Brian Roberts has left the game with a strained abdominal muscle. The injury occurred when Roberts stole second base. He scored the Orioles' first run, but you could tell that he was hurting. Roberts also was shaken up last night while diving into second, but only because he took a knee in the back of his neck. The herniated disk doesn't seem to be an issue, unless it leads to sore necks and stomach muscles. If only I could find comfort in that statement. Julio Lugo has replaced Roberts...

Brooks Robinson and Boog Powell used to look like they had played together forever when they patrolled the corner infield spots for the Orioles. Today, when they talked with reporters after throwing out ceremonial first pitches at Camden Yards, it was like no time had passed since they had last taken the field. They praised each other, traded quips and handled questions as smoothly as Brooks used to handle ground balls or Boog a throw in the dirt. "It was wonderful," Brooks said. ...

Game Preview Orioles (41-53) at Boston (55-39) The last time the Orioles played the Red Sox the series ended with two wild games. In the middle game of three, the O's went to the last of the 7th down 10-1 and rallied to beat the Sox 11-10. It was the greatest comeback ever in O's history. But the next day, the Birds took a 5-1 lead to the 9th and lost 6-5 in 11 innings. Boston scored four in the 9th to tie the game. Tonight the clubs begin a three-game series at 7:10 p.m at Fenway...

RHP Brad Bergesen (6-4, 3.51) tonight makes his 18th start of this season, his 8th on the road and his 2nd start of 2009 vs. Boston. As well as he has pitched this year, Bergesen tonight is looking for his first career road win. Bergesen, 2009: Home: 6-1, 2.82 and team is 8-2 Road: 0-3, 4.57 and team is 1-6 Bergesen took the loss over the weekend vs. the White Sox when he allowed six straight hits in the 5th inning following an error. On the night he gave up 10 hits and four runs (two...

It's looking like, for now, Jason Berken and Rich Hill will stay in the O's rotation. Will that be for just one more turn through or more, we don't know. Such was reported in a Baltimore Sun story earlier tonight. Moments ago on the MASN telecast, O's president Andy MacPhail was asked about Chris Tillman. "We haven't finalized anything yet," MacPhail said. "Most of the pitchers Tillman was with last year at Bowie are here like Berken, Bergesen and Hernandez. We should see Tillman...

The bottom four batters in the Red Sox lineup combined to drive in all three runs tonight as Boston beat the Orioles 3-1, to snap a five-game losing streak. The O's loaded the bases with one out in the ninth vs. Jon Papelbon. But he fanned Luke Scott for the second out and struck out Melvin Mora on a 3-2 pitch to record his 25th save. Jason Varitek had an RBI single and Jed Lowrie a sac fly as Boston took a 2-1 lead in the 4th. An inning later, an RBI groundout by J.D. Drew made it a 3-1...

I've always wondered how Adam Jones can blow a bubble and catch a baseball simultaneously. He does it all the time. I can't unwrap a piece of gum and walk in a straight line. It's mildly amusing when Jones does it. He's left wide open to criticism when it doesn't work. Jones couldn't make a running grab of John Buck's long fly ball to center with two outs in the first. His bubble didn't pop, but the ball popped out of his glove, allowing two more runs to score off Brad Bergesen and...

Since the O's scored 21 runs on 37 hits in the three-game series at Chicago to start this trip, the O's have struggled on offense. In the last four games of this trip, they have scored just 10 runs on 31 hits with only seven extra-base hits. The O's were 0 for 6 tonight with runners in scoring position and are 3 for 29 over the last four games with RISP. The O's loaded the bases in the 9th vs. Jonathan Papelbon, but he fanned Luke Scott and Melvin Mora to end the game. Papelbon is now...

Game Preview Orioles (41-54) at Boston (56-39) For the Orioles lately it's been a story of close but no cigar or wins. They have a similar story riding vs. Boston. The O's have lost their last four games on their current road trip by 7 total runs. Of the O's seven losses vs. Boston this year, five have come by two runs or less. The O's latest frustration came during Friday's 3-1 loss at Boston. They loaded the bases with one out in the 9th vs. Jonathan Papelbon, but he fanned Luke...

RHP Jeremy Guthrie (7-8, 5.12) tonight will make his 20th start of this season, his 10th on the road and the 9th of his career vs. Boston. Guthrie is coming off one of his best starts of this year. He got the win last Sunday at Chicago, giving up just three hits and two runs over eight innings. He allowed two solo homers and threw 108 pitches. The O's are 8-11 when Guthrie starts, but have won four of the last five. In three July starts, he is 1-1, 5.19. In nine road starts, Guthrie is...