The Orioles snapped an eight-game losing streak last night with 11 runs after scoring a total of 10 in their previous four games. According to Elias, over the last 50 years, the only other team to end a losing streak of eight or more games with a shutout win of 11-0 or more was the 1993 San Francisco Giants, who beat the Cincinnati Reds, 13-0, on Sept. 17. After beginning the year 33-158 (.209) with 14 RBIs when batting with two outs, the Orioles went 8-16 and scored 11 runs (10 RBIs) with...

Here is an impressive stat for O's catcher Matt Wieters: After driving in four runs last night, he is now 5-for-5 on the season hitting with runners in scoring position. Four of the hits, including two last night, came with two outs. He has a double, homer and eight RBIs with RISP. That's very solid stuff for Wieters. The switch-hitter recently made an adjustment to his batting stance and is now standing more upright in the box than he was for some of the season's earlier games. "I just...

Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz will join the Orioles at Camden Yards tomorrow, take the day off and throw Friday on flat ground or in the bullpen. It's another step in the right direction for Matusz, who has been rehabbing his strained left intercostal muscle at the minor league complex in Sarasota. The Orioles have three options with Matusz next week. He can return to Twin Lakes Park, accompany them on a road trip that begins April 29 in Chicago or go on an injury rehabilitation...

Robert Andino has reached base in nine of his last 10 plate appearances, and he'll stay in the lineup tonight. Cesar Izturis is 3-for-7 with two RBIs lifetime against Twins starter Nick Blackburn, but Andino gets the nod. He's never faced Blackburn. Here's the 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 Robert Andino SS Zach Britton LHP

If fans are going to be concerned about any struggling Orioles hitters, probably the guy that should be last on that list is Nick Markakis. I'm pretty sure the hits will be coming soon. But for now, Markakis is slumping. He had six hits in the season's first four games and has had six hits in the 12 games since. He has just one hit over his last 20 at-bats as his average has dropped from .268 to its current .197. He is batting just .128 over the last 12 games. Markakis, who hit .284...

Don't look for the Orioles to make a run at infielder Brandon Wood, who was designated for assignment Tuesday by the Angels. I'm told they're "not likely" to pursue Wood, a one-time minor league Player of the Year who hasn't been able to carry that success to the majors. Wood is 26 and out of options. The Angels have 10 days to trade or place him on waivers. Any team acquiring Wood would have to keep him on the 25-man roster or attempt to pass him through waivers before outrighting him....

Carpenter's Shelter in Alexandria, Va., an organization very close to my heart, is holding its annual fundraiser now through April 29. Supporters can participate in an online auction or buy tickets to a charity cook-off on May 1 at the Birchmere in Alexandria. I mention that because one of the items in the online auction is an official autographed bat from Adam LaRoche, generously donated by the Washington Nationals. Fans can bid on the bat through this link. There are also dozens of other...

The Nationals game was rained out last night in St. Louis and I was struck with an empty feeling in my gut. For the first time since opening day I would be forced to sit two consecutive nights without enjoying a baseball game, quite a disappointment, to say the least. As I scrolled through the tweets from the Nationals beat reporters about the massive rainstorm they were waiting out, I got to thinking about all of the rain delays I've sat through as a baseball fan. It's an experience with...

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The losing streak is over and Zach Britton is pitching tonight. Good times have returned to Camden Yards. "We got the monkeys off our backs," Adam Jones said last night. And all it took were 11 runs scored with two outs. "That's something we haven't been doing, late two-out hitting and hitting with runners in scoring position," Jones said. "We got all 11 runs with two outs. That's a good stat. Now we have to keep building on it. "We've got a winning streak of one right now....