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...

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