Bergy settles in

Bergy settles in
With dark clouds close and lightning lighting the sky beyond the center field fence, the O's and A's are tied 2-2 after five and a half innings. Brad Bergesen struggled with his control early, but looks to have it dialed in now. After giving up a two-run homer to Gabe Gross in the second, he walked the first two hitters to start the third. But he got that 4-3-6-2 double play and his night has been going much better ever since. Bergesen has retired 11 batters in a row though the sixth. ...
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Early game notes

Early game notes
*From the something has to give department, tonight, either the Orioles will win a series for just the third time this year or the A's will win a road series for just the second time. The O's are 2-11-1 in series and are 6-9 in the final game of a series on the season. Oakland is just 1-5 in road series and is 6-14 in road games. *The A's are 4-2 vs. the O's this year, have won 14 of their last 17 vs. the Birds and are 69-30 vs. the O's since 1999. That's the best winning percentage...
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Trembley on Markakis' power numbers

Trembley on Markakis' power numbers
If you look at the stats of Nick Markakis this year, he's exceeded his usual numbers in batting average, on base and OPS. His career average is .298 and he's batting .305 now. His career on base figure is .371 and now he's at .401 and his OPS this year of .850 exceeds his average OPS of .835. But after hitting 18 homers with 101 RBI in 2009, Markakis would hit just 10 homers with 51 RBI this year at his current pace. Manager Dave Trembley said today he is not concerned that Markakis'...
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The longball cometh

The longball cometh
When Garrett Atkins came to the plate in the third inning last night, he had just one hit in his last 18 at bats and just one RBI over his previous 24 games. Now he has one home run. He drove a 1-2 pitch from Trevor Cahill 374 feet to left center field to end a 145 at bat drought without a longball. "Obviously, its frustrating, you don't want to have a zero in any column, really. That's a big one, so, you know, was just able to put a good swing on it tonight. I wasn't trying to do...
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Matusz talks about his outing vs. Oakland

Matusz talks about his outing vs. Oakland
For the second start in a row, Brian Matusz gave up four runs in the first inning. But he said when he took the mound tonight at Camden Yards the last thing on his mind was that outing at Texas where he allowed seven runs in 2 1/3 innings. "For me, I don't hold on to feelings from previous outings. I got into some trouble in the first and almost got out of it. Just made a bad 1-2 pitch and left it over the plate. I was trying to go in on him." He was referring to a 1-2 pitch in the...
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Another rocky outing for Matusz

Another rocky outing for Matusz
O's lefty Brian Matusz struggled for the third time in his last four starts as the Oakland A's beat the Birds 6-1 Wednesday night to even the series at a win each. Matusz allowed six runs and eight hits over five innings to fall to 2-5, 5.76. He gave up four runs in the first inning, three on an Adam Rosales homer. He had retired 10 in a row before giving up three straight hits to begin the sixth. Matusz has allowed 13 ER over 7 1/3 innings over his last two starts. In the last four...
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Props for Pope

Props for Pope
Two days in a row now, O's manager Dave Trembley has taken time during his pre-game media session with reporters to mention outfielder Kieron Pope, who just joined the Delmarva Shorebirds team a few days ago. Pope, the O's fourth-round pick out of a Georgia High School in 2005, has come back from a major injury. He missed all of last year with a broken right femur, an injury that occurred right before the start of the season. He has overcome a lot to get back to the minors including three...
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Another Luke Scott shoulder update

Another Luke Scott shoulder update
The Orioles are likely to play again tonight without one of their hottest hitters. Luke Scott, who suffered a left shoulder strain in Sunday's game at Washington, missed Tuesday's game and is not in tonight's starting lineup. But he said the injury is progressing. "Better. I just took some dry swings (swinging but not at live pitching or BP pitching). I didn't take anything off the tee. Talked to (trainer) Richie (Bancells) and he said we're just going to give it another complete...
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Roberts: "June 9 might be pushing it at this point."

Roberts:  "June 9 might be pushing it at this point."
After a bout with pneumonia and two nights in a hospital, O's second baseman Brian Roberts has resumed light baseball activities. He will head to Sarasota, Florida on Friday to continue his rehab. He still fully intends to return this season but admits now that the date of June 9th, when he can return from the disabled list, might be a little optimistic for his return to the Orioles at this point. He said he cannot be certain when he will return to a Major League field, but remains...
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Scott secures win in Second Annual Orioles Cook-Off

Scott secures win in Second Annual Orioles Cook-Off
At last year's First Annual Orioles Cook-Off, it was obvious that Gregg Zaun was in it to win it. This year, that Oriole was Luke Scott. And his quiet intensity paid off, as Scott was eventually awarded the title of Best Chef in Birdland at the conclusion of the Second Annual Orioles Cook-Off, held this afternoon at the ESPN Zone in Baltimore. Luke Scott's surf and turf, featuring filet mignon and salmon topped with scallops and cream sauce beat out Kevin Millwood's chicken enchiladas...
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Guthrie is getting the job done (plus Florimon move)

