The O's have hit their first speed bump on Buck Showalter's watch. After starting 8-1 for their new manager, they have now lost five of the last seven after falling 6-5 to Seattle Wednesday night in the series finale. The O's got the possible tie run to second in the last of the ninth, but David Aardsma retired Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis to end the game as Seattle took the series victory. Jeremy Guthrie's run of six straight quality starts ended as he gave up six runs (five...

The Orioles fought back in the bottom of the eighth, scoring once off reliever Jamey Wright and putting the tying run on second base with two outs. Adam Jones looked like he would score easily on Matt Wieters' slicing fly ball to left, but Matt Tuiasosopo couldn't pass up another opportunity to torture the Orioles. He made a sensational diving catch - as good as it gets - to preserve a 6-5 lead. Wieters rounded first base, came to a stop and just tilted his head back. He couldn't believe...

If you are keeping track, that is a new career high 10 homers for Matt Wieters after he connected for a two-run shot off David Pauley in the last of the seventh. That pulled the O's within 5-4 of the M's. Wieters probably caught Pauley early last year when both played for Norfolk. Wieters last year: 9 homers in 354 at bats. Wieters this year: 10 homers in 336 at bats. He had just one homer over his last 17 games before he drilled a 3-1 pitch for a 397-foot shot to right. It was just his...

Which fan among you will be the first to rip the Orioles for letting David Pauley get away? I want this guy in my rotation. He could have owned this town - or at least this ballpark. The Orioles could have renamed the flagcourt "Pauley Pavilion." They could have sold "Pauley's Walnuts" instead of peanuts. You could have visited the Cracker Concession. If you were a senior citizen, you could have entered the ballpark for free on the nights he pitched. A Pauleygrip campaign,...

The Washington Nationals today placed catcher Wil Nieves on the Temporary Leave List and recalled catcher Wilson Ramos from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Ramos, 23, was acquired from the Twins with lefthander Joe Testa on July 30 in exchange for right-handed closer Matt Capps. Since joining the Nationals organization, Ramos is hitting .317 (19-for-60) with two doubles, a triple, two home runs...

Well, since the final batter of the first inning. David Pauley has retired 10 straight Orioles since hitting Adam Jones with one out in the first. Felix Pie bounced into a double play to end the inning, and Pauley has retired the side in order in the second, third and fourth. No joke. The Mariners increased their lead to 5-2 in the fifth. No. 9 hitter Josh Wilson led off the inning with a single and Ichiro Suzuki followed with an RBI double. He took third when Nick Markakis bobbled the ball,...

Matt Tuiasosopo was a late addition to the Seattle lineup when Ryan Langerhans was a late scratch last night. Now, maybe they won't get him out of the lineup. Getting him out has been difficult for the Orioles. Tuiasosopo hit a three-run homer in his last at bat last night and hit a three-run homer in his first at bat tonight. He also had an RBI double last night, so he has three hits in his last four at bats in this series now with two homers and 7 RBI. Not bad for a guy that was hitting...

The Orioles put runners on the corners with no outs in the first inning. Brian Roberts walked and stole second, and Nick Markakis singled. Instant rally against Mariners starter David Pauley. It also brought flashbacks to spring training 2009, but we touched on that subject this morning. Anyway, Ty Wigginton followed with a sharp grounder to third baseman Jose Lopez. Roberts broke for home, and Lopez fired a throw to catcher Adam Moore rather than conceding the run and trying to start a 5-4-3...

The Triple-A Norfolk box score from last night mistakenly credits Dennis Sarfate with 1 2/3 scoreless innings and one strikeout. It's actually two innings and two strikeouts. He started the eighth inning. A victory tonight would give the Orioles eight home wins in August, their highest total for any month this season. The Orioles are 1-8 in games that decide the winner of a three-game series, their only triumph coming May 13 vs. Seattle. Seattle starters have posted a 1.84 ERA in 17 games...

While Josh Bell is batting just .232 in 21 Oriole games, for the first time as a Major Leaguer, he's putting together what might be the makings of a hot stretch at the plate. Bell in 2010 with the O's: First 15 games: 8 for 48 with 19 strikeouts Last 6 games: 8 for 21 with 7 strikeouts Bell went 2 for 3 with his third big league double last night and his third multi-hit game. Is manager Buck Showalter starting to see Bell settle in some, get more comfortable and let his talents...