*The Orioles are looking tonight to end this homestand with a three-game sweep after it started with Tampa sweeping them three straight. The last time the O's were swept in three or more games to start a homestand and then swept the next opponent on the stand was from June 26-July 2, 1997. They were swept by Toronto, but then swept the Phillies. *M's starter Jason Vargas is 1-1 with a 2.35 ERA in four career starts against Baltimore. He was taken in the second round of the 2004 draft, 68th...

Brian Roberts singled into center field leading off the bottom of the first inning. And you wanted him benched tonight! Roberts snapped an 0-for-26 slump. He hadn't collected a hit since May 4 in Kansas City. Roberts is 3-for-37 this month, so he still has some catching up to do. And speaking of catching... A male fan caught two fouls balls from Chone Figgins during the same at-bat in the first inning. It pays to bring your glove. The fan was standing behind the last row of seats in...

When Zach Britton took the loss in his last start, last Friday versus Tampa, he allowed four hits and three runs over 5 1/3 innings, throwing 95 pitches. It was the first time this season Britton has worked fewer than six innings in his seven starts. He has recorded five quality starts to date, and the Orioles are 5-2 when he takes the mound. That is his record also, as he has had a decision in every start. Tonight, Britton can pick up his sixth win. The Orioles did not have a pitcher record...

In my "1993 brawl" entry, I meant to point out that Cal Ripken's streak almost ended because of a knee injury sustained when he got caught in the bottom of a pile. Thanks to TomD for the reminder. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells worked on the knee the next day after Ripken said he wouldn't be able to play. The rest is baseball history. The Sun didn't report the injury because it went unnoticed with all the fights that broke out that afternoon. Once I joined the beat fulltime in...

Right now, Brian Roberts is going through perhaps one of the worst slumps of his career. He is hitless in his last 26 at-bats, dating to last Wednesday at Kansas City. He is batting just .209 in 34 games and he is a .283 career hitter. Roberts says it's as frustrating a stretch he has been through in recent years. "Yeah, probably," he said. "You go through slumps every year. There is really no escaping one at some point. This has probably been one of the more frustrating ones I've been...

Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz will likely make two injury rehab starts before the Orioles consider activating him from the disabled list. Matusz is scheduled to throw a bullpen session tomorrow afternoon at Tropicana Field, fly back to Baltimore and start Monday night at Single-A Frederick. He will probably join Triple-A Norfolk and start the May 21 game against Louisville at Harbor Park. Manager Buck Showalter said the only way Matusz could be activated after one minor league game is if...

J.J. Hardy moves up to seventh in the lineup after batting ninth and eighth this season, and Robert Andino replaces Luke Scott in left field against Mariners left-hander Jason Vargas. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino LF Zach Britton LHP For the Mariners: Ichiro RF Figgins 3B Smoak 1B Olivo C Cust DH M. Wilson LF J. Wilson 2B Rodriguez SS Saunders CF...

Brian Roberts, in a 1-for-34 slump, is doing some early hitting on the field with Jim Presley, who's tossing him the ball underhand from halfway between the mound and the plate. Watching Felix Pie go nose-to-nose with Seattle first baseman Justin Smoak Tuesday night might have brought back a few memories of the infamous 1993 brawl between the same two teams at Camden Yards. I wasn't on the beat back then, but I sure do remember it. Mike Mussina drilled Mariners catcher Bill Hasselman, later...

The Orioles announced today that their April 22 postponed game against the New York Yankees will be made up at 1:05 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27 as part of a day-night doubleheader at Camden Yards. The originally scheduled game for Aug. 27 will still be played at 7:05 p.m. that evening. Tickets dated April 22 will be accepted only at the 1:05 game Aug. 27; fans should simply bring their tickets from the April 22 game to the ballpark gates that day for admission. No exchange is necessary. Parking...

The Orioles have announced that the Yankees-Orioles game that was postponed by rain April 22 has been rescheduled for Saturday, Aug. 27 at 1:05 p.m. The makeup will be the daytime portion of a day/night doubleheader at Camden Yards that will require separate admissions. The nightcap will be the regularly scheduled 7:05 p.m. game. Tickets dated April 22 will be accepted only at the Aug. 27 1:05 game; fans should simply bring their tickets from the April 22 game to the ballpark gates that day...