SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Tillman got roughed up in the first inning today in Fort Myers, allowing three runs and four hits to fall behind 3-0 to the Boston Red Sox. Kevin Youkilis had an RBI single off Tillman, and J.D. Drew singled to drive in two more runs. Matt Angle led off the top of the first with a single and stole second. He reached third on Randy Winn's sacrifice bunt, but was stranded. Tillman hit Jason Varitek to open the second inning, but he retired the next three batters. He's...

As we get set for our second MASNsports.com chat with fans tonight at 6 p.m at Hightopps Backstage Grille in Timonium, I am reminded of part of the conversation there the last time. We had a question or comment from someone about Adam Jones. It probably sounded a little to the fans there like I was coming to Jones' defense, but I said that night, "Hey, Jones hit .284 last year with 19 homers. You don't just fall out of bed and do that." I was really reminded of those words reading Buck...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will play under the lights tonight at the new Ed Smith Stadium. They'll also play under a blue sky this afternoon in Fort Myers. It's a split-squad kind of day, and you can be sure that the A-Team will stay back in Sarasota for the game versus the Yankees that will air on MASN. I thought about attending both games, but the logistics just don't work in my favor. The clubhouse here opens to the media at 2 p.m. and I need to be inside of it. The game against the...

Nationals left-hander Sammy Solis pitched a pair of no-hit innings in Sunday's scrimmage pitting Washington farmhands against Houston Astros prospects. Solis threw the seventh and eighth innings and, after a shaky start, settled down and dominated. "First guy, I got to 0-2 and hit him," Solis said. "It was just a little jitters. It was the first time seeing an opposing hitter in there so I was a little excited. After that, I settled down perfectly, allowed no hits for two innings with no...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Armando Gabino tossed a perfect eighth inning, and the Orioles' bullpen held the Minnesota Twins to one run over the last five innings. Unfortunately for the Orioles, they managed only four hits and were blanked, 3-0. The Orioles were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Here are some post-game quotes from manager Buck Showalter: On Jeremy Guthrie: "He gave up a duck flare in the first and made a great pitch. I think Jeremy's fine. He's right on schedule. He's...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Wynn Pelzer's pickoff throw in the seventh inning got past Brandon Snyder and nailed Twins first base coach Jerry White on the left shin. White hit the ground hard and stayed on his back as trainers rushed to his aid. He eventually was helped up and finished the inning before the Twins replaced him. Pelzer allowed a hit and walked two batters before recording an out on his own. Adam Donachie threw out a runner attempting to steal second before Pelzer induced a ground ball...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Twins scored once off Rick VandenHurk in three innings, increasing their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the seventh. VandenHurk walked four batters, which overshadows everything else today. He needs to find the plate if he's got a chance to make this team. VandenHurk threw only eight strikes among his 19 pitches in the fourth inning, but he didn't allow a run until the fifth, when Denard Span singled and raced home on Tsuyoshi Nishioka's triple. Keep in mind that...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Twins used a two-out double by Danny Valencia and a soft single to center field by Luke Hughes to take a 1-0 lead against Jeremy Guthrie. Guthrie threw 18 pitches, 13 for strikes. On consecutive plays in the first inning, Josh Bell made a nice stop on a sharp ground ball at first base and dug out a low throw from shortstop Cesar Izturis. Jake Fox just led off the top of the second inning by singling to right field after falling behind, 0-2, in the count. Felix Pie...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Assuming that Justin Duchscherer's hip remains pain-free, the right-hander will start Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed that Duchscherer will work the first inning. He also could return for the second if his pitch count is down and he isn't forced to sit for a prolonged stretch while the Orioles bat. "I'm going to let Duke start the game," Showalter said. "We don't want him to sit around for a...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - It's been raining in Fort Myers, and one of the locals says more precipitation is on the way. Could arrive around noon. For the Twins: Denard Span CF Tsuyoshi Nishioka 2B Danny Valencia 3B Luke Hughes DH Jeff Bailey 1B Jason Repko RF Rene Tosoni LF Steve Holm C Alexi Casilla SS Brian Duensing LHP Sean Burnett, former Oriole Jim Hoey, Chuck James, Scott Diamond and Anthony Swarzak also are slated to pitch. Besides Jeremy Guthrie and Rick VandenHurk, the Orioles brought...