Jeremy Guthrie came up with one of his best starts in what has been a frustrating season for him. But, Edwin Jackson pitched better. For the second time in five weeks, Jackson produced a dominant performance vs. the Orioles as the Tigers topped the Birds 4-2 on Wednesday night. Jackson took a two-hit shutout to the ninth, but hit Nolan Reimold leading off the inning and gave up a two-run homer to Adam Jones. He allowed just three hits, throwing 117 pitches. Jackson improves to 8-5,...

Jeremy Guthrie had a strong outing in a losing cause Wednesday night. He allowed six hits and three runs over 7 1/3 as he falls to 7-11, 5.28. Two of the runs charged to Guthrie scored after he left the game. It was his 10th quality start of this season. The Orioles fall to 8-14 in his 22 starts. Guthrie allowed his AL-leading 27th homer, a solo shot by Magglio Ordonez in the fifth inning. Guthrie is now 3-6, 6.08 in 11 road starts. Not much action vs. Jackson - Detroit right-hander...

Game Preview Orioles (45-62) at Detroit (56-50) It's beginning to become an all too familiar story. The Orioles will play hard, be in the game to the final out, but in the end, lose a close one. It happened again Wednesday night, when Detroit beat the Orioles 4-2. The Tigers lead the four-game series, two wins to one. In the series finale today, at 1:05 p.m. the O's send right-hander David Hernandez (3-3, 3.28) to the mound vs. 20-year-old righty Rick Porcello (9-7, 4.36). Edwin...

RHP David Hernandez (3-3, 3.28) today makes his 9th start of this season, his 6th on the road and his 2nd of the year vs. Detroit. Hernandez won his Major League debut in Baltimore on May 28 vs. the Tigers. That night, he allowed five hits and one run over 5 2/3 innings. Hernandez took a loss last Saturday vs. Boston, allowing two runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings as the Red Sox beat the Orioles 4-0. In his two previous starts, at New York and Boston, Hernandez pitched to an ERA of...

Brandon Inge hit a two-run homer during a four-run second inning that gave Detroit an early lead. The Tigers went on to a 7-3 win over the Orioles Thursday afternoon, to take three of four in the series. O's right-hander David Hernandez, who had pitched to an ERA of 2.70 over his last five starts, today lasted just three innings. He gave up seven hits and five runs. Hernandez had allowed six runs total over his last four starts. He is now 3-4, 3.96. The O's scored on a Felix Pie RBI...

David Hernandez pitched so well at New York and Boston, but today lasted just three innings at Detroit. He gave up seven hits and five runs and is now 3-4, 3.96. Hernandez threw just 81 pitches, ending a run of six straight starts with 100 or more pitches. He had pitched to an ERA of 2.70 in his five starts before today. The Orioles are now 4-5 in Hernandez starts this year. The Tigers win the season series, 5 wins to 3. The O's are now 12-12 vs. the AL Central and are 17-15 at Comerica...

How close is Drew Storen to the Majors? It seems to be the other most common question when people talk about Stephen Strasburg and Drew Storen. Both had very good Arizona Fall League performances and both are Top 10 Nationals picks from 2009. P-Nats pitching coach Paul Menhart had the most recent look at Storen in Arizona and told me, "Drew has already had his inaugural minor league freshman year (which makes it a little different experience than what Stephen went through). "He showed...

The pitching staff belongs to Matt Wieters. That's what we were told while given the explanation for Chad Moeller losing his job as the Orioles' backup catcher. Moeller wasn't needed to mentor the staff. Wieters is in control. He owns it. And he has the receipt in his wallet if you don't believe him. With these words still swimming in my head, I watched Wieters go to the mound twice last night in the fourth inning, as the Rays mounted a rally that produced one run, but could have busted...

Nationals pitcher Tyler Walker has bounced back from a slow start to spring training. He put his latest resurgence on display Wednesday night during the Phillies 8-4 win. Walker retired six consecutive Phillies hitters in the 5th and 6th innings. During that run he prevented the Phils from tacking on to a 6-3 advantage. The line was impressive: 2 innings, no hits, no runs, no walks and three strikeouts of Jayson Werth, Shane Victorino and Jimmy Rollins. Shortstop Ian Desmond started his...

The Orioles, who went 17-22 in one-run games last year, have dropped two close ones to start the 2010 season after Wednesday's second straight, 4-3 loss vs. Tampa. Evan Longoria's solo homer in the 8th gave the Rays a 4-2 lead and insurance that offset a Garrett Atkins RBI double in the 9th. Longoria's two-run double in the 5th put Tampa ahead 3-2. The RISP stat tonight: The Orioles were 1 for 12 batting with runners in scoring position Tuesday and Wednesday were just a little better at...