In the quiet of the O's clubhouse after thier latest blown lead we heard from Brad Bergesen, Ty Wigginton and Mark Hendrickson after Oakland scored five in the 8th for a 7-5 win over the Orioles. The Orioles are now 11-6 when leading after seven innings after going 52-5 in those situations last year. Bergesen on when the umpires spoke to him about not pitching on the rubber: "I definetly was pitching from the rubber. It's something that happens sometimes unintentionally. It's not...

For most of us, it had to be manager Dave Trembley's decision to remove Jason Berken after one batter in the eighth inning. Berken retired Rajai Davis on a fly ball with runners on first and second. Trembley played matchups by bringing in left-hander Mark Hendrickson to face Daric Barton and Ryan Sweeney. You know what happened next. Barton grounded out, but the next three batters reached on singles - though the last two were of the infield variety. Cla Meredith serves up a three-run...

There were several moves in the Nats organization of note Thursday, including promotions of RHP Mike MacDougal and RHP Erik Arnesen Triple-A Syracuse. It's been a long road back for MacDougal after being released by the Marlins at the end of spring training. The Nats' save leader last year is now one step away from the major leagues again. It was a big day for RHP Cole Kimball and INF Tim Pahuta as they were promoted to from Potomac to Harrisburg. Kimball, 24, was Potomac's primary...

Cursed. How else to explain some of this. Yes, I don't think Dave Trembley needed to take Jason Berken out in the eighth either. But a grounder caroms off Mark Hendrickson for a hit to keep the inning alive. He gets what looks like an inning-ending ground ball vs. Jake Fox and it takes a bad hop off Izturis at short for an RBI and 5-4 game. Cla Meredith comes in and gives it up again. A three-run double to Kevin Kouzmanoff for a 7-5 lead. Some guy just serenaded the press box, something...

The A's have scored five runs in the top of the eighth inning, the last three on Kevin Kouzmanoff's bases-loaded double, to take a 7-5 lead and ruin a sensational outing for Brad Bergesen. Bergesen will get a no-decision. The Orioles won't be that lucky. Manager Dave Trembley pulled Bergesen after the first two batters singled. Jason Berken retired Rajai Davis on the fly ball, and Trembley went to Mark Hendrickson with two left-handers coming up. Hendrickson retired the first one, but...

Garrett Atkins drove in another run tonight with a bases-loaded walk in the seventh that increased the Orioles' lead to 5-2. Atkins hit his first home run last night. He hadn't recorded RBIs in consecutive games since April 7 and 8. I'll give the guy credit for being patient tonight and finding ways to get on base. Matt Wieters has been pretty resourceful, too. He's singled, been hit by a pitch and walked. Looking ahead: The Orioles will face Shaun Marcom, Brett Cecil and Ricky Romero...

Tonight's attendance: 26,279. Nick Markakis' wife, Christina, gave birth to Tucker Edward at 8:21 p.m. The baby weighs 7 pounds, 1 ounce. No word whether he bats from the left or right side. That's 14 batters in a row for Brad Bergesen, who induced three more ground balls in the top of the seventh. (And I actually used the word "induced" in this entry without linking it to Christina. Go figure.) Bergesen has held Oakland to two runs and two hits in seven innings. He surrendered 10 runs...

Brad Bergesen has retired 11 batters in a row since walking two to open the third inning. That 4-3-6-2 double play must have done the trick. Bergesen just cruised through the top of the sixth inning. It couldn't have been much easier. Two ground balls to Julio Lugo and a pop up to Ty Wigginton. Bergesen could have brought an umbrella drink to the mound, though the four umpires might have joined him for a sip. Bergesen has thrown 74 pitches in six innings. He's allowed two hits, the last on...

With dark clouds close and lightning lighting the sky beyond the center field fence, the O's and A's are tied 2-2 after five and a half innings. Brad Bergesen struggled with his control early, but looks to have it dialed in now. After giving up a two-run homer to Gabe Gross in the second, he walked the first two hitters to start the third. But he got that 4-3-6-2 double play and his night has been going much better ever since. Bergesen has retired 11 batters in a row though the sixth. ...

The Orioles just completed one of your typical 4-3-6-2 double plays. If you've seen one... Brad Bergesen walked the first two batters in the third, including stolen base machine Rajai Davis. Catcher Matt Wieters went to the mound - alone this time - to settle him down. Ryan Sweeney followed with a grounder to second baseman Julio Lugo, who wisely ran Daric Barton back toward first base before throwing there for the out. Ty Wigginton fired the ball to shortstop Cesar Izturis, who alertly...