ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles and Rays have a 4:10 p.m. start today, which means staying in bed a little longer and getting out of the ballpark a little earlier. It's a win-win situation. I'm a huge fan of the late-afternoon games. Wish there were more of them on the schedule. I won't suggest that jobs will be kept or lost based on today's outcome, but Brad Bergesen needs to steer away from the rocks and Jake Fox needs to guide him. Another crash won't do them any favors. Matt...

I have heard some fans say that we all should have expected to see new Orioles' third baseman Mark Reynolds hit for a real low average after he batted .198 last year. However, Reynolds hit .279 in 2007, .239 in 2008 and .260 in 2009. His career batting average coming into this season was .242. He was a career .280 hitter in the minor leagues. Right now, Reynolds is batting .174 with three homers and 15 RBIs. That batting average is 68 points under his career number. Plus, his power outage...

Marlins second baseman Omar Infante somehow avoided a tag attempt by Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos in the 11th inning, scoring the eventual winning run in a 6-5 thriller Friday night at Nationals Park. Infante raced from first base on Greg Dobbs' double down the right-field line. With Infante arriving at home plate before the ball, Ramos tried - to no avail - to tag Infante, first on his left and then on his right hand. Home plate umpire Paul Nauert called Infante safe when Infante's...

The Florida Marlins edged the Washington Nationals 6-5 on an RBI double by Greg Dobbs in the 11th inning before 19,503 at Nationals Park on Friday night. With one out in the 11th, Omar Infante singled off Nationals reliever Brian Broderick (0-1). Dobbs' one-out hit down the right-field line scored Infante, who reached his right hand around the tag of catcher Wilson Ramos and was called safe by home plate umpire Paul Nauert. The rest of the Marlins' offense was built around solo homers...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles have scored in one of their last 23 innings. Naturally, it didn't happen tonight with Jeremy Guthrie on the mound. You should have it all memorized by now. The Orioles haven't scored in five of Guthrie's last seven starts while he's been in the game. They've totaled six runs in his last seven starts while he's been on the mound. It's nothing personal. It's nothing they can control. It just keeps happening. Jeremy Guthrie talks about his complete...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles center fielder Adam Jones described Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson as "a little different." It was the result that looked familiar. Another pitcher flattened the Orioles' bats. Hellickson went the distance tonight, shutting out the Orioles on four hits, walking one and striking out three. Adam Jones talks about the difficulties the O's had hitting Jeremy Hellickson "He threw everything - first-pitch strikes, curveball, changeup," Jones said. "He just...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles won last night despite being shut out for the first 11 innings and falling behind by a run in the 12th. They didn't score through nine innings tonight and weren't nearly as fortunate. "We've got to figure it out. Just because we're facing good pitching...that's why they call it the major leagues. You've got to figure it out," said manager Buck Showalter. Gary Thorne asks Buck Showalter about the O's tough 3-0 loss to the Rays Jeremy Guthrie turned...

A few quick thoughts after the Orioles' lost 3-0 to Tampa Bay tonight to begin a three-game series. * The Orioles have now scored just six runs over Jeremy Guthrie's last seven starts. They have not scored in five of those starts while he was still in the game. There is an adjective for that, but amazing and unbelievable doesn't seem to do that stat justice. * Jeremy Hellickson tonight proved the statement that momentum is as good as tonight's starting pitcher to be true in baseball. So...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter ordered an intentional walk to Rays left fielder Matt Joyce with first base open and two outs in the sixth inning. Another left-handed hitter, Casey Kotchman, stood on deck, but Showalter didn't want the Guthrie-Joyce matchup in that situation. Here's why it made sense: Joyce homered and singled tonight, making him 8-for-20 lifetime against Jeremy Guthrie. Joyce also led the American League in batting before tonight with a .358...

Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond is creating havoc for opposing pitchers on the base paths. Despite a left quad injury that sidelined him Saturday, Desmond has stolen 13 bases, tied for the top spot in the National League. Third base coach Bo Porter, who stole 236 bases in the minor leagues and was an All-Big 10 defensive back for the Iowa Hawkeyes, says Desmond is good because he has speed but he is also paying attention to the pitcher and the game situation while on base. "He is very...