Jake Arrieta is charged with eight runs and six hits in 3 1/3 innings, with two walks and five strikeouts. He threw 77 pitches, 50 for strikes. Arrieta's ERA jumps to 8.68. J.J. Hardy left the game after two innings with a strained left oblique muscle, an injury that usually leads to a stay on the disabled list. So much for that feel-good vibe from Game 1. Brian Roberts needed some assistance from assistant athletic trainer Brian Ebel after apparently getting some dirt in his eye, but he...

Manny Ramirez is one of the best right-handed hitters in history, but that's not how he's going to be remembered. Manny should be putting the finishing touches on a Hall of Fame career, but he's never going to have a plaque in Cooperstown. Ramirez has retired from the Rays after it was reported that Major League Baseball was suspending him for 100 games for violating the sport's drug policy. Ramirez has already served a 50-game suspension with the Dodgers for using steroids. Manny has a...

Passing along a few stats coming out of the O's game one win over Texas. The Orioles were 2-for-4 in the win when batting with runners in scoring position. Their team average in that stat actually increased from .421 to .429. The O's are 18-for-42 on the year with RISP. Mark Reynolds had two hits, including a three-run homer. He now has 6 RBI over his last two games and 8 on the year. He is now batting 5-for-7 on the season, an average of .714, with runners in scoring position. He has...

J.J. Hardy lasted one at-bat before coming out of Game 2. Hardy has been bothered by tightness in his lower left ribcage area. He appeared to be in pain after swinging at a pitch, and struck out looking to end the second inning. Robert Andino moved from left field to shortstop. Felix Pie took over in left. Hardy could be a candidate for the disabled list, though we might hear "day-to-day" after the game. Perhaps he'll sit out tomorrow's series finale and gain another day of rest on...

Zach Britton didn't get rattled on the mound today, and he kept the same composure in the interview room. Maybe he'll crack a smile later tonight. Britton was all business today, shutting out the Rangers on four hits over 7 2/3 innings. He must have left his nerves back in Clearwater. "I felt pretty good," he said. Is it getting easier? Zach Britton comments on his shutout performance as the Orioles defeat the Rangers, 5-0 "Yeah, definitely," he said. "Getting that first one out...

After his team suffered its first loss of the 2011 season after a 6-0 start, Texas manager Ron Washington said the O's just outplayed his squad in their 5-0 win in game one of a doubleheader. "We just got beat today," Washington said. "I wouldn't say we lost, I'd say they beat us. You lose it if you are out there throwing balls all around, but they beat us. "They got a big three-run bomb. Markakis got them on the board in the beginning and that young kid (Zach Britton), he made the...

Brian Roberts is staying in the lineup for Game 2. Robert Andino is starting in left field and Jake Fox is behind the plate. And J.J. Hardy is back at shortstop after being scratched Thursday night. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Jake Fox C Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino LF J.J. Hardy SS Jake Arrieta RHP

Zach Britton's second major league start was even better than his first. After allowing one run against Tampa in a victorious debut, today Britton did not allow a run as the Orioles beat Texas 5-0 in game one of the twin bill at the Yard. Britton did not allow a hit through 4 1/3 and pitched 7 2/3 shutout innings vs. the Rangers. He gave up four hits with three walks and two strikeouts. He is now 2-0 with an ERA of 0.66. He has given up just one run through 13 2/3 frames. Britton threw 103...

It's one thing to pitch well against any major league team, but Zach Britton is having a great outing vs. a very good hitting and unbeaten Texas team. The Rangers entered today with 42 runs scored in six games, a major-league leading slugging percentage of .603, a team batting average of .284 and team OPS of .957. Not chopped liver. He is doing this aginst a Texas team that entered today having not even trailed in a game since the second inning last Saturday vs. Boston. He has now pitched...

It's hard to believe that 84 players were drafted ahead of Zach Britton in 2006. The Orioles took Billy Rowell in the first round, Pedro Beato in the supplemental round and Ryan Adams in the second round. They grabbed Britton in the third. The Rangers have barely touched him tonight through the fifth. Their only baserunners have come on walks to Mike Napoli and Elvis Andrus, and Nelson Cruz's one-out single in the fifth that broke up the rookie's no-hit bid. Britton has faced only one...