The O's began their nine-game road trip with a one-run loss at Tampa. The Birds are now 12-16 in one-run games and have lost seven of their last eight one-run decisions. Matt with a longball - Matt Wieters two-run homer in the 8th was his 4th of the season. He has hit two solo shots and a pair of two-run homers. It was his first homer since July 5th, Wieters had gone 28 games without a longball. Gary and Buck talk with Dave Trembley after the O's 5-4 loss to the Rays Nick Markakis...

Game Preview Orioles (48-71) at Tampa Bay (64-54) Orioles pitchers have been giving up the longball a lot in recent games and Tampa Bay hit three homers to beat the Orioles Tuesday night, 5-4, in the opener of a three-game series. Tonight, in game two of this series at 7:08 p.m. at Tropicana Field, Chris Tillman (1-0, 4.88) pitches for the Orioles vs. Jeff Niemann (10-5, 3.86). O's pitchers have given up nine homers the last three games and 34 in the last 21 games. The Orioles have...

RHP Chris Tillman (1-0, 4.88) tonight makes his 5th Major League start of this season, his 3rd on the road and the 1st of his career vs. Tampa. Tillman's first two starts: 6.75 ERA (8ER in 10 2/3IP) Tillman's last two starts: 3.38 ERA (5ER in 13 1/3IP) Right-handed batters are hitting .327 off Tillman while lefties are batting just .214. The O's are 2-2 in his four starts. Tillman has allowed nine of his 13 runs in the first two innings of his starts. In two road starts, he is 0-0,...

Chris Tillman showed some big-time poise in the bottom of the first inning tonight. Meanwhile, home plate umpire Mark Wegner is sure missing a good game, at least missing some good Tillman pitches. I give the 21-year-old right hander immense credit for keeping his poise while Wegner was missing pitches and forcing Tillman to work to the max to get out of a bases-loaded jam. But he was forced to throw 31 pitches. Will that catch up to him in the second inning tonight? Maybe the 5th or...

Chris Tillman gave up just three runs, all on solo homers, in six innings plus tonight at Tampa. He leaves trailing 3-0 and might absorb his first Major League loss. But he pitched very well in this game and maybe had his best curveball of any of his five O's outings. Tillman tonight: 6IP, 7H, 3R-ER, 2B, 3K.....101 pitches. I thought he might not come out for the seventh inning, but I kind of liked the fact that he did, despite throwing 100 pitches through six. Dave Trembley showed...

Chris Tillman allowed three solo homers and took his first Major League loss as Tampa Bay beat the Birds 3-1 Wednesday night to take the first two games of this series. Pat Burrell homered in the 4th, Ben Zobrist in the 6th and B.J. Upton took Tillman deep leading off the 7th. Tillman, now 1-1, 4.80, gave up seven hits and three runs over six innings. He threw 101 pitches and his ERA over his last three starts is 3.72. Jim and Buck interview Dave Trembley after the O's 3-1 loss to the...

O's pitching has been hampered by the longball all year, especially in the last few games. Chris Tillman allowed three solo homers tonight and the O's have allowed six homers in two games in this series. The Birds have allowed 12 homers over the last four games and 37 in the last 22 games. Tillman time - Tillman, now 1-1, 4.80 through five Major League starts, gave up three runs and seven his over six innings. He walked two and fanned three, throwing 101 pitches. Still, Tillman has...

Game Preview Orioles (48-72) at Tampa Bay (65-54) The Orioles have yet to win a series since the All-Star break. They won't win this one either as they have lost the first two games of a three-game set at Tampa Bay. Tonight, the clubs meet at 7:08 p.m. as the Orioles look to get one win in this series. Lefty Brian Matusz (1-2, 6.75) will pitch vs. the Rays James Shields (7-9, 3.88). The Orioles have lost 5-4 and 3-1 games in this series. Tampa hit three solo homers Wednesday night to...

LHP Brian Matusz (1-2, 6.75) tonight makes his 4th Major League start of this season, his 3rd on the road and the 1st of his career vs. Tampa. In his Major League debut, August 4th at Detroit, Matusz got a win, giving up just one run over five innings. Over his last two starts vs. Toronto and Los Angeles, he has given up 9ER and 18 hits over 8 1/3 innings. The Orioles are 1-2 in his starts. Right-handed batters are hitting .436 vs. Matusz in those starts with 24 hits in 55 at bats. ...

Brian Roberts hit a Grand Slam in the 6th tonight to break a 1-1 tie and give the Orioles a 5-1 lead at Tampa. It's his 12th homer of the year, his 2nd in two nights and his 4th career Grand Slam. Roberts career Grand Slams: 5-22-03 at Anaheim off Troy Percival 5-28-03 v. Anaheim off Ramon Ortiz 6-20-04 at Colorado of Shawn Chacon 8-20-09 at TB off Lance Cormier Roberts is 2 for 4 in tonight's game, extending his batting streak to 10 games. He is hitting .391 (18 for 46) during his...