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...

Third baseman Mark Reynolds continues to get big hits in the early going for the Orioles. His key two-run double Thursday night provided the O's with a three-run lead. Today, he blasted a second inning, three-run homer to provide Zach Britton with an early 4-0 cushion vs. unbeaten Texas. Reynolds' first O's homer traveled 422 feet to left. He is known for hitting some tape-measure shots. His last homer came August 31st for the Diamondbacks versus San Diego. Reynolds now ties Brian Roberts...

Buck Showalter needs his starters to work deep into both ends of this doubleheader. Zach Britton is off to a good start. Britton needed only six pitches to complete the top of the first inning. Ian Kinsler flied to center, and Elvis Andrus and Josh Hamilton bounced to first. Britton covered the bag for the final out. Six pitches, four strikes. And a fastball that reached 94 mph. Good to see. Nick Markakis gave Britton a 1-0 lead with his first home run. The ball landed on the flag court in...

At this point, it may be a somewhat safe assumption that Kevin Gregg is the O's closer. He has the club's only save this year. Manager Buck Showalter doesn't seem to want to publicly anoint anyone for that role and he has a few options for the ninth inning. Gregg said that is fine with him. "We pitch when we are told to pitch. Buck and Mark (Connor) make the decision as to when we come into the games. Pretty simple," Gregg said. The right-hander saved 37 of 43 games for Toronto last...

The Yankees need inconsistent pitcher A.J. Burnett to be consistent, and so far, thanks to an improved changeup, Burnett has won his first two starts. Also, catcher Russell Martin has made a good impression. No need to worry about the slow starts of Orioles first baseman Derrek Lee, or his Nationals counterpart, Adam LaRoche. Each is making good contact. Lee, hitting. 182 after being out a good chunk of March, is in late-spring training mode. LaRoche, who hit a game-winning home run Thursday,...

Just not at the same time. Brian Roberts didn't really elaborate on the stomach pains that caused him to be scratched from last night's lineup and undergo tests at a local hospital. He's just glad to be in the lineup for Game 1. "Everything's fine," he said. "I haven't been feeling great for a couple days and the doctor just a little while before the game wanted me to go get checked out." Asked if he was given a diagnosis, Roberts replied, "Nothing really. I was just having some...

Chris Jakubauskas is back in the major leagues. This time he wants to stick around longer than 12 pitches. Jakubauskas was officially recalled today by the Birds as Brad Bergesen was sent back to Triple-A. He will possibly be the starting pitcher tomorrow, but that plan could get foiled if the O's need to use him in either of the two games here today. "All I've been told is (I'm the) emergency arm for tonight and tomorrow will be handled later tonight, probably after the game I'll find...