...Adam Jones is lifted for a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning with the potential go-ahead run coming to the plate. Jonathan Tucker batted for Jones with runners on first and second, one out and the Orioles' trailing, 5-3. He hit into a force, barely beating the throw to first base. Blake Davis, batting for Cesar Izturis, bounced to short. Jeff Salazar stood on deck as the pinch-hitter for Nick Markakis. It's spring training. Talking about his start today, Jeremy Guthrie noted how he...

Ty Wigginton and Lou Montanez are each 2-for-3. Wigginton drove in two runs with his second home run of the spring, and his average is up to .353. Montanez is batting .333. Josh Bell hit into a double play in the eighth, but only because shortstop Ramiro Pena made a diving stop in the hole and threw from his knees to second base. You'll probably see it on SportsCenter about 500 times. Cla Meredith threw another perfect inning, striking out one. He hasn't allowed a hit or run in 3 2/3...

The Yankees didn't score against Alfredo Simon in the bottom of the ninth. Michael Aubrey came out of the game after one at-bat, a single in the second inning, because of some soreness in his groin. He notified manager Dave Trembley, who sent up a pinch-hitter. "He said coming out of the box he felt something, so I got him out," Trembley said. Trembley said the last 15 pitches thrown by Jeremy Guthrie were the best. "(Cla) Meredith continues to be good for us. It was a nice test for him...

Cesar Izturis SS Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Garrett Atkins 1B Nolan Reimold LF Josh Bell DH Chad Moeller C Robert Andino 2B Brian Matusz LHP Also scheduled to pitch: Will Ohman, Wilfrido Perez, Jim Johnson, Koji Uehara and Kam Mickolio.

Anybody know what happened to the hour that I lost this morning? I'm searching for it like a contact lense. I had the joyous task of checking on Michael Aubrey's groin a few minutes ago. Still think I have the best job in the world? Aubrey said the area "tightened up" as he left the batter's box after lining a single in his first at-bat in yesterday's game in Tampa. He's day-to-day with the injury. "It didn't feel right," he said. It doesn't feel much better this...

Orioles manager Dave Trembley won't meet with reporters this morning because he's heading to Pirate City for the B-squad game in Bradenton. We'll have to wait until after today's game against the Phillies to get our first comments from him. The Orioles are playing a seven-inning intrasquad game Tuesday morning. Kevin Millwood and Jim Johnson are scheduled to pitch. I'm assuming it's closed to the public unless I'm told otherwise. I'll be driving to Fort Myers for the second time in...

Brian Roberts is flying back to Baltimore later today to receive an epidural as the latest procedure to alleviate the discomfort caused by a herniated disk in his back. Epidural injection is the administration of medication into the epidural space. It's used to treat swelling, pain, and inflammation associated with neurological conditions that affect nerve roots, such as a herniated disk and radiculopathy. Roberts, who took infield earlier this morning, will meet with reporters before the...

Jimmy Rollins SS Placido Polanco 3B Chase Utley DH Ryan Howard 1B Jayson Werth RF Raul Ibanez LF Shane Victorino CF Juan Castro 2B Dane Sardinha C Kyle Kendrick RHP Yes, that Juan Castro. Third base coach Sam Perlozzo embraced Mike Bordick behind the batting cage. I only got a smile and a wave.

Brian Matusz allowed a hit, but also got a double-play ball in a scoreless first inning. Most impressive, he only needed 11 pitches - seven for strikes. Jimmy Rollins popped to second before Placido Polanco lined a single into center field. Chase Utley fell behind 0-2 and hit a hard one-hopper to Robert Andino, who flipped to second to start the double play. The Orioles are hoping to get four innings from Matusz.

An Orioles starter might actually reach his innings limit instead of his pitch limit. Brian Matusz has given them two scoreless, throwing 15 of his 23 pitches for strikes. He retired the side in order in the second on 12 pitches, getting a called third strike on Raul Ibanez to end the frame. Ryan Howard lined to Miguel Tejada, who caught the ball at his old shortstop position as part of the infield shift. Jayson Werth flied to right. The Orioles put two runners on base against Kyle Kendrick...