After Zach Britton had pitched so well in Game 1, Jake Arrieta was hoping to build on that in Game 2 tonight. It started well for him as he retired the first six Rangers he faced over two innings. But he gave up six runs in the third and was knocked out in the fourth as Texas routed the O's, 13-1 in Game 2 of a doubleheader. Manager Buck Showalter questioned what he called certain sequencing of pitches Arrieta threw and the pitcher agreed with that in the O's clubhouse. "I think I fell...

Manager Buck Showalter started with the good - Game 1 starter Zach Britton. Make that the very good. "He was very good. That goes without saying," Showalter said. "I think he had five hitters on to lead off innings. Something like that. That's the beauty of the ground ball. We actually had a chance to turn another one behind him. He had good stuff. I thought his secondary stuff was good, too. Keep them off the velocity a little bit. (Matt) Wieters did a great job with him. They were...

J.J. Hardy is likely headed for the disabled list after leaving tonight's second game of the doubleheader in the third inning with a strained left oblique muscle. He missed Thursday's game with Detroit due to tightness on his left side near his rib cage. He felt good, he said, before the doubleheader. "Took some swings in the cage and felt like it was gone, it was nothing. First swing in the game and just kind of grabbed on me," he said. He batted in the bottom of the second of the...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter anticipates shortstop J.J. Hardy being placed on the disabled list with a strained left oblique. Hardy was clearly upset that the injury forced him out of tonight's game after two innings and likely will interrupt his first season with the Orioles. The pain appears to be coming more toward Hardy's back than his ribcage area. He's never suffered this type of injury in the past. J.J. Hardy talks about the pain he felt in his oblique muscle after his first at...

In a Game 2 matchup for the best record in the American League, the Orioles took an early lead but didn't score again in a 13-1 loss to Texas. The Birds were held to four hits. The clubs split the doubleheader leaving Texas with the top record in the league at 7-1 while the O's fall to 6-2. Jake Arrieta, who entered with a 1-1 record and 1.38 ERA in two career starts vs. Texas, got knocked out of this game in the 4th inning. Texas scored six runs in the 3rd and added two more in the 4th...

According to Elias, the last Orioles starting pitcher to allow one run or fewer in his first two major league appearances and go at least 13 2/3 innings was - drum roll, please - Tom Phoebus in September 1966. Phoebus allowed no runs over 18 innings. Zach Britton has surrendered only one run in 13 2/3. Again, I find myself drifting back to Game 1. I'd settle for 1966. Or any September. Just get me out of here.

It's looking less likely that Chris Jakubauskas will make tomorrow's start against the Rangers. He's warmed up twice tonight, which seems to signal that Jeremy Guthrie will take the ball tomorrow. About five hours ago, Guthrie tweeted the following: "Seen some varying 'reports' on when I am pitching next. For the record I have been told by the skip it is still undecided. Stay tuned." Manager Buck Showalter dropped some strong hints to reporters that Jakubauskas would start tomorrow...

Jake Arrieta is charged with eight runs and six hits in 3 1/3 innings, with two walks and five strikeouts. He threw 77 pitches, 50 for strikes. Arrieta's ERA jumps to 8.68. J.J. Hardy left the game after two innings with a strained left oblique muscle, an injury that usually leads to a stay on the disabled list. So much for that feel-good vibe from Game 1. Brian Roberts needed some assistance from assistant athletic trainer Brian Ebel after apparently getting some dirt in his eye, but he...

Manny Ramirez is one of the best right-handed hitters in history, but that's not how he's going to be remembered. Manny should be putting the finishing touches on a Hall of Fame career, but he's never going to have a plaque in Cooperstown. Ramirez has retired from the Rays after it was reported that Major League Baseball was suspending him for 100 games for violating the sport's drug policy. Ramirez has already served a 50-game suspension with the Dodgers for using steroids. Manny has a...

Passing along a few stats coming out of the O's game one win over Texas. The Orioles were 2-for-4 in the win when batting with runners in scoring position. Their team average in that stat actually increased from .421 to .429. The O's are 18-for-42 on the year with RISP. Mark Reynolds had two hits, including a three-run homer. He now has 6 RBI over his last two games and 8 on the year. He is now batting 5-for-7 on the season, an average of .714, with runners in scoring position. He has...