One of the keys to Jason Berken's improvement this spring is his sudden ability to slow his pace and regain control. He was in total control last night, blanking the Twins on two hits over four innings. He didn't walk a batter and struck out three. Berken, competing for the fifth starter's job or a long relief role, has allowed four runs in 12 2/3 innings this spring. "Last year, I felt like the game would get going so quick, I'd blink and there would be four runs on the board," he...

Alfredo Simon will start Monday night's game against the New York Yankees. As I wrote earlier, Brian Matusz will pitch in a minor league game. Brian Roberts will return to the lineup tomorrow night. We're all curious to see how David Hernandez pitches today following Chris Tillman's disappointing outing last night and Jason Berken's four innings of shutout relief. The bullpen might not be the only place to find a good dogfight. "I know (Tillman) was upset with himself because he felt...

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 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...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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...