Chris Tillman retired the first six Yankees on just 24 pitches today with four strikeouts. But New York scored eight runs over its next three at bats this afternoon to beat the Orioles 8-3 in game one of a day-night doubleheader. Buck Showalter talks about the O's loss in the first game of a doubleheader in New York After the Orioles got RBI groundouts by Craig Tatum and J.J. Hardy to tie the game 2-2 in the top of the fourth, New York went ahead 5-2 in the last of the frame, which...

When a player who's drawing some trade interest is removed from a game with 24 hours left before the non-waiver deadline, a few eyebrows are going to be raised. Manager Buck Showalter sat Derrek Lee in the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 1. Mark Reynolds moved to first and Josh Bell took over at third. Let the speculation begin. Now let it end. I'm told that Lee was removed because it's hot in New York and the Orioles have another game to play tonight. You have to admit, the...

Chris Tillman mowed through the Yankees for the first two innings, striking out four batters and topping out at 94 mph, but his start went south in a hurry. He's expected to do the same after Game 1, returning to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for left-hander Zach Britton. Tillman was charged with seven runs (five earned), the last two scoring after Troy Patton replaced him, and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out six. He threw 80 pitches, 50 for strikes. Tillman threw...

The Washington Nationals today recalled infielder Brian Bixler from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Bixler posted a .314 batting average and .439 on-base percentage in 25 games this season with Syracuse. The 28-year-old scored 17 runs with five doubles, one home run, six RBI and four stolen bases for the Chiefs. In 45 games this season with Washington, Bixler has...

Chris Tillman has retired the first six Yankees he's faced in Game 1 of today's doubleheader, striking out four in a row. Tillman's fastball is 92-94 mph, and he froze Nick Swisher on a curveball for one of those strikeouts. Swisher might have froze because the ball was a little outside, but that's pretty much been the norm in this series. The strike zone has been expanded. Tillman has thrown 24 pitches, 17 for strikes. Ten of the 26 runs that he's allowed this season have come in...

Has a pitcher ever been sent to the minor leagues where his ERA was 1.33 in his last four starts? Yes, Chris Tillman in May by the Orioles. I had to double check, but Tillman's ERA in those final four starts before he was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk was that good. But he was continually struggling to get deep into games and unable to be pitch efficient with command issues then. While Tillman gave up just three earned runs in those last four starts in the majors before today, he pitched just...

The Washington Nationals today acquired 23 year-old outfielder Erik Komatsu from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for infielder/outfielder Jerry Hairston Jr. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Komatsu was named the Brewers' 2010 Minor League Player of the Year after hitting .323 with 31 doubles, five home runs and 63 RBI and 28 stolen bases in 130 games for Brevard County of the Single-A Florida State League....

The Orioles today announced that they have placed right-hander Brad Bergesen on the Paternity Leave List and recalled right-hander Chris Tillman from Triple-A Norfolk. Tillman will start game one of today's doubleheader. Tillman, 23, went 3-3 with a 4.17 ERA (49.2IP, 23ER) in 10 starts for the Tides. He was 2-3 with a 4.69 ERA (48.0IP, 25ER) in 10 starts for the Orioles earlier this season. Bergesen, 25, is 2-7 with a 5.79 ERA (79.1IP, 51ER) in 20 games (12 starts) for Baltimore this season.

For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Derrek Lee 1B Mark Reynolds 3B Felix Pie LF Craig Tatum C Blake Davis 2B Chris Tillman RHP For the Yankees: Gardner CF Nunez SS Teixeira DH Cano 2B Swisher RF Chavez 3B Posada 1B Dickerson LF Cervelli C Colon RHP Also, the Tigers reportedly have completed their deal for Mariners pitcher Doug Fister. Former Oriole David Pauley also is going to Detroit. Charlie Furbush and former Towson University...

I have heard some fans say they feel that one reason some of the Orioles' young pitchers have struggled this year is that they were rushed to the major leagues. Some might feel that way about Zach Britton, who began this year in the majors after making just 12 starts and pitching 66 1/3 innings last season for Triple-A Norfolk after moving up from Double-A Bowie. I don't think Britton was rushed. He pitched so well at both Bowie and Norfolk last year that everyone in baseball knew he was on...