Just to avoid any controversies later in the game, umpire Jim Joyce already has given the Orioles an infield hit tonight. Mark it down in your scorebooks. Joyce actually will be working the plate tonight with Armando Galarraga on the mound in Detroit. It'll be another tearful reunion, with more reminders of Joyce's blown call on June 2 that denied Galarraga a perfect game. My guess is the Orioles better come out swinging, because Galarraga will have a wide strike zone. Galarraga is 0-2...

The Potomac Nationals pushed across a run in the top of the 7th vs. Nate Nery to break a 4-4 tie as the Nationals beat Frederick tonight 5-4 at Harry Grove Stadium. The win evens their best-of-five Northern Division Championship Series at a game each. The Keys took a 1-0 lead in the second when L.J. Hoes doubled and scored on Miguel Abreu's single. Frederick took a 4-1 lead by scoring three runs in the 4th. Billy Rowell doubled and scored on an error and catcher Brian Ward added a two-run...

With several teams in the Nationals chain doing well all season on the field, including Syracuse playing down to the final week before being eliminated, the spotlight has turned to Potomac and Harrisburg as they battle to stay alive in the postseason. Harrisburg leads their series 1-0 over Altoona while Potomac looks to bounce back following a tough loss in Game 1 at Frederick. It's a good reflection on the talent level a team has in its organization if you have affiliates who make the...

Brandon Snyder could make his debut in Detroit this weekend. It's a little easier to project a position player. The manager tends to dictate it more than the game - certainly while writing out the lineup in his office. If you're staring at the ceiling each night wondering about left-hander Pedro Viola...well, that's pretty odd. I won't sugar-coat it. You need help. Viola pitched in nine games with the Reds last season, so he's gotten the proverbial cup of coffee. He took his lumps with...

The Metro Express Best of 2010 nominations are out and the Washington Nationals are up for the final vote in several categories including "Best D.C. Team." Jim Riggleman is also up for "best coach" against Karl Hobbs, Mike Shanahan, Gary Williams and Bruce Boudreau. Ryan Zimmerman and Stephen Strasburg are both on the ballot for "Best D.C. Athlete," along with Chris Cooley, Alexander Ovechkin and John Wall. Strasburg will also face off against Ivan Rodriguez, Donovan McNabb and John...

It was a tight race this time, but one O's fan pulled out ahead of the rest by being the first fan to guess correctly in three of the five rounds in August. Congrats go out to Charles B from SP for winning last month's 'Where in the Yard?' photo contest only here in the Orioles Buzz. To take you back, Charles B correctly identified all five images from August, including: -The Warehouse "B" from the side of the Warehouse at Camden Yards -The likeness of Nick Markakis on the side of the...

Frederick hosts Potomac tonight in game two of the Carolina League playoffs after last night's wild, 10-9 win. It was a game where the teams combined for 15 runs in the first inning, then each scored once in the ninth. The Nationals scored to tie the game and Frederick's run won it in walk-off fashion. Attempting to throw Miguel Abreu out on a sac bunt, league MVP, first baseman Tyler Moore of Potomac, hit Abreu with his throw and that allowed L.J. Hoes to score the game-ending run all the...

As you know, outfielder Lou Montanez cleared waivers earlier this week and was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. Because he'll be a minor league free agent, he's free to leave the organization and basically make this transaction nothing more than a paper move. Judging from the following e-mail that I received from Montanez, I'd say he's already gone. Take a look: "Again I'm standing at the edge watching the drawbridge close on another chapter of my life. A range of emotions flow through...

As you know, outfielder Lou Montanez cleared waivers earlier this week and was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. Because he'll be a minor league free agent, he's free to leave the organization and basically make this transaction nothing more than a paper move. Judging from the following e-mail that I received from Montanez, I'd say he's already gone. Take a look: "Again I'm standing at the edge watching the drawbridge close on another chapter of my life. A range of emotions flow through...

After giving up a one-run lead in the top of the ninth, the Frederick Keys scored on a throwing error to win the game in the last of the ninth. They won a game in which they trailed 8-0 after the top of the first inning. L.J Hoes led off the ninth with a bloop single to right, his second hit. Then Miguel Abreu dropped a bunt and first baseman Tyler Moore threw toward first and the ball hit Abreu and went down the right-field line. Hoes scampered around all the way from first to score the...