PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Brian Roberts is 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout. He's seen 10 pitches and swung at one, resulting in a ground ball to first base that ended the top of the fifth inning. Brendan Harris was ready to replace him in the field in the bottom of the fifth, but Roberts motioned that he wanted to stay in the game. And he did. Brad Bergesen allowed two runs and eight hits in five innings, throwing 50 of his 74 pitches for strikes. He walked one batter, Evan Longoria with...

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Going into today's game against the Rays, Brad Bergesen had allowed nine earned runs (10 total) and 16 hits, with five walks, in his last three starts covering 9 2/3 innings. He isn't assured of a spot in the rotation, so this outing is important. Evan Longoria singled with two outs in the first inning, but Adam Jones cut him down at second base. Bergesen threw eight pitches, five for strikes. Bergesen ran the count full to Manny Ramirez leading off the second before...

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Now I remember this place. We were in the press box here last spring when news broke about the Orioles trading for utility infielder Julio Lugo. Later that morning, catcher Chad Moeller refused his outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk and became a free agent. Just another boring day at spring training. Brian Roberts is taking batting practice as I type this blog entry. No sign of Derrek Lee, however. Evan Longoria is looking for his cap. For the Rays: Ben Zobrist...

SARASOTA, Fla. - It's always something. First baseman Derrek Lee fouled a ball off his left foot on the first pitch he saw yesterday from Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels. It didn't start bothering him until he left the ballpark, and he underwent X-rays last night and an MRI at 8 a.m. today that came back clean. Lee was sent for the MRI after one area of the X-ray concerned the doctor, according to manager Buck Showalter. "We dodged a bullet there, it looks like," Showalter said. Lee...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Brian Roberts is starting today for the first time since March 7, but Derrek Lee isn't in the lineup. We'll find out why later. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Luke Scott DH Mark Reynolds 3B Felix Pie LF Jake Fox 1B J.J. Hardy SS Craig Tatum C Brad Bergesen RHP

SARASOTA, Fla. - Koji Uehara will pitch Tuesday in a minor league game after having another successful bullpen session earlier today. Uehara has made one appearance this spring, allowing one run and two hits in one inning against the Pirates in the Feb. 28 exhibition opener in Bradenton. The Orioles reassigned pitcher Wynn Pelzer following today's game, reducing their camp roster to 40. The Phillies scored twice off left-hander Michael Gonzalez in the seventh, including Erik Kratz's...

SARASOTA, Fla. - I'll pass along Derrek Lee quotes in a few minutes, but I wanted to let you know that his right wrist felt great during his two plate appearances today. Lee said the plan all along called for him to get two at-bats. He'll get three tomorrow in Port Charlotte and take off Monday. Lee sounds encouraged and figures to get enough at-bats to be ready for the April 1 opener. "It feels great. I was happy. It wasn't an issue. I didn't feel it swinging. I kind of landed on it...

Nationals right-handed reliever Cole Kimball was demoted to Triple-A Syracuse Thursday, but didn't let the move change the way he approaches each day. Some had written Kimball took the news hard, but 15 minutes after finding out he'd been sent down, he was back on the field stretching, following his normal time schedule at camp. Despite the move to the minor league camp, the numbers Kimball put up at the major league level were very impressive. Kimball appeared in six games, throwing eight...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jake Arrieta came out of today's game after walking two batters to open the fifth inning and striking out Jimmy Rollins. His line wasn't complete until Shane Victorino greeted Clay Rapada with a three-run homer to left field. Orioles 5, Phillies 5. Arrieta is charged with four runs and four hits, with two walks and two strikeouts. He threw 79 pitches, including 48 for strikes. Raul Ibanez flied to the fence in right field for the second out, and Ross Gload struck out to...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Derrek Lee is falling into a pattern of sorts in his first game with the Orioles. For the second time in two trips to the plate, Lee has gotten behind, 0-2, and worked the count full against Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels. He walked in his first at-bat, but struck out to end the second inning. The Orioles continue to lead the Phillies, 3-2, but not for long unless they start pitching around John Mayberry Jr. Let's give Craig Tatum some attention. He grounded to second...