Orioles rookie southpaw Zach Britton moved his record to 3-1 last night as the Orioles narrowly beat the Twins 5-4. Britton gave up three runs over his six innings, giving him three quality starts over his first four career starts. I was curious how Britton's hot start compared to other Oriole lefty starters throughout franchise history. Here's how Britton stacks up to their first four starts (or significant relief appearances, since some of these guys pitched under Earl Weaver, you...

The Orioles didn't get any runs after the third inning tonight, but they got just enough by then to win and they've now posted back-to-back victories after an eight-game losing streak. Matt Wieters hit a two-run homer and Zach Britton picked up his third win as the Orioles edged Minnesota, 5-4, to improve to 8-9 on the year. It was just the second one-run game the Orioles have played this season and their first win. Kevin Gregg, who had allowed three runs in his last two games, picked up...

Kevin Gregg entered in the ninth inning with the Orioles ahead, 5-4. Save situation. He's the closer. Gregg ran the count to 3-1 on leadoff hitter Steve Holm and induced a pop up in front of the mound. The crowd cheered. Yes, cheered. Matt Tolbert stepped to the plate and fell behind, 1-2. More applause. Tolbert swung through an 84 mph splitter for the second out. The ovation grew louder. Fans rose to their feet and kept cheering. Denard Span took a ball, fouled off a 93 mph fastball...

Jim Johnson retired the Twins in order in the top of the seventh on only eight pitches, six of them strikes. He got two ground balls and struck out Denard Span. With the Orioles clinging to a two-run lead, I would have let Johnson pitch the eighth, as well. And a few reporters here are in agreement. However, Koji Uehara has entered the game, and you have to figure that Kevin Gregg will pitch the ninth if it's a save situation. Gregg hasn't turned in a clean outing in five tries, and he...

Derrek Lee dug out another ball in the dirt tonight, sparing Robert Andino a throwing error. Lee crouched and backhanded the ball in a sweeping motion. Sir Smooth. I asked manager Buck Showalter earlier today if he had a tough decision choosing between Robert Andino and Cesar Izturis. Andino had reached base nine times in his last 10 at-bats. Izturis was 3-for-7 with two RBIs lifetime against Twins starter Nick Blackburn. "Yes and no," he replied. "Every day's a little different. What are...

It happened again. Orioles catcher Matt Wieters stepped to the plate in the second inning with a runner in scoring position and launched a home run to center field off Twins starter Nick Blackburn, increasing the Orioles' lead to 4-1. Wieters is now 6-for-6 with a double, two home runs and 10 RBIs with RISP this season. Adam Jones' two-run double gave the Orioles a 2-1 lead. Mark Reynolds flied out, and Wieters produced a big fly. Zach Britton got a big 6-4-3 double play to end the top of...

Delmarva Shorebirds infielder Jonathan Schoop, a 19-year-old from Curacao, takes a seven-game hitting streak into tonight's game at Augusta. Schoop, who went 3-for-4 with 4 RBI last night, is batting .467 during the streak with 14 hits over 30 at bats and just three strikeouts in that stretch. His play has been a bit overshadowed by Manny Machado's South Atlantic League rookie season, but the youngster is off to a good start. He is second on the club in batting and slugging. By the way, his...

Love him or hate him, Charlie Sheen performed in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday and took the stage wearing a red Nationals jersey. He signed the jersey for a fan early in the show. Apparently, the controversial celebrity also stopped by Nationals Park, evidenced by this photo of Sheen with Ryan Zimmerman in the clubhouse. The photo appears on Zimmerman's Facebook page with the following caption: Ran into this guy after rehab today. I think being in the presence of his Tiger blood is already...

As if you haven't received enough already... Brian Matusz is scheduled to throw off flat ground from 120 feet on Friday, take Saturday off and throw from 120 feet again on Sunday. Assuming there are no setbacks, he could throw a bullpen session early next week at Camden Yards. Matusz would throw at least two bullpen sessions before the Orioles consider sending him on an injury-rehab assignment in the minors. Right now, they seem more inclined to take him on the road after the current...

When the Orioles got off to that 6-1 start, they were getting brilliant starting pitching. While they can't expect it to be like that a lot, they can hope as the games start coming every day now, that their rotation can get into a little groove, stay healthy and start cranking out more solid outings. Over the first seven games, when the O's did go 6-1, they had five quality starts. Over the last nine games, during a 1-8 run, they have had four quality starts. Zach Britton makes his fourth...