Brad Bergesen threw 35 pitches in the bullpen today, emptying his bag of tricks, and will increase that total to 45-50 before possibly facing live hitters on Friday. The dead ones always get the "take" sign. Bergesen said his tempo improved over his first mound session on Saturday. Pitching coach Rick Kranitz and bullpen coach Alan Dunn told Bergesen that his arm angle looked "normal." "Today was my first day throwing breaking stuff," Bergesen said. "Obviously, the first couple...

Chris Tillman struck out the first batter he faced, Robert Andino, on four pitches to begin today's intrasquad game. Now this is baseball. Tillman ran the count full to Nick Markakis, who fouled off one pitch and almost nailed Luke Scott on the on-deck circle. Markakis doubled to the fence in left field for the Black Team's first hit, but Adam Jones bounced to short and Scott flied to center. Jeff Salazar made a sliding catch in left-center to rob Scott. Tillman threw 15 pitches, 11 for...

Jake Arrieta threw 11 pitches, six for strikes, while stranding a runner on second base. Felix Pie flied to left, but Cesar Izturis lined a double to right-center field. Miguel Tejada bounced to the mound after coming within a few feet of ripping an extra-base hit down the left-field line. Matt Wieters bounced to short.

It's only an intrasquad game, but Mike Hinckley labored in the second inning while the Black Team took a 2-0 lead. Ty Wigginton drew a leadoff walk and scored with two outs on a Blake Davis single to left field. Davis stole second and raced home on Caleb Joseph's single to left. Davis fisted the ball and looped a hit to the opposite field. Joseph ripped a line drive that left a vapor trail. Jim Johnson struck out Garrett Atkins on three pitches to start the bottom of the second inning....

The Black Team committed three straight errors in the bottom of the third inning with Luis Lebron on the mound. Luis Bernardo struck out looking to begin the inning. Felix Pie reached on an infield hit and took second on Robert Andino's errant throw. Blake Davis made a high throw that allowed Cesar Izturis to reach, and Ty Wigginton botched Miguel Tejada's bouncer as Pie scored. Craig Tatum, pinch-hitting for Matt Wieters, grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Wilfrido Perez retired all three...

It's a good thing this is an intrasquad game and not the home opener against Toronto. The Orioles halted the bottom of the fourth inning with two outs because Troy Patton reached his pitch limit. Rhyne Hughes had a two-run single, Pedro Florimon had an RBI single and Craig Tatum increased the Orange Team's lead to 5-2 with a sacrifice fly. We have two more errors on the board for the Black Team, giving them five for the day. Right fielder Jonathan Tucker dropped a fly ball near the line,...

The Black Team's Robert Andino hit a two-run homer off Josh Perrault in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game, 5-5. Chorye Spoone gave up a run in the fifth, reducing the Orange Team's lead to 5-3, but I was in the clubhouse and nobody is keeping a scorebook on an intrasquad game, so I can't pass along any details. Here's what Chris Tillman said about his scoreless inning: "I felt great. As I was warming up, I thought, 'Yeah, this feels real good.' I would have liked to throw a...

I made it to Charlotte Sports Park, but not before detouring through half the state because of an accident or some really intrusive construction. Here's the Tampa Bay Rays' lineup: Gabe Kapler RF Carl Crawford LF Evan Longoria 3B Carlos Pena 1B Pat Burrell DH Sean Rodriguez SS Kelly Shoppach C Reid Brignac 2B Fernando Perez CF Jeff Niemann RHP

The lineup that's posted in the clubhouse has Robert Andino playing shortstop, but the sheet that's been distributed lists Cesar Izturis. More on that later. Update: Izturis has been scratched with the flu. Felix Pie expects to start tomorrow's game against the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland after "stretching" his quad yesterday while legging out a triple. "It's good," he said. "I'm ready to go." Pie admitted that he was "a little scared," but that feeling has passed. "I'm not...

Cesar Izturis was sent back to the team hotel because of a sore throat. Blake Davis has replaced Justin Turner at second base. Turner took a line drive off his foot during batting practice, but he could enter the game later tonight. Brad Bergesen threw another live batting practice session, and has one more scheduled for Sunday. If he continues to feel good, he could start Wednesday's game. Chris George, slowed by a sore hamstring, also threw live BP. Nolan Reimold and Felix Pie took...