Vladimir Guerrero tied the game, 5-5, in the bottom of the seventh with a single into right field off Tigers reliever Enrique Gonzalez that scored Brian Roberts and gave the Orioles' designated hitter two RBIs tonight. Third base coach John Russell sent Roberts, and right fielder Brennan Boesch's throw almost went into the Orioles dugout, allowing Guerrero to take second. Gonzalez walked Luke Scott intentionally to load the bases with one out, and Adam Jones hit a long sacrifice fly to...

The Orioles had a chance to pull within one run in the bottom of the fifth inning, but they left runners on second and third. Third base coach John Russell held Cesar Izturis on Brian Roberts' one-out double into the right-field corner. Russell was more than halfway down the line before raising his arms and bringing Izturis to a halt. Fans booed the decision - and I thought Russell should have sent him - but replays showed that Izturis didn't run full speed until he rounded second base. It...

Alex Avila has struck again. Get this guy out of town. Avila homered and drove in five runs last night, and his solo homer tonight broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning. Keep in mind that Avila had one RBI before last night. A two-out double by Brennan Boesch scored Will Rhymes, who walked, and knocked Chris Tillman out of the game. Tillman threw 97 pitches, 59 for strikes, in 4 2/3 innings. He allowed four runs and six hits, with two walks and four strikeouts. His fastball stayed in that...

After they combined for three hits and three RBI last night, both Derrek Lee and Vladimir Guerrero hit the ball pretty hard off Brad Penny in their first at-bats tonight. Lee, who hit a two-run homer last night, lined out to short to end the first and Vlad led off the last of the second with a bomb to center. It's his first homer as an Oriole, traveling 395 feet on the first pitch. It's Guerrero's 437th career homer, that is fourth best among active big leaguers. He hit 29 last...

Manager Buck Showalter needs Chris Tillman to pitch deep into tonight's game and save his bullpen after Brad Bergesen's abbreviated start last night. So far, the plan isn't working. Tillman threw 32 pitches in the first inning, and the Tigers parlayed four singles into a 2-0 lead. Don Kelly bailed out Tillman by bouncing into a 6-3 double play to end the inning. The fourth single, by Victor Martinez, came on a ball that caromed off the out-of-town scoreboard in right. Will Rhymes,...

We have another lineup change. Shortstop J.J. Hardy is a late scratch. Cesar Izturis will replace him and bat ninth. We're waiting for an explanation. Also, if tomorrow night's game is postponed because of rain, the Orioles would play a day-night doubleheader on Saturday. The Rangers don't return to Camden Yards, so the game would have to be made up during this homestand. The Orioles have an open date on their schedule Monday, but the Rangers are in Detroit.

Luke Scott took batting practice, ran and threw without any issues. His groin injury has improved to the point where he can play tonight. Scott moves to left field, and Felix Pie goes to the bench. Here's the new lineup: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Chris Tillman RHP

He's been in the major leagues since 2001, but Brian Roberts is still waiting for his first winning season and first crack to play in really important games late in the year. Just like the fans, he wonders if this good Orioles start will turn into an ever better one and if this is the year the O's move up in the standings. "I think we believe we can (keep winning), but only time will tell for sure. It's one of those things where you honestly really only want to take this one game at a...

Jeremy Guthrie said his fever spiked at 103 degrees over the weekend. "Just a tick below my fastball," he said. Glad to see he hasn't lost his sense of humor. Guthrie is playing catch again today and is scheduled to throw a bullpen session tomorrow. The Orioles will have to determine afterward whether he's able to make Sunday's start, because they would need time to bring up his replacement from Triple-A Norfolk. One option is to push back Guthrie until Tuesday in New York. An early...

O's pitcher Jeremy Guthrie is still hoping to pitch Sunday against Texas and he was back at the ballpark today. "I feel good," Guthrie said. "Just a little bit tired, but I don't feel any of the symptoms I felt when I went into the hospital - the achiness, headache and stomach ache. "I prepared mentally to pitch on Sunday since the day I went into the hospital. Had conversations with a few people about Texas. Even when I was sick, getting IVed up, I was thinking about Texas." He will...