Single-A right-hander

Coming off their second walk-off win in three days and a three-game series sweep, now the Orioles head into a stretch of seven games over the next seven days against the AL East. It starts tonight with three games at Tampa, followed by two at Boston and then two at home versus New York. Are the O's ready for this tough stretch, and will the momentum of the Seattle sweep help them get some wins during this next grueling stretch? The Orioles are 5-8 on the year against the AL East which...

Zach Britton did everything but get a win tonight with his amazing nine innings of scoreless baseball. It's the first time this year Britton did not get a decision, but with a single run of offensive support, he could have easily been the Orioles' first six-game winner before May was over since Kris Benson in 2006. Britton is now 5-2 with an ERA of 2.42 through his first eight major league starts. That is the 7th best ERA in the American League and he is tied for 4th in the AL with five...

The Orioles improved to 1-11 at home when scoring three runs or fewer. You knew they wouldn't be blanked all season. Tonight's game marked the first time two pitchers went nine innings or more and were both non-decisioned since July 10, 2010 - Philadelphia's Roy Halladay and Cincinnati's Travis Wood. It's the third time since 2000. "It was another great team win tonight," Zach Britton said. "My job was to keep us in the game as long as possible. You've got to tip your hat to (Jason)...

Just another night at the office. The game officially ended with one out in the 12th inning when pinch-runner Jake Fox followed Derrek Lee across the plate on J.J. Hardy's single into center field. Showalter toyed with the idea of using pitcher Jeremy Guthrie as a pinch-runner for Vladimir Guerrero at second base, which might not have brought the desired result after Mariners shortstop Luis Rodriguez made a diving stop with the bases loaded to rob Matt Wieters. "We had a running bet...

I must say, 4:45 a.m. arrived pretty early this morning. That makes sense, right? Why am I up at 4:45 a.m.? Because I have a 7:45 a.m. Southwest flight to Tampa that's not going to wait for me, unless the pilot is a big fan of the blog. (I know there's an "upright and locked position" joke in there, but we'll leave it alone.) I'm covering the three-game series at Tropicana Field. Jeremy Guthrie vs. Jeremy Hellickson tonight (all Jeremy's get in for half-price), Brad Bergesen vs....

Name the last Orioles pitcher to throw nine scoreless innings and get a no-decision. I'll trust you not to look up the answer. And no, you can't say Zach Britton. I mean before him. Kevin Gregg walked the leadoff hitter in the top of the 10th. That's never good. The Mariners didn't get a runner to second base until the 10th, but Mike Wilson bounced into a double play to bail out Gregg. Answer: Mike Morgan on April 16, 1988. Here's another one for you: Name the last major league...

Zach Britton has completed eight innings, and the Mariners are stuck on three hits and no walks. No runs, either. Britton has struck out four, and he's the first Orioles starter to finish eight innings since Jeremy Guthrie on opening day. Unfortunately, the Orioles haven't scored for him tonight. Britton has thrown 98 pitches, including 69 for strikes. He needed only eight pitches to complete the eighth, getting a fly ball, line drive and grounder up the middle that Brian Roberts...

Matt Wieters continues to throw out opposing base stealers at an amazing rate. When he threw out Luis Rodriguez trying to steal to end the top of the fifth tonight, Wieters moved over 50 percent on the year in throwing out runners. He has now thrown out 11 of 21 runners trying to steal. Here are the AL leaders by percentage among catchers coming into tonight: .514 - Kurt Suzuki of Oakland (18 of 35) .500 - Matt Wieters of Orioles (10 of 20) .500 - Kelly Shoppach of TB (5 of 10) .444 - Matt...

The Orioles have hit into three double plays in the first three innings. That's the maximum allowed, as far as I know. Brian Roberts singled in the first inning, and Nick Markakis grounded into a DP. Adam Jones and Matt Wieters singled in the second inning, and J.J. Hardy grounded into a DP. Robert Andino singled in the third - and you wanted him out of the lineup! - and Roberts grounded into a DP. The Orioles have stranded only one runner in three innings, so let's choose to look on the...