Brian Matusz got back into the rotation today. Now we're left to wonder again whether he'll stay in it. Matusz was charged with five runs in 1 1/3 innings today, the last one scoring while he sat in the dugout. Chris Jakubauskas served up a grand slam to Robinson Cano with one out in the second to give New York an 8-5 lead. Just another day at Yankee Stadium. You're surprised? Matusz allowed five hits, walked two and struck out three. He threw 46 pitches, 24 for strikes. His fastball...

Isn't it nice when the Orioles do a little two-out damage? Nick Markakis got ahead of Yankees starter Freddy Garcia 3-0 with two outs in the first inning. He took a pitch for a strike, and crushed an 86 mph fastball, sending it deep into the seats in right field for a 1-0 lead. The Yankees have outscored the Orioles, 35-7, in the first inning this season, so Markakis' blast is a refreshing change of pace. Let's see how long left-hander Brian Matusz can hold that lead, and whether the...

BOWIE, Md.- Here is today's starting lineup for the Double-A Bowie Baysox as they try to make the playoffs on the final day of the regular season. Bowie hosts Erie at Prince George's Stadium at 2 p.m. Chris Davis, in his second game on an injury rehab assignment, will start at third base and is batting third. He went 2-for-3 for Bowie on Sunday. CF - Xavier Avery SS - Pedro Florimon 3B - Chris Davis LF - LJ Hoes 1B - Joe Mahoney DH - Brandon Waring C - Caleb Joseph 2B - Buck Britton RF -...

Kyle Hudson made his major league debut yesterday, grounding into two double plays, and he's back in left field today for the series opener against the Yankees. Nolan Reimold remains on the bench. For the Orioles: Kyle Hudson LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Robert Andino 3B Ryan Adams 2B Brian Matusz LHP Matusz is trying to snap a seven-game losing streak. Orioles starting pitchers have allowed five or more runs...

The Orioles are in the home stretch of their 14th consecutive losing season. That's a lot of bad baseball. However, one thing the Birds have never done during that run is lose 100 games. In fact, the O's have lost 100 games in a season only twice since the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore, going 54-100 in 1954 and 54-107 in 1988. Here are some facts and figures about 100-loss seasons in Baltimore and beyond: * The Orioles have more than twice as many 100-win seasons as they do 100-loss...

Nationals first baseman Chris Marrero is into his second week with the big club and has registered seven hits in eight games, batting .241. He has hung in there at first base as he gets acclimated to the speed of the game and has leaned on the coaching staff and his teammates to help him get better. Marrero said it has been an exciting couple of weeks playing for the Nats. "Yes, definitely. I am playing every day here I am having fun," Marrero said. "I am just getting used to playing with...

The Orioles and Yankees are playing a 1:05 p.m. game today, which means an early lineup posting and, we'll assume, a more normal outfield alignment. Nolan Reimold should be back in left field. Nick Markakis should be back in right. And please, put Mark Reynolds back at first base. I believe that Reynolds is better defensively at third than we've seen this year, but there's no question that he's a better first baseman. There's no question that the Orioles should project him as a first...

We keep hearing talk that Jim Johnson could get some starting pitching assignments before this season ends, but we haven't seen that yet. Johnson clearly seems capable of handling that role. He has three very good pitches with his sinking fastball, curve and changeup. He may have the best changeup on the team. And Johnson's power sinker has produced a ratio of 2.15 groundouts to air outs that is the best on the team among those that have pitched 20 innings or more. Johnson has had a very...

Before I mention the Bowie Baysox's key win today, I should point out that in the last day or two, whatever I write about, the opposite seems to happen. On Saturday morning, I pointed out the Orioles pitching staff had an ERA of 1.60 leading the O's to a 6-1 record this year at Tropicana Field. Then they went out and gave up 14 runs in losing the last two days there. This morning, I pointed out Adam Jones was in a 3-for-36 slump over his last 11 games and he went out and went 2-for-3 with a...

Adam Jones has been slumping, but he was the right guy to give the Orioles their first hit of the afternoon. He also tossed them a run. Jones hit his 23rd home run to reduce Tampa Bay's lead to 7-1 in the fifth inning. He has 80 RBIs this season. Jones drilled a changeup from Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson, giving him two hits in his last 20 at-bats, and four in his last 38. Jones didn't have a home run during that stretch. One more note in the Reid Brignac three-run double: Brignac was...