Orioles manager Buck Showalter refers to Steve Pearce as a "professional hitter," a guy who can sit for long stretches without complaint and still make solid contact at the plate. Pearce is providing a nice little demonstration today in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Pirates. Pearce was 1-for-7 before the Orioles designated him for assignment last week. He's 3-for-3 today with two run-scoring singles. The Orioles lead 4-1 after Pearce's second RBI hit with one out in the bottom of...

Play at Camden Yards was halted at 5:25 p.m. due to the latest storm to hit the Baltimore area. Mother Nature has a sick sense of humor. Fans in their orange "I Like Our Guys" T-shirts streamed to the exits. Streams formed in the parking lots. We have a theme today. The delay won't last long. The grounds crew already is pulling back the tarp at 5:36 p.m. Bud Norris has allowed one run and five hits in four innings, with one walk and three strikeouts. He threw 20, 20 and 20 pitches over...

Triple-A Norfolk outfielder Henry Urrutia has been placed on the seven-day minor league disabled list, retroactive to April 29, with an abdominal strain. Urrutia is batting .220/.250/.293 with six doubles and seven RBIs in 20 games with the Tides. The Orioles-Rays game at Camden Yards that was postponed due to rain on April 15 will be made up at 1:05 p.m. on June 27 as part of a split doubleheader. The Orioles and Pirates are playing Game 1 and Game 2 today. If the Orioles are smart,...

The Orioles today announced that they have rescheduled their April 15 game vs. Tampa Bay that was postponed by rain to Friday, June 27 at 1:05 p.m. as the first game of a separate admission doubleheader. Tickets for the previously postponed April 15 game are valid for the 1:05 p.m. game, and fans should bring their original tickets to the ballpark gates for admission. The regularly scheduled June 27 game remains at 7:05 p.m. Separate admission is required for each game. Eutaw Street Gates...

So we finally get to see another Orioles game in today's doubleheader against Pittsburgh. The Orioles are 1-2 on this homestand and 12-12 on the season. How about a few O's notes: * Orioles starters have pitched six innings or more in each of the last four games, That is their longest stretch of six-inning starts this season. The starters' ERA is 4.32 in that time. The Orioles do have quality starts in three of those four games. * When last we saw the Orioles, they scored just six runs on...

The Orioles and Pirates aren't allowed to call up a 26th player today because this isn't a split doubleheader. Also, the doubleheader wasn't scheduled before yesterday. Those are the rules. The Orioles had consecutive games postponed due to rain for the first time since April 13-14, 2004 in Boston. Here are the pitching matchups for the series in Minnesota: Friday: Ubaldo Jimenez versus Ricky Nolasco Saturday: Wei-Yin Chen versus Kevin Correia Sunday: Miguel Gonzalez versus Phil...

So Manny Machado has made his way back to the Orioles' active roster, but not the starting lineup quite yet. The Orioles decided it would not be the best move for him to play 18 innings today, so he'll start the second game of today's doubleheader against Pittsburgh. It's a move Machado had input into and agrees with. "I don't think it's a great idea if I go out and play two games on my first day," he said. "It's all right. Everything happens for a reason. I'm here and I'll be...

The Orioles announced that they optioned infielder Steve Lombardozzi to Triple-A Norfolk today to make room for third baseman Manny Machado on the 25-man roster. Lombardozzi, 25, batted .292/.301/.333 (21-for-72) in 19 games at second base for the Orioles this season. Ryan Flaherty remains on the roster and could start at first base tonight in Game 2. The Orioles like him defensively in the infield and he also can play the outfield. He's basically the backup first baseman with Chris Davis on...

The Orioles today announced that they have reinstated infielder Manny Machado from the 15-day disabled list and optioned infielder Steve Lombardozzi to Triple-A Norfolk. Machado, 21, appeared in three rehab games for Class-A Frederick, batting .667/.692/1.167 (8-12) with four doubles, a triple, five runs, two RBI and a stolen base. He was placed on the disabled list after having an arthroscopy and open reconstruction of the medial patellar femoral ligament on October 14, 2013, the result of a...

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado isn't starting Game 1 of today's doubleheader against the Pirates at Camden Yards. He's listed among the reserves, with Ryan Flaherty starting at third. Infielder Steve Lombardozzi isn't listed among the Orioles reserves. He's apparently been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for Machado on the 25-man roster. Lombardozzi said he's not injured and wouldn't comment further. Jemile Weeks is leading off again today. Steve Pearce is playing first...