Guthrie is getting the job done (plus Florimon move)
So what do CC Sabathia, Justin Verlander, Felix Hernandez, Mark Buehrle, John Lackey, Rick Porcello and Gil Meche all have common? Besides being pretty good pitchers they all have ERA's higher than Jeremy Guthrie right now. I wonder how many fans would admit they wanted Guthrie gone after he led the AL in losses and homers allowed last year. He went 10-17, 5.04. Now after ten starts, he is 3-4, 3.64. He is tied for first in the AL with eight quality starts and that is in ten outings. He...
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Quotes and notes to wrap up a 5-1 win over the A's

Quotes and notes to wrap up a 5-1 win over the A's
Some more clubhouse quotes after the Orioles 5-1 win over Oakland from Ty Wigginton, Jeremy Guthrie and Nick Markakis. Wigginton on the win: "A lot of credit goes to Guthrie. He did a good job getting us in and out of the dugout. Miggy got a couple of walks and Nicky came through with a big homer late in the game." Guthrie on his night: "I thought the quality of my stuff was so-so. This was not one of my better games pitched, but it was a nice way to battle. That's important,...
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Luke Scott updates his shoulder injury

Luke Scott updates his shoulder injury
Two injuries on the same play. Yep, sounds like the 2010 Orioles. On the same play where Alfredo Simon suffered a hamstring injury Sunday at Washington, Luke Scott suffered a strained left shoulder. He was in the original starting lineup tonight, but was scratched before game time. "Right now it feels better. It was aggravated and inflamed. But I've got some good anti-inflammatories in me and I'm icing it for the second time. I'm hoping it will be getting better here very soon,"...
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O's use walks and Guthrie's effort to win in series opener

O's use walks and Guthrie's effort to win in series opener
Oakland pitchers walked the first two batters in the fourth and sixth innings tonight and the Orioles turned that into three runs in a 5-1 win over the A's in front of 14,686 Tuesday at Camden Yards. Ty Wigginton and Adam Jones had sac flies in the sixth after the O's took advantage of an error to plate a run in the fourth. Nick Markakis hit a solo homer in the eighth. It was just his third of the year and first in 22 games since May 1st when he homered vs. Boston. Later that inning, Matt...
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Arrieta impressive again

Arrieta impressive again
I didn't see one pitch of the game, but Jake Arrieta was impressive in the box score again and is doing all he can to get a callup to Baltimore. Today he allowed just one run over seven innings as Norfolk bested Rochester, 2-1. He threw 112 pitches, 70 for strikes. Arrieta is now 5-2, 1.86 through ten starts. On the year, he has allowed 1 ER or less in six of his ten starts. He has now pitched 63 innings, allowing just 40 hits with 32 walks and 55 strikeouts. Lefty batters are hitting...
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Daunting stat

Daunting stat
Here is a stat that is rather amazing. If you think the Orioles have played a tough schedule so far, peak ahead a few weeks. Kal from MASN, our co-worker, not that Cal, points out this fact. Starting with this series vs. Oakland, the Orioles will play 17 of the next 18 series, vs. clubs with a current winning record. The only club coming up that is currently not over .500 is the series with the Mets, who are now 22-23, starting June 11th. During those 18 series, the O's will play nine...
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Hernandez accepts the move to the bullpen

Hernandez accepts the move to the bullpen
Just four days after picking up his first win of the season and ending a 16-start winless stretch, today David Hernandez found out the news he is heading to the Orioles bullpen. Hernandez certainly didn't seemed thrilled by the news but handled himself well when the reporters gathered around his locker. "I would rather be a starter, but right now our team needs some guys in the bullpen. We've got two guys down, so I'll be ready. "I think I can be successful either way, starting or...
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MacPhail speaks on the Trembley front

MacPhail speaks on the Trembley front
Maybe O's team president Andy MacPhail has contemplated firing his manager, Dave Trembley, but he will not admit to that publicly. He was asked by MASNSports.com if he contemplated a manager change on Monday. "No, we had our hands full dealing with the fact that two of our relief pitchers are going on the DL." He was asked about his commitment to Trembley and if he will be O's manager for the rest of this season. "Right now, I'm saying what I've always said and continue to say. ...
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Reminders

Reminders
Don't forget there's an O's event and a promo night at OPACY both coming up tomorrow, Wednesday, May 26. The Second Annual Orioles Cook-Off will take place tomorrow afternoon at the ESPN Zone in Baltimore. Participants Brad Bergesen, Luke Scott, and Kevin Millwood will have 30 minutes to prepare their own signature dishes. When the meals are complete, a panel of judges will score the culinary creations based on taste, presentation and creativity. Doors will open at 11:00 a.m. for the...
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The closer I get to you (w/Reimold update)

The closer I get to you (w/Reimold update)
The Orioles have gone through three closers this season if you count Jim Johnson. All three have come down with injuries - shoulder (Mike Gonzalez), elbow (Johnson) and hamstring (Alfredo Simon). The next guy will probably get appendicitis or a really nasty cold sore. If I'm Will Ohman, I'd be hiding from manager Dave Trembley today. Rip the bullpen phone off the wall after the eighth inning. Ohman actually has told pitching coach Rick Kranitz that he'd like the opportunity to close. He...
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