Let's start with Steve Johnson, who found out late last night that the Orioles were calling him up for a second time. "It was after the game," he said. "I was about to head out the door and they told me to hold up and called me in. I packed my stuff and started driving." Johnson spent two days with the Orioles in Seattle, but he never got in a game. He has no idea how long he'll be with the club or whether he's going to accompany them to Minnesota. The only certainty is that Johnson...

Here is an interesting stat: Eight of the players in the Orioles' starting lineup today have combined for just one career homer off Justin Verlander in 85 at-bats. But the other player in the lineup today has seven career homers in 49 at-bats against the Detroit right-hander. Jim Thome is the guy with all the homers. He is 12-for-49 in his career vs. Verlander for a modest .245 batting average. But he has one double and those seven homers off Verlander to go along with 11 RBIs and career OPS...

The Orioles' rotation for the series in Minnesota that begins tomorrow will not include left-hander Brian Matusz. Chris Tillman will start tomorrow after making it through yesterday's bullpen session without a recurrence of the back spasms that flared up on Thursday. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed that Zach Britton will start Tuesday, marking the left-hander's first appearance in the majors this season. However, Showalter eliminated Matusz from consideration for Wednesday's...

The Orioles today announced that they have placed right-hander Jason Hammel on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 14, with a right knee injury and recalled right-hander from Triple-A Norfolk. In 18 starts for the Orioles, Hammel is 8-6 with a 3.54 ERA (109.1IP, 43ER). Johnson, 24, was 3-6 with a 3.11 ERA (66.2IP, 23ER) in 15 games (20 starts) for the Tides. He was acquired by the Orioles with infielder Josh Bell on July 30, 2009 in exchange for left-hander George Sherrill....

Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel told reporters a few minutes ago that he has decided he will have surgery on his right knee. The arthroscopic procedure will take place at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore on Monday. "Obviously, it's not what I want to do, but it's what needs to be done," Hammel said. "I can't keep pitching on a bad leg and start doing things with my arm and hurting stuff there. I'm bummed out, but it will be a pretty routine surgery. I figure a few weeks, maybe four...

For the first time in 71 games, Ian Desmond will not be at shortstop when the Nationals take the field today. Desmond and his sore oblique will get the day off, with Danny Espinosa sliding over from second base to play shortstop and Steve Lombardozzi filling in at second. Interestingly enough, Desmond needs the day off just two games into the second half of the season, after getting four days of rest over the All-Star break. Desmond started all but one game over the first half, and has...

Taylor Teagarden played in his first game with the Orioles yesterday. He hit his first home run, and the first walk-off shot of his career. Today, he gets to start his first game behind the plate. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Jim Thome DH Adam Jones CF Chris Davis LF Wilson Betemit 3B Mark Reynolds 1B Taylor Teagarden C Robert Andino 2B Miguel Gonzalez RHP For the Tigers: Jackson CF Berry LF Cabrera 3B Fielder 1B Boesch DH Peralta SS Avila C Santiago 2B Kelly...

You could hardly blame Jim Johnson for his blown save Saturday. Not that giving up four hits and three runs in one inning is ever a good thing, but Johnson also was hurt by a key error on third baseman Ryan Flaherty in that inning. Also, Johnson has been near-perfect in closing games for the Orioles this year and that was just his second blown save in 28 chances. Johnson saved his first 17 in a row before a blown save June 5 at Boston. He then saved nine in a row before Saturday's...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter used six relievers last night after starter Jason Hammel exited in the fourth inning with a knee injury. He used seven relievers tonight because the game lasted 13 innings. Needing a fresh arm for the bullpen, the Orioles will recall Steve Johnson from Triple-A Norfolk and get him to Camden Yards in time for tomorrow afternoon's series finale against the Tigers that also concludes a brief homestand. Johnson qualifies as a fresh arm. He hasn't pitched since...

Taylor Teagarden hadn't hit a home run in the major leagues since Aug. 18, 2010. He hadn't played in a major league game since Aug 20, 2011. Of course, Teagarden homered tonight to break a 6-6 tie in the bottom of the 13th inning and give the Orioles a rousing 8-6 win over the Tigers before 43,215 at Camden Yards. The Orioles blew a 4-1 lead in the ninth. They overcame a 5-4 deficit in the 11th. They overcame a 6-5 deficit in the 13th. Manager Buck Showalter referred to the Orioles as a...