I wanted to chime in again on today's roster moves, since I'm home and not pulling off the road to tweet and dictate blog updates. The Orioles optioned Mitch Atkins to Triple-A Norfolk after today's game, and the move can't come as much of a surprise. Manager Buck Showalter noted how Atkins again displayed poor fastball command, and the right-hander has allowed nine runs and 13 hits, with three walks and five home runs, in his last two starts spanning only 4 2/3 innings. Atkins held the...

Following today's 9-8 loss to the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field, the Washington Nationals optioned infielder Brian Bixler to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The 28 year-old Bixler hit .196 (9-for-46) with a double, one RBI, four stolen bases and four walks in 45 games with the Nationals this season.

With his team trailing 3-1, Mark Hendrickson took the mound today in the top of the fourth inning looking to put up some zeroes and give his team a chance to come back. "We still had a lot of game left, just wanted to give our offense a chance. Sometimes the role I'm in usually doesn't come with a lot of attention but I just wanted to execute pitches," Hendrickson said, after picking up his first major league win since last May 13 against Seattle as the Orioles beat Cleveland...

Today's attendance: 17,754 The Orioles have won back-to-back games for the first time since June 19-20, and veteran left-hander Mark Hendrickson is a big reason why they defeated the Indians today, 8-3, at Camden Yards. Hendrickson replaced starter Mitch Atkins and threw three scoreless innings. Buck Showalter's postgame comments after the Birds beat the Indians 8-3 "He was probably the key to the game, the innings he put up there," manager Buck Showalter said. "Mitch was very...

Many times over the last month or so, an Orioles starting pitcher gave up early runs and the team could not climb out of the early hole. Today, after falling behind 3-0 in the first, the Orioles rallied to beat Cleveland 8-3 in front of 17,754 at Camden Yards to split the four-game series. The Orioles have back-to-back wins for the first time since June 19 and 20. The AL Central-leading Indians got homers from Travis Hafner and Carlos Santana in taking a 3-0 lead in the first against Mitch...

Last night, Felix Pie's two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning proved to be extremely important when the Indians scored three times in the ninth. Pie had extended the Orioles' lead to 6-2. They needed every inch of that margin. Today, Robert Andino laid down a bunt in the bottom of the seventh with Derrek Lee breaking for home. Lee beat the throw to the plate, and Andino raced to second when the ball got past catcher Carlos Santana. Andino was credited his fourth RBI, a career...

If an Oriole was going to hit a three-run homer today, it didn't figure to be second baseman Robert Andino. On your list of candidates, he would have ranked pretty low. Andino's three-run shot off Indians starter Jeanmar Gomez gave the Orioles a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. The ball traveled an estimated 362 feet. It didn't clear the left field fence by much, but it got there. Andino has two home runs this season, the other coming on April 30. He was hitting .176 with...

A couple of notes from the O's minors to pass along. Outfielder Kyle Hudson has returned to Triple-A Norfolk to take the roster spot of Matt Angle, who joined the Orioles today. Hudson was batting .308 in 28 games at Double-A Bowie. He was with the Tides earlier and between May 20 and June 26, hit .188 in 24 Norfolk games. Billy Rowell remains on the disabled list at Double-A Bowie, but this week did begin an injury rehab assignment with the Gulf Coast League Orioles. He's been on the DL...

Mitch Atkins has thrown 50 pitches in two innings. Mark Hendrickson began to warm with two outs in the second, but Atkins struck out Carlos Santana to strand two runners. Atkins lasted only 1 2/3 innings in his last start in Boston, so he's cleared that mark. But he won't be around much longer if he continues to labor. Seven of the 13 batters he's faced have reached base. Adam Jones, batting cleanup today, crushed a Jeanmar Gomez slider for his 15th home run, reducing the Indians' lead...

Mitch Atkins gave up three home runs to the Boston Red Sox in the second inning of his most recent start at Fenway Park. He's allowed two homers to the Indians in the first inning today. The long ball could lead to another short day for Atkins. Travis Hafner and Carlos Santana went back-to-back with two outs. Manager Buck Showalter argued that the ball was foul, but the call stood after umpires reviewed it. Santana's ball is the 56th to land on Eutaw St. in Camden Yards history, the 32nd...