Tonight's attendance: 28,340 Alfredo Simon had retired eight of nine batters before Lance Berkman led off the top of the seventh inning with his second home run of the night and his 20th this season. David Freese followed with a double, and Simon was out of the game. Michael Gonzalez walked Colby Rasmus to put runners on first and second with no outs, but he escaped the jam without another run scoring. Berkman is the first Cardinals player to homer from both sides of the plate since...

Brian Matusz's sixth start didn't bring any comfort to the Orioles or the young left-hander. Matusz allowed eight runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings, with one walk, two strikeouts and two home runs. He threw 70 pitches, the last resulting in Jon Jay's three-run homer. Alfredo Simon replaced Matusz, who has surrendered 14 runs and 18 hits in his last two starts covering eight innings. Rick Adair and catcher Matt Wieters both made trips to the mound in the fourth - Adair after No. 9...

Manager Buck Showalter was asked what he needs to see from Brian Matusz tonight to be convinced that the left-hander is moving in the right direction. It won't be velocity. "I know what everybody's going to be looking at the first time he throws a fastball - second time, third time," Showalter said. "I think command and his secondary pitches, so that thick or thin he'll be able to defend himself. Going back through the tape and stuff, you see a lot of those pitches were center cut. That...

When Brian Matusz throws his first few pitches tonight, most of us will turn our attention to the radar gun to check out his velocity. But, just as important for Matusz will be his command and control of his other pitches. All four of his pitches have been finding too much of the middle of the plate recently, as he has given up 14 earned runs in 11 1/3 innings over his past three starts. So watch Matusz's secondary pitches tonight and how he is commanding them. It could be just as important...

As soon as the Cardinals announced that left-hander Jaime Garcia would make tonight's start for the Cardinals instead of right-hander Jake Westbrook, you knew that Nolan Reimold would crack the Orioles' lineup for the first time since June 19. It's not like Reimold is being eased back into the competition. Not with Garcia on the mound. "Well, like he said, it beats (Triple-A) Norfolk," manager Buck Showalter said. "First of all, there aren't many left-handers in the big leagues who...

Blake Davis is certainly enjoying his time in the major leagues. He has been with the Orioles since June 18 and is batting .313 (5-for-16) over five games. For Davis, he is in the majors about two years after it looked like he might make it the first time. He was having a solid spring training in March of 2009 with the Orioles and coming off a season where he hit .284 at Bowie. His stock was on the rise and he made a good impression in big league camp. But then he suffered an ankle injury...

Jake Arrieta is still scheduled to start Saturday night's interleague game in Atlanta. He threw in the bullpen yesterday and impressed pitching coach Rick Adair. Vladimir Guerrero is expected to be on the bench again for the three games against the Braves unless injuries dictate a change in plans. Guerrero didn't start any of the games in Washington and Pittsburgh. Former No. 1 pick Matt Hobgood threw two scoreless innings today for the Gulf Coast League Orioles. He allowed one hit and...

COLUMBIA, MD JUNE 30, 2011 - KidsPeace, a 129-year-old national children's charity with offices throughout the Maryland, Virginia and District of Columbia areas, today announced a commitment from Baltimore Orioles Manager William "Buck" Showalter and his wife Angela to lend their voices in support of the organization's mission. KidsPeace provides Foster Care and Community Services to hundreds of children with mental and behavioral health issues. The organization, based in Pennsylvania,...

Nolan Reimold is making his first start tonight since June 19. He'll also get his first at-bats since that date. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Derrek Lee 1B Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Nolan Reimold LF Robert Andino 2B Brian Matusz LHP If you're keeping score at home, here are the Orioles' draft picks who have agreed to terms: Mike Wright (3), Kyle Simon (4), Matt Taylor (5), Trent Howard (7), Devin Jones (9), Adam Davis...

Single-A Hagerstown Suns outfielder and No. 1 prospect Bryce Harper returned to the lineup Wednesday, after missing three games due to a sore thumb injury. Overall, Harper has sat out seven games and the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game because of the thumb problem. Last week, Nationals Director of Player Development Doug Harris reported that Harper is doing well in his recovery from the setback. "It is not really a thumb thing," Harris said. "It is the fatty tissue in between his index...