The backup plan
The backup plan
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Manager Dave Tremblely wouldn't classify Chad Moeller as the clear frontrunner to back up Matt Wieters on Opening Day. The competition for that job continues into the final week of camp. Moeller is batting .300 (6-for-20) with one double, two homers and three RBIs in 20 at-bats. Craig Tatum is batting .176 (3-for-17) with two doubles and two RBIs in 17 at-bats. Both of Tatum's RBIs came in last night's game, when he also threw out a runner attempting to steal. "I would say that's an...
Koji update
Koji update
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Koji Uehara played catch again today before moving to the back fields, where he was expected to do some light running. Uehara's left hamstring is feeling a little better, but he needs to get back on the mound. He's been projected as the seventh-inning guy and he needs to pitch again before the Orioles head to St. Petersburg for the opener. "It makes you shuffle some things around on paper," manager Dave Trembley said. "The report I got this morning was that he was improved. We'll have...
Worth noting (w/Red Sox lineup)
Worth noting (w/Red Sox lineup)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Brian Roberts said his back felt fine this morning. "I'm good, I'm good," he told reporters who approached his locker. Roberts won't take any swings in a minor league game today. He's expected to be in tomorrow's lineup. Mike Gonzalez will join Kevin Millwood in today's minor league tilt. Unfortunately, I can only be in one place at a time, so I'll probably miss them. I need to watch David Hernandez pitch against the Red Sox. Jiwon Bang, the interpreter for Koji Uehara, said the...
Orioles lineup
Orioles lineup
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Felix Pie LF Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Matt Wieters C Miguel Tejada 3B Garrett Atkins 1B Ty Wigginton DH Justin Turner 2B Cesar Izturis SS David Hernandez RHP Will Ohman, Cla Meredith and Kam Mickolio also are slated to pitch.
Post-game Trembley
Post-game Trembley
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Tremendous outing by Jason Berken, who shut out the Twins on two hits over four innings in the Orioles' 4-3 loss. He didn't walk a batter and struck out three. Berken lowered his ERA to 2.84 on a night that Chris Tillman labored. David Hernadez starts tomorrow against the Red Sox. Is the competition for the fifth starter's job really over or is there still time for Berken or Hernandez to force the issue? Manager Dave Trembley praised Berken and the way Nolan Reimold ran the bases and...
Tillman on Tillman
Tillman on Tillman
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Robert Andino dropped a fly ball in left field in the eighth inning. He looked like a shortstop trying to play the outfield. Hard to pile too much blame on him. Chris Tillman found some positive aspects about tonight's start, but he didn't have many kind things to say about his 27-pitch third inning. He kept going back to how long that inning lasted, though he threw five more pitches in the second. "I thought it went well overall, but that third inning, those kinds of innings are...
The life of Brian
The life of Brian
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Nolan Reimold homered with the count full in the seventh inning, his first of the spring. He singled earlier and scored from first base on a double. A good night for the left fielder. Twins 4, Orioles 3. Brian Roberts struck out in all three at-bats tonight before leaving the game. "It felt good just to put a uniform on and go play. Certainly it's different than BP," he said. "My body felt pretty good. Just a matter of getting in the box and seeing live pitching. But my body, it felt...
The offense wakes up
The offense wakes up
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Craig Tatum drove in his first two runs of the spring with a double into left-center field, scoring Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold with two outs in the fifth inning. Twins 4, Orioles 2. Jones singled with one out to break up Scott Baker's no-hitter. Reimold singled with two outs and scored all the way from first base on the double. Nothing wrong with the way he circled the bases. Brian Roberts stood on deck when Cesar Izturis flied out to end the inning. He's taking the field for the top of...
Tillman's done (updated twice)
Tillman's done (updated twice)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Chris Tillman threw 88 pitches tonight, 51 for strikes. He's leaving the game with one out in the top of the fifth and a runner on second base. The Twins continue to lead, 1-0, but the runner is his responsibility after Denard Span drew a leadoff walk. Tillman walked four and struck out four. It was quite a struggle tonight. The best thing you can say about Tillman is he's been the master of damage control. He could teach a class at the local community college. Cla Meredith has entered the...
Tillman scuffling and surviving (updated twice)
Tillman scuffling and surviving (updated twice)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
How are the Twins only leading by one run? Chris Tillman threw 27 pitches in the third inning, 16 for strikes. His count is up to 72. The Twins have four hits and three walks. They're working Tillman hard. But they're only ahead, 1-0. Tillman will come back out for the fourth, but he's not going deep in this game. The Orioles don't have a baserunner through three innings. Scott Baker has struck out four. Update: Now that's more like it. Tillman threw seven strikes among his eight...