Triple-A Norfolk rallied from 4-0 down to beat Gwinnett 5-4. It gives the Tides their first four-game win streak of the year. They had won three in a row eight times, but never got to four. Rhyne Hughes and Brandon Snyder homered and Lou Montanez went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI. Montanez is 12 for 31 (.387) during a seven-game batting streak. New Britain scored an unearned run in the last of the ninth to beat Bowie 6-5. The Baysox are a game and a half out of an Eastern League playoff berth after...

Josh Bell has always hit better from the left side of the plate. The splits are so uneven that many fans have suggested that he give up switch-hitting. Team officials have chosen to wait, but they're aware of the discrepancy. So explain how Bell's three major league home runs have come against left-handers. Bell just took Scott Kazmir deep with Cesar Izturis on base, giving the Orioles a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning. He went to the opposite field with an 0-2 count. Kazmir has lost six of...

On Saturday, the Nationals hosted their second and final blood drive of the season in partnership with Inova Health System. Several hundred fans turned out for the drive to donate blood to 15 local hospitals in Washington D.C. and Virginia. Only 37 percent of people in the United States are eligible to donate blood and of those, fewer than 5 percent donate on a regular basis and hospitals are always in need of more blood donations. "Whenever people can do it, there is always a big need...

Still no Adam Jones in the lineup. This is the fourth straight game without him. Julio Lugo 2B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Jake Fox LF Felix Pie CF Crag Tatum C Cesar Izturis SS Josh Bell 3B Kevin Millwood RHP Here's the Angels lineup: Bobby Abreu LF Howie Kendrick 2B Alberto Callaspo 3B Torii Hunter RF Hideki Matsui DH Mike Napoli 1B Erick Aybar SS Bobby Wilson C Peter Bourjos CF Scott Kazmir LHP

If you're going to get your first professional hit, make it a home run. Don't fool around. First-round pick Manny Machado was 0-for-5 as a pro before launching a two-run homer in the sixth inning today for the Gulf Coast League Orioles. He had flied out to center field twice this morning after going 0-for-3 yesterday in his debut. He grounded to the pitcher in his last at-bat today. If you're going to start out 1-for-7 as a pro, make that one hit a home run. Machado will work out with...

After this year, the Orioles will end their long relationship with the Bluefield Orioles of the Appalachian League. Here is a statement from Andy MacPhail: "On behalf of the Orioles, I wish to express our deepest appreciation to the town and residents of Bluefield for their support of the Orioles organization and over a thousand players who have worn the Bluefield Orioles uniform in the last 53 seasons. While extremely difficult, we believe the decision to end our affiliation with Bluefield...

So, is Josh Bell a nugget or not? Too early to know. He really needed a hit and got two big ones on Friday in the O's win over the Angels. He didn't start, but came on when Brian Roberts left with a hip strain. I thought Bell would take off a bit after his two-homer game a week ago today vs. Cliff Lee. But he was 1 for 14 with seven strikeouts after that, before Friday's game. On the plus side, Bell looks more comfortable now in the field. He made a real nice backhand stop last night....

I couldn't fall asleep last night, so I tried counting Brian Roberts' injuries. Man, it's been a tough year for the Orioles' second baseman and leadoff hitter. I'm afraid to ask what's next. Roberts is day-to-day with a strained left hip. He told reporters that it began bothering him about a week ago and has gotten worse. It's doubtful that he'll play tonight, so look for Julio Lugo at second base against Angels left-hander Scott Kazmir. Roberts showed up at spring training with a...

Brad Bergesen has been pitching well in many of his recent starts and tonight was one of his best. He held Los Angeles to one run and four hits over eight innings, throwing 102 pitches, as the Orioles beat the Angels 3-1 in the weekend series opener. Bergesen is now 6-9, 5.55 in 22 starts. Over his last six starts, the right-hander is 3-0, 2.70. The O's played solid defense behind Bergesen with Cesar Izturis making several solid stops. Jim Hunter asks Buck Showalter his thoughts on the...

Brian Roberts was forced out of tonight's game with a strained left hip. Let's hope his day-to-day is shorter than Adam Jones' day-to-day. Josh Bell entered the game in the fourth and batted for Roberts in the sixth. He singled leading off the inning and scored with two outs on Luke Scott's infield hit, giving the Orioles a 2-1 lead. Bell was supposed to get the night off. He's been in a terrible slump since his two-homer game, striking out seven times in 14 at-bats. Julio Lugo, a...