The Orioles announced after tonight's game that they have optioned right-hander Jake Arrieta to Triple-A Norfolk. Arrieta did not make an appearance with the Orioles after being recalled on Sunday. He went 3-9 with a 6.13 ERA (101.1IP, 69ER) in 18 starts with the Orioles earlier this season. He went 3-4 with a 4.91 ERA (44.0IP, 24ER) in eight starts with the Tides.

Lew Ford and Nate McLouth were teammates at Triple-A Norfolk this summer. They didn't envision hitting home runs on the same night at Camden Yards. It's been that kind of a season. Ford led off the bottom of the second inning with a home run, his first with the Orioles. He also singled in the sixth. And McLouth's two-run shot in the eighth erased the White Sox's 3-2 lead. "I kind of thought about that tonight after he hit his. I was like, 'This is two of the guys who just came up and...

Jake Arrieta's latest stint with the Orioles was a brief one, as the right-hander was optioned back to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for Joe Saunders after the game. Arrieta didn't pitch for the club after being called up prior to Sunday's rainout. He's eligible to return to the Orioles on Sept. 4. He'll start for the Tides within the next three days.

Yes, it has been awhile since Wei-Yin Chen pitched for the Orioles. Before tonight, his last outing was Aug. 19 in Detroit, when he gave up five runs and seven hits over five innings. That day he gave up five runs in the first inning. Over his last three starts, Chen has pitched to an ERA of 7.47. Good for an airline, not an ERA. Over 15 2/3 innings in those outings, he gave up 25 hits including four homers, and a batting average against of .362. Buck Showalter is clearly aware of this Chen...

Wei-Yin Chen allowed 19 runs in the first inning before tonight, the most of any inning. He retired the White Sox in order, getting two fly balls and striking out Adam Dunn. Maybe that's a good sign. The Orioles tried to give him a lead in the bottom of the first, getting a leadoff single by Nick Markakis and a two-out single by Matt Wieters. Markakis was thrown out at the plate after a pitch from left-hander Francisco Liriano bounced away from catcher A.J. Pierzynski. Markakis began the...

Tonight begins a stretch where the Orioles play seven straight games and 11 of the next 14 against the White Sox and Yankees, a pair of division leaders. Chicago comes to town tonight leading the AL Central by 2 1/2 games over Detroit with a record of 71-55 and six wins in a row. The Chisox just swept the Yankees and Seattle, and are 16 games over .500 for the first time since Sept. 7, 2010. Chicago's last four wins have all been by one run and the White Sox are 15-4 in their last 19 one-run...

Manager Buck Showalter fielded a variety of topics during today's pregame media session. Showalter spent part of the afternoon watching Jason Hammel's simulated game. "Things went well for Ham today," Showalter said. "He was up throwing. What did he have, 58? He took a few more fielding his position, so he had a little over 60. Three-plus innings. We'll see how he is tomorrow, and if things go well, we'll see him pitching on a rehab assignment on the first, and that would probably be a...

In Jake Arrieta's last two starts at Triple-A Norfolk, he pitched 12 2/3 innings and gave up just four hits and four runs with seven walks and 16 strikeouts. Coming off those two outings with a better focus on every pitch and adjusted mental outlook, Arrieta is back with the Orioles and, for now, pitching out of the bullpen. He last pitched in an Orioles game on July 5. "Real, real happy to be here," Arrieta said today. "Not necessarily the way I envisioned the year panning out up to this...

Joe Saunders is traveling to Baltimore and is expected to arrive tonight. He will be in uniform on Tuesday and most likely start on Wednesday against the White Sox. Saunders did some throwing before leaving Arizona and is "excited" to come here, said manager Buck Showalter. The Orioles are expected to announce a corresponding roster move following tonight's game. Showalter said left-hander Zach Britton will "probably" start Wednesday or Thursday - whichever game Saunders doesn't...

Lew Ford gets the start at designated hitter tonight, as manager Buck Showalter breaks out the first of his three right-handed lineups for this series. Left fielder Nate McLouth drops to seventh in the order, with Adam Jones moving from cleanup to third. Also, the Orioles won't add pitcher Joe Saunders to the 25-man roster until Tuesday. No roster move today. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Lew Ford DH Mark Reynolds 1B Nate McLouth LF Manny...