Ty Wigginton and Matt Wieters combined on a good defensive play in the top of the seventh tonight to keep the game with the White Sox tied, 1-1. After a triple, Mark Kotsay was on third with one out. The infield came in and Alexei Ramirez hit a slow roller up the first base line. Wigginton charged and made a bare-handed pickup. His throw to home was in time to get Kotsay and Wieters did a nice job blocking the plate. Wigginton's throw was also to the third base side of home which made...

The Orioles' rotation has churned out three straight quality starts, and Brad Bergesen could be headed for a fourth after allowing one run and four hits through five innings. The last time this happened? May 29 to June 1, 2009. The pitchers? Bergesen, Jeremy Guthrie, Jason Berken and Rich Hill. Yes, Rich Hill. In Bergesen's last start, Kansas City's right-handed hitters were 1-for-18 (the only hit a seventh-inning single by Mike Aviles.) They're 3-for-11 tonight, including Gordon...

Harrisburg Senators left-hander Tom Milone enjoyed a career night this week with 12 strikeouts in a victory at Binghamton. Milone went 6 and a 1/3rd innings, scattering seven hits, with no walks and the 12 whiffs. He allowed a single run on a solo homer. Milone has put together a solid season for the Sens, going 8-5 this season with a 2.97 ERA. The Southern Cal product has 61 strikeouts in his last 59 and 1/3rd innings. He has shown tremendous control recently as well, allowing only two...

Brad Bergesen threw 13 pitches in the top of the first inning and stranded a runner. That's good. The Orioles scored a run off White Sox starter John Danks in the bottom of the first. Also good. The Orioles worked Danks for 24 pitches. Still good. Here's the bad part: The first three batters singled, with Ty Wigginton's hit producing the run, but the Orioles couldn't do any more damage. Luke Scott struck out in the key at-bat of the inning, and Adam Jones and Julio Lugo flied...

The Orioles did not get good news on right-hander Brandon Erbe. While O's president Andy MacPhail would not confirm exactly what was found during an MRA exam yesterday, Erbe's season is over and he is heading for further examination. "It's not good," one team official said. He has been out with a sore right shoulder and MacPhail said Erbe will head to Birmingham, Alabama to see Dr. James Andrews next week. The injury is with Erbe's shoulder and not elbow, which would eliminate the...

No, they are not counting down with banners on the Warehouse, but the next hit for O's shortstop Cesar Izturis will be the 1,000th of his career. He said he found out recently he was closing in on the milestone hit because his 10-year-old son, Daniel, was keeping track. "My son has kept me up to date on it. He tells me you need eight more, seven more and so forth." Hit number 999 will be memorable as well as it was an Izturis single in the last of the ninth Thursday night that gave the...

Dave Trembley used to hate lineup questions, but I had to ask Buck Showalter about his decision to bat Julio Lugo sixth tonight. We're accustomed to seeing Lugo's name at the top or bottom, but Showalter is taking two factors into account: The veteran infielder is hitting .320 in 75 at-bats against left-handers, and the White Sox bullpen includes left-hander Matt Thornton. "Obviously, his track record is hitting left-handed pitching quite well," Showalter said. "It fits us to try to...

After sitting out last night, Josh Bell returns to the Orioles lineup tonight at third base. Bell is doing better after leaving Wednesday's game due to hamstring cramps in his left leg. It's an important time for Bell to show the organization and new manager Buck Showalter that he can be a part of the team's future at third base. Even though first impressions can mean a lot, Showalter is experienced enough to know how he evaluates Bell might be a little different from evaluating a veteran...

Outfielder Lou Montanez played his first injury rehab game today with the Gulf Coast League Orioles. He started in left field against the GCL Rays and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Montanez, who's recovering from a strained oblique, told me in a text message that he felt fine and "did everything without pain." He's expected to play in at least three more games down there before reporting to another affiliate. It's ex-Oriole day at Camden Yards. Besides the familiar faces at today's...

Did you catch Jeremy Guthrie and Adam Jones live on MASNsports.com Friday afternoon? The O's teammates joined us for a couple of live chats today, and even though their lunch hour chats are over, there's plenty to pass along. Guthrie arrived early after biking to the Warehouse - would you have expected anything else? - and fell right in chatting with the MASNsports.com staff as we finalized our preparations for the first of today's two live chats. During Guthrie's half hour, he...