The Indians lead the season series 4-0 after tonight's 8-4 victory over the Orioles. The Orioles have lost eight in a row, tying their longest streak of the season (April 9-18). They're 6-22 since entering their June 11 game with a 30-31 record, and they're batting .199 with runners in scoring position during that stretch. Orioles starters have completed seven innings only once in the last 27 games. Nick Markakis is batting .391 in his last 30 games, with seven doubles, three homers and...

The Orioles became the first team last night to score four earned runs off Indians starter Justin Masterson since June 3, and they did it over six innings. The end result was another loss for the Orioles, their eighth in a row. I preached all winter that they could finish .500 or slightly above if a lot of things fell into place. They would have to avoid injuries to key players, their young starters would have to take the next step and certain veterans would need bounce-back...

Dr. Michael Collins, the concussion specialist in Pittsburgh, reported today that second baseman Brian Roberts is improving and has been given the green light to increase his workload in Sarasota. He can amp up the baseball activities. However, no timetable has been established for Roberts to go on a rehab assignment in the minors. Don't look for him in the lineup anytime soon. The headaches and dizzy spells aren't as frequent, but they haven't completely subsided. Meanwhile, Nick...

For the Orioles, the second half has started like the first half ended, with a starter having issues and the club falling behind early in a game. Some notes as they try to dig out of a 3-0 hole against Cleveland here tonight and snap a seven-game slide. * The current Indians roster had a total of just one homer versus Jeremy Guthrie coming into this game, then Asdrubal Cabrera and Carlos Santana homered in a span of three batters in the opening inning as Cleveland took a 3-0 lead. Cabrera was...

So much for a fresh start to the season. Asdrubal Cabrera hit a solo home run with one out in the first inning, and Carlos Santana launched a two-run shot after Travis Hafner walked. Eleven pitches, two home runs, and a 3-0 lead for the Indians. Jeremy Guthrie threw 19 pitches in the inning, which included a diving stop along the line by first baseman Derrek Lee to rob Grady Sizemore of an extra-base hit. Cabrera's 15th homer came on a 94 mph fastball that traveled an estimated 362 feet....

Manager Buck Showalter had a lot to talk about during his pregame session with the media. On serving his suspension tonight: "We've got a chance tonight." "Managers don't really have any rights to appeal, even though we belong to the union. I think our right to appeal is talking to Joe (Torre), so I did that today." On the players' punishments: "I haven't really seen a lot. I've just been looking at what ours are. I think it's more take a look at the finished product when the...

Right-hander Brad Peacock capped off a whirlwind week with a well-deserved promotion to Triple-A Syracuse. Peacock started the week in the XM All-Star Futures Game, was invited to the Eastern League All-Star Game and then got the call to the Chiefs. The Miami, Fla., native went 10-2 with a career-low 2.01 ERA in 16 games (14 starts) for Double-A Harrisburg, including a career-high 129 strikeouts and 23 walks. The numbers are even more gaudy when you just show his starting statistics: In 14...

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters used words like "exciting" and "cool" to describe his first All-Star experience. He got into the game as a reserve in the sixth inning and went 0-for-1 at bat and also was charged with a passed ball after not being charged with one all season to that point. He later found out he was slated, as the third catcher on the American League squad, to possibly only play at all if the game went extra innings. Then New York catcher Russell Martin told AL manager Ron...

It was determined by Major League Baseball that Red Sox manager Terry Francona will not be suspended or fined because Red Sox pitcher Kyle Weiland did not intentionally throw at Vladimir Guerrero during Sunday's game. Orioles manager Buck Showalter is serving his one-game suspension tonight. Kevin Gregg was fined $2,500. Michael Gonzalez was fined $1,500, and Jim Johnson was fined $500. Vladimir Guerrero isn't in the lineup because of the sore hand and wrist. Guerrero told Showalter this...

For the 25th consecutive year, the Orioles, along with Orioles Wives, Oriole Advocates, WJZ-TV, and the Maryland Food Bank, will hold their 25th annual Food Drive at Oriole Park at Camden Yards this weekend, July 15-17, during the Orioles' series with the Cleveland Indians. Members of these groups will collect non-perishable food items and monetary donations from fans at each entrance from the time gates open until the middle of the second inning. During last year's Orioles Food Drive, more...