O's president Andy MacPhail and manager Dave Trembley took some questions here today at Camden Yards from season ticket holders as part of their latest "State of the Orioles" address. Here are some of the questions and their answers. MacPhail was asked about Rhyne Hughes, the player the O's got today as the player to be named later for Gregg Zaun. AM - "We were able to finish that deal today and acquire a left-handed hitting first baseman that was with Tampa's Triple-A club named Rhyne...

LHP Brian Matusz (1-1, 7.04) tonight makes his 3rd start of the season, his 1st at home and the 1st of his career vs. the Angels. Matusz's first two starts: Aug 4 at Det: 5IP, 6H, 1R-ER, 3B, 5K, 99 pitches Aug 9 at Tor: 2 2/3IP, 7H, 5R-ER, 2B, 1K, 62 pitches Matsuz has faced almost all right-handed batters so far and the righty hitters are batting .406 (13 for 32) against him while lefties are at .000 (0 for 2). Opponents are hitting .200 off him (2 for 10) when batting with runners in...

I feel for Brian Matusz, who walked three in the third inning tonight leading to a five-run inning by the Angels. They are a team that will take a crack and turn it into a three-foot hole. Matusz opened the door big time when he walked three of four hitters. That stat sheet won't show the close pitches to Bobby Abreu that were not called strikes although they sure looked like they were. I guess at Double-A ball, similar pitches would have resulted in an out. But Major League hitters take...

It was an inning where the LA Angels, one of the Major League's best hitting clubs, put together three singles, three walks and an error and turned that into five runs. The five-run third vs. Brian Matusz carried LA to a 5-1 win over the Orioles, in front of 28,770 at Camden Yards on Saturday night. Matusz pitched out of trouble in other innings, but in that third, with one out, a single and two walks loaded the bases and the Angels went on to score five times. Matusz falls to 1-2, 6.75. ...

Not tonight - One night after producing 12 extra-base hits and 19 hits in a 16-6 romp over the Angels, the O's were held to one run on nine hits. They went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position after going 11 for 22 Friday. The O's have scored three runs or less in six of seven and eight of the last ten games. They have done that in 15 of 28 games in the second-half and are 1-14 in those contests. Melvin Mora went 3 for 4, it was his 6th three-hit game of the year. He is 9 for 18...

Game Preview LA Angels (69-45) at Orioles (48-68) The Orioles and Angels each have one win in their four-game series that continues today at 1:35 p.m. at Camden Yards. Jeremy Guthrie (7-12, 5.43) pitches for the Orioles vs. LA's Sean O'Sullivan (3-1, 5.12). The Birds had 12 extra-base hits in Friday's 16-6 win over the Angels, but last night the O's were held to one run in the Angels 5-1 win. One night after going 11 for 22 with runners in scoring position, the Birds were 1 for 9...

RHP Jeremy Guthrie (7-12, 5.43) today makes his 24th start of this season, his 13th at home and the 5th of his career vs. the Angels. Guthrie has lost four straight decisions. He is 0-4, 6.75 over those last four starts. Guthrie has been hurt by the long ball this year, allowing an AL-high 27 homers. He has given up at least one homer in 17 starts and eight times has allowed at least two homers in a game. Guthrie, 2009 season: First half: 6-8, 5.35 in 18 starts Second half: 1-4, 5.67 in...

Coming into today's game, the Orioles had hit just three homers in their last nine games and three over the last 81 innings. When Nick Markakis connected for a two-run homer in the last of the 5th to tie today's game at 6-6, the O's had hit three homers over their last three innings. Today's longballs: Brian Roberts, his 10th, a two-run shot in the 3rd off O'Sullivan Luke Scott, his 20th, a solo shot in the 4th off O'Sullivan Nick Markakis, his 14th, a two-run shot in the 5th off...

They lost a lead in the ninth inning, but not the game. The LA Angels scored nine runs on eight hits off Brian Bass and Matt Albers in the top of 13th to post a somewhat rare, extra-inning rout, 17-8. Torri Hunter's RBI single made it 9-8, then Erick Aybar's two-run single gave LA a three-run lead. Later, Juan Rivera capped the inning with a three-run homer. It was the O's longest game of the year by innings and time. Down 8-6 after seven, the O's tied the game. Matt Wieters'...

Not his year - O's starter Jeremy Guthrie struggled again. He gave up ten hits and seven runs (all earned) over 5 2/3 innings. Guthrie's ERA is now 5.66. It was his most earned runs allowed since he also gave up seven on 8-29-08 vs. Tampa. Over his last five starts, he is 0-4, 7.55. Over his last two starts, Guthrie has given up 12ER and 21 hits over 10 1/3 for an ERA of 10.45. He leads the American League with 28 homers allowed. Guthrie has allowed five runs or more 10 times this...