They were two outings 22 days apart, but in back-to-back big league starts at Boston and New York, Orioles rookie Zach Britton got knocked out twice in the first inning. Over those two starts, the second of which was Saturday night at Yankee Stadium, Britton pitched a combined one inning giving up 13 hits, 17 runs with 13 earned and threw 85 pitches. Opponent batters went 13-for-17 against him in the outings and his ERA rose from 3.47 to 4.56. Britton became the first pitcher in major league...

So Derrek Lee is traded to Pittsburgh and he hits two home runs in his debut. Of course he does. Trade Felix Pie and watch him win the Triple Crown. Deal Kevin Gregg and watch him have a 1-2-3 inning. The Orioles are back on the field tonight, and that means more roster moves are coming. New pitcher Tommy Hunter will be added to the 25-man roster, and Brad Bergesen will return after being placed on paternity leave. The Orioles have two openings after they optioned left-handers Pedro Viola...

After a career performance Sunday in Potomac's win over Frederick, left-hander Danny Rosenbaum is headed to Double-A Harrisburg. Rosenbaum was electric Sunday, going eight innings and striking out a career-high 11 hitters, and has been the most consistent hitter at Potomac all season, going 6-5 with a 2.59 ERA in 20 games (19 starts). He has 108 strikeouts and has gone 4-2 with a 2.23 ERA in his last 10 starts. The P-Nats will activate left fielder J.P Ramirez and catcher Brian Peacock off...

Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg continues to make solid progress as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery in Viera, Fla., and the team is nearing its decision to get him in rehab starts closer to home. Manager Davey Johnson said Strasburg is in "great shape" and is on target to have his first rehab assignment in the first week of August at Double-A Hagerstown. A club source said Hagerstown has been discussed as site for the first rehab start Aug. 6. Strasburg would then move on to high...

Left-hander Brian Matusz allowed three runs over seven innings last night for Triple-A Norfolk, with six hits, two walks, one strikeout and two home runs in the Tides' 6-5, 13-inning loss to Columbus. He threw 92 pitches, 59 for strikes. Those are the raw numbers, which I passed along last night. Here's more: Matusz's fastball was mostly 88-89 mph and topped out at 91, which is an improvement over past starts. He was usually in the 85-89 mph range before last night. "His velocity was up...

The Washington Nationals today unconditionally released outfielder/infielder Matt Stairs. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Stairs, 43, batted .154 with one double and two RBI in 56 games this season with Washington.

The July 31 non-waiver trade deadline is gone, but that doesn't mean trades have stopped. They get trickier, though. Now, if a team wants to trade a player, he has to clear waivers. For example, if the Orioles wanted to trade a pitcher to the Yankees, that pitcher would have to be offered to every other team in the standings before the Yankees could get him. If, say, Cleveland wanted him, the Indians would put a claim on him. Then, the Orioles could either pull the pitcher back and or let...

I may owe Double-A Bowie second baseman Greg Miclat an apology. I think I jinxed him. I recently wrote about Miclat's amazing run stealing bases this year, where he had stolen 35 bases in 35 attempts. Well, in game two of a doubleheader Friday at New Britain, Miclat's run ended at 36-for-36 steals. In the sixth inning, he was picked off first and caught stealing for the first time all year. His 36 steals leads all O's minor leaguers and ranks second in the Eastern League. As Buck would...

What's the best way to approach a new month? If you're the Orioles, you don't play. Take a day off. Regroup. Try to find five capable starters for your rotation. Try to read the name "Davis" on the back of the first baseman's jersey without thinking of Glenn. Now that the non-waiver deadline smoke has cleared, we can look forward to the August trade speculation. Deals are still consummated after July 31. Jeff Conine was dealt to the Marlins on Aug. 31, 2003 for Don Levinski and Denny...

Potomac Nationals left-hander