers lineup

Quick hits and Tigers lineup
Luke Scott isn't in the lineup again tonight, but don't write it in ink. Manager Buck Showalter left open the possibility that Scott could replace Felix Pie in left field. It depends how Scott feels after batting practice. Showalter felt an obligation to post a lineup in fairness to his players, but he's ready to make the switch in left field if Scott is able to start. Also, Jeremy Guthrie will play catch again today and is scheduled to throw a bullpen session tomorrow. He's still a...
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Orioles lineups for Thursday vs. Tigers

Orioles lineups for Thursday vs. Tigers
Here is the Orioles' lineup for tonight's 7:05 p.m. game, the finale of the first three-game series of the season at Camden Yards: For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Felix Pie LF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Tillman RHP
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Reimold homers in Norfolk loss

Reimold homers in Norfolk loss
Nolan Reimold hit a game-tying, bases-empty home run today for Triple-A Norfolk, but the Tides lost to Charlotte 4-3 in the season opener for both teams. Reimold went 2-for-4. Brendan Harris was 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Tyler Henson, playing his first Triple-A game, went 2-for-3. Brandon Snyder was 1-for-4. Ryan Adams, also playing his first Triple-A game, went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Ryan Drese allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings, striking out three. Mark...
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Taking the Keys from Rowell

Taking the Keys from Rowell
The Double-A Bowie Baysox revealed their 2011 roster earlier today, and it's no surprise that former first-round pick Billy Rowell is included. Rowell finally graduated from Single-A Frederick, where he spent the past three seasons. His cap and gown are backordered. Here's the Baysox roster: Pitchers: Tim Bascom, Zach Clark, Brandon Cooney, Jose Diaz, Eddie Gamboa, Steve Johnson, Wynn Pelzer, Raul Rivero, Chorye Spoone, Ryohei Tanaka, Pedro Viola and Rick Zagone Infielders: Pedro...
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Stacey Long: The importance of Josh Rupe

Stacey Long: The importance of Josh Rupe
In last night's loss to the Detroit Tigers, Josh Rupe pitched in relief and had what appeared to be a subpar outing. While he did give up two runs in three innings, Rupe actually saved the bullpen from what could have been a very taxing evening and subsequently a rough weekend. With starter Brad Bergesen unable to make it out of the fourth inning, the Orioles' bullpen was called on to pitch 5 1/3 innings in relief, not an easy task. With another game against the Tigers today and a weekend...
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After no-hit outing, Tillman gets another turn (updated)

After no-hit outing, Tillman gets another turn (updated)
When watching Chris Tillman pitch on Saturday against Tampa in his first 2011 start, it seemed to me that Tillman was not throwing with the velocity he once had shown. Tillman's first-inning fastball at times was in the high 80s and there didn't seem to be too many mid-90s heaters during that game. The right-hander said if anyone wondered if he were pitching with less velocity now than he did at times at Triple-A, that might just be true. "It might be, but I am more working on commanding...
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Tillman's time again

Tillman's time again
Chris Tillman competed for the job as the Orioles' fifth starter. Then he became the No. 3 starter. Then he became the No. 2 starter. Tonight, he's being asked to serve as the stopper. The Orioles already have a pitching coach, so that job is out, but it's been an interesting progression for the young right-hander. The club is coming off its first deficit of the 2011 season, followed by its first loss. Perfection is out of reach - something I learned at a very early age. Tillman is...
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Checking in on some stats after the first loss of the season

Checking in on some stats after the first loss of the season
The Orioles missed out on their chance for the second 5-0 start in team history with last night's 7-3 loss to Detroit. The Birds fall to 4-1 and are tied for first in the American League East with Toronto. Here are more stats from the game and season so far: Batting notes: The O's have scored just 20 runs in five games with a team batting average of .217. They have had six hits or less three times. Player hitting notes: Vlad Guerrero had his first two-hit game as an Oriole and his two...
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