The Delmarva Shorebirds are at home tonight vs. West Virginia and the score is 0-0 after five innings. That is not the impressive stat, but here it is. Counting five scoreless innings pitched tonight by Pat Kantakevich, Delmarva starting pitchers have now allowed just three earned runs over their last ten games. That's in 59 2/3 innings. That works out to an ERA of 0.45 for the Shorebird starting pitchers over that stretch. Over the 59 2/3, through the fifth of that game tonight at Perdue...

Brad Bergesen was lifted after six innings tonight. He allowed four runs and nine hits, walked two and struck out three. He threw 92 pitches, 55 for strikes. Unless the Orioles rally, Bergesen will lose his career-worst fifth straight decision. Bergesen has given up four earned runs or more in six of his last seven starts. He's allowed 20 hits in the last two starts covering 12 innings. Toronto scored in four of Bergesen's six innings tonight. The leadoff hitter reached base in five...

No, that is not a wrestling move. But Ricky Romero has retired the first nine O's in order tonight on just 31 pitches. Shouldn't the O's have been swinging and not taking pitches like this during the last game before the break and not the first one after. Romero, who held the O's to just one run in a complete-game win on May 30th, threw 10 pitches tonight in the first and second innings and needed just 11 to complete a quick bottom of the third. The reversal for him is how well he is...

Brad Bergesen has allowed a run in the first, second and third innings to fall behind, 3-0. They've come in different forms. Fred Lewis led off the top of the first with a double, Yunel Escobar reached on a bunt single and Vernon Wells hit a sacrifice fly with one out. Aaron Hill led off the second with his 13th home run. Lewis led off the third with a single to right field, took second on a passed ball and scored with two outs on Adam Lind's single to right. Bergesen also walked a batter...

Tonight's game could begin with only three umpires. The fourth is heading to Camden Yards, but he might arrive a little late. However, it won't affect the starting time. Since we were kicking around lineup ideas earlier today, and I failed miserably with my assumption that Jake Fox would start at first base, I wanted to pass along some career numbers against Toronto left-hander Ricky Romero: Fox is 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Corey Patterson is 2-for-4 with two strikeouts. Ty...

First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama will visit Camden Yards next Tuesday, July 20 for the announcement of a new joint initiative between Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association and the White House. Following the announcement, Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays players will conduct a clinic on the field for 50 young baseball players from local RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) leagues and Boys & Girls Clubs. Please note that these events are not open to the...

He did get to take part in his first Major League All-Star game, even if his appearance was brief. Ty Wigginton of the Orioles entered the game at third base, but never got to bat for the American League on Tuesday night at Anaheim. That did not diminish his experience at all, he said. "It was fun. It's a hectic couple days, but I tried to enjoy it as much as I possibly could. It's definitely a cool honor, a unique experience and I'll treasure it forever. "The game was actually the...

Interim manager Juan Samuel said he expects reliever Michael Gonzalez and outfielder/DH Luke Scott to be activated from the disabled list next week. Gonzalez is pitching tonight at Triple-A Norfolk. Scott started in left field today for the GCL Orioles. Kevin Millwood played catch yesterday, but he's "probably a week or so away," according to Samuel. Brian Roberts is still aiming for an Aug. 1 return. Samuel estimated that catcher Matt Wieters could have played early next week, but the...

Brian Roberts went 0-for-2 with a walk and strikeout today as the GCL Orioles' designated hitter. Luke Scott, playing his second game in the GCL, started in left field and went 0-for-3. He served as the designated hitter yesterday. Scott flied to right in each at-bat before leaving the game. Lou Montanez tells me that his oblique injury has improved, but he's not game-ready. For the Orioles: Corey Patterson DH Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Adam Jones CF Felix Pie...

Am I the only person who slept through last night's earthquake? A text message woke me at 4:30 a.m., but I didn't budge during a quake. I don't understand it, either. I'll be heading to the ballpark in an hour. I want to make sure that the temperature is deep in the 90s before I enter the press box. Later, I'll join Steve Melewski for the pre- and post-game shows on 105.7 The Fan. You can find us at the Bud Light Warehouse Bar from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. I heard "fan" and quickly...