The Orioles' run of solid starting pitching that had carried them to four straight wins over playoff contenders ended this afternoon at Camden Yards. Alfredo Simon gave up six runs and eight hits over five innings as the Angels beat the Orioles 11-2 at Camden Yards to keep the Orioles from their sixth series sweep of the season. Angels leadoff hitter Erick Aybar went 4-for-4 with two doubles, two homers, five runs scored and four RBIs for Los Angeles which also got a two-run double from...

Alfredo Simon has come back out to start the fifth inning, but he's already allowed two home runs to Erick Aybar and one to Vernon Wells, and the Orioles trail the Angels, 6-1, in a game that's moving slower than the Griswolds after they arrive at Wally World. Manager Buck Showalter has Brad Bergesen warming in the bullpen again, so Simon is near the end of a very disappointing afternoon. He's surrendered six runs and seven hits, with one walk, four strikeouts, a wild pitch and a hit...

That didn't take long. Alfredo Simon drilled Angels first baseman Mark Trumbo in the back pocket with a 95 mph fastball in the first inning, and plate umpire Laz Diaz jumped out from behind home plate and issued warnings to both benches. It's fair to assume that Simon was retaliating after Angels starter Ervin Santana hit Nolan Reimold and Mark Reynolds last night. Reynolds was drilled above the left temple, and he's out of today's lineup. Simon walked leadoff hitter Erick Aybar on four...

Some notes as the Orioles and Angels wrap up a series today and the Orioles end a six-game homestand. * Today the Orioles have a chance for their sixth series sweep of the season and first since they took four in a row at Minnesota in late August. The Orioles' five series sweeps this year: April 1-3: 3 games at Tampa. May 10-12: 3 games vs. Seattle. May 24-26: 3 games vs. Kansas City. June 6-8: 3 games vs. Oakland August 22-25: 4 games at Minnesota * The Orioles have now won four games in a...

When Brian Matusz takes the mound in Fenway Park on Monday night, it will have been two weeks since he last pitched in a game. He gave up five runs in just 1 1/3 innings on September 5 at New York and now he is slated to start the evening game of Monday's day-night doubleheader at Boston. "Yeah, I'm excited to get out there and just getting another opportunity is a good feeling. I just want to go out, compete, pound the zone and get ahead." Matusz feels he has had a few productive side...

Mark Reynolds joked with teammates this morning that they need to go easy on him because he's "concussed." At least he's able to laugh about it. Reynolds says he's fine and thought he might be in the lineup today, but a reporter broke the news that he's on the bench. "Oh, there's a lineup up? Then I'm probably not playing," he said. "I was going to go beg Buck (Showalter)." Reynolds was hit above the left temple by an Ervin Santana pitch in the third inning last night and left...

Mark Reynolds will spend today's game on the bench after being hit in the head last night by an Ervin Santana pitch. Reynolds says he's fine and could play, but manager Buck Showalter is starting Chris Davis at first base and Josh Bell at third. Reynolds expects to be in the lineup for tomorrow's doubleheader in Boston. Reynolds said he believes that Santana hit him on purpose, but he doesn't think the right-hander was aiming for his head. For the Orioles: Matt Angle CF J.J. Hardy...

Nationals starter Ross Detwiler will get the call Tuesday in Game 1 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Rookie Tommy Milone will be handed the ball for Game 2 that night. The other prized recent call up, Brad Peacock, gets the nod Wednesday night at Philadelphia. Also, Nationals reliever Ryan Mattheus participated in a simulation game Saturday in which he threw 20 to 25 pitches and faced two batters. "It went well, the arm felt great," Mattheus confirmed. Mattheus is recovering from...

Nationals right-handed relief pitcher Collin Balester said he was not bothered by the cold weather or being extended more than one inning during Saturday's 13-inning loss to the Florida Marlins. Donnie Murphy hit a two-run shot in the 13th to break a 1-1 tie and help the Marlins to a 4-1 victory. Balester said pitching that long in relief wasn't the concern and he felt he was doing pretty well. "I have done it before, probably five or six times this year (having been extended for more...

After he pitched the Orioles to a 6-2 win over Los Angeles, Zach Britton talked about his seven-inning outing where he gave up just three hits and one run. Zach Britton speaks with the media after a solid performance in the O's win over the Angels "It's good. I know I'm capable of it," Britton said. "The last couple outings it just came down to fastball command. It was better tonight. Obviously it can still improve, but it allowed me to go deeper in the game. So I feel like I've had...