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...

*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...