Miguel Tejada hit a grand slam off Mets left-hander Jon Niese in the fifth inning to give the Orioles a 5-0 lead. Tejada hadn't homered before today. The Orioles strung together five straight singles to open the inning, but scored only once. Nolan Reimold was thrown out trying to steal, and the Orioles were playing station-to-station baseball. Adam Jones' third hit scored Garrett Atkins for a 1-0 lead, and Tejada followed with a towering fly ball that cleared the left-field fence. Matt...

In a move that surprises no one, the Orioles placed pitcher Koji Uehara on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring. The move is retroactive to March 26. Uehara posted a 1.69 ERA in six exhibition games covering 5 1/3 innings. He limped off the mound during a March 18 game against the Blue Jays in Dunedin. Uehara was supposed to be the seventh-inning reliever and a bridge to set-up man Jim Johnson. Maybe one of these days. The Orioles must turn in their final roster to the...

Brian Matusz has turned in two scoreless innings today. He allowed singles to Jason Bay and Fernando Tatis in the second and threw a wild pitch, but he struck out Gary Matthews and retired Henry Blanco on a fly ball. Matusz has thrown 34 pitches, 18 for strikes. He's on a reduced pitch count - probably no more than 50 - before making his first regular-season start on Thursday. Adam Jones reached on an infield hit in the first, but he was caught stealing. From the Department of Irony: New...

The Orioles are down to their last exhibition game, and their first year at Ed Smith Stadium has been a rousing success at the gates. They've drawn 94,405 fans for 14 dates and will exceed 100,000 at a Grapefruit League ballpark for the first time in club history. The Reds drew 77,758 fans in 15 dates last year before moving their spring home to Arizona. We've had seven sellouts going into today's game. On four occasions, the Orioles have topped the previous record for highest attendance...

Orioles manager Dave Trembley notified the team this morning of Mike Cuellar's passing. It was one of the most difficult meetings he's ever conducted in baseball. Trembley let us know later how close he had become to Cuellar over the past two years, when the former Orioles great had served as a guest instructor at spring training. "If there was ever a guy who epitomized what the Orioles are all about, it's Mike Cuellar," Trembley said. "All he ever wanted to do was help. It's really a...

Manager Dave Trembley expects to split today's DH duties between Nolan Reimold and Felix Pie. Each player will get two at-bats under the current plan. David Hernandez and Jason Berken will pitch in a minor league game today. Cla Meredith has been dealing with a stomach virus for the last three days. Trembley wants to give him an inning today, but might have to settle for one batter. Trembley indicated that the final roster decisions are set, but a few players still need to be notified. He...

Felix Pie said there's "no question in my mind" that he'll be ready for Opening Day after being hit near the right ankle by a Mariano Rivera pitch during yesterday's game in Tampa. Pie said the ball struck the edge of his shin guard. X-rays taken on his ankle were negative. "I feel a lot better," he said. "There's a little pain when you touch it, but I'm OK." Pie thought he might have broken a bone until being examined. Though he's not in today's lineup, Pie said he could swing...

Brian Roberts 2B Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott LF Matt Wieters C Nolan Reimold DH Garrett Atkins 1B Cesar Izturis SS Brian Matusz LHP Kam Mickolio will throw another bullpen session today and pitch in an intrasquad game tomorrow. "From there," he said, "I have no idea."

One of the biggest sports thrills of my life, and it may rank No. 1, was attending the final game at Memorial Stadium and choking back tears as the Field of Dreams music played and the four 20-game winners from the '71 season stood together on the mound. I can't believe only one of them is still with us. We lost Mike Cuellar today after a courageous battle with stomach cancer that he never had a chance to win. I guess heaven needed another crafty left-hander. David McNally passed away in...

For all the energy and enthusiasm Nyjer Morgan adds to the team, he brings something else as well. The fun-loving outfielder has a big heart and he wants to do his part to be a positive influence on the African American community, especially in the nation's capital. Morgan was involved with Kidney Foundation awareness events and fundraising throughout the winter. The speedster hopes to start another campaign to donate money for each of stolen bases this season, but it's still in the works....