Cesar Izturis SS
Adam Jones CF
Nick Markakis RF
Matt Wieters C
Miguel Tejada 3B
Nolan Reimold DH
Garrett Atkins 1B
Ty Wigginton 2B
Jonathan Tucker LF
Jason Berken RHP
Felix Pie remains out of the lineup with some soreness in his left shoulder. He hit off a tee and threw yesterday, and will consult today with head athletic trainer Richie Bancells.
"It feels much better today," Pie said. "Maybe Saturday I'll play in a game."
Mike Gonzalez said he won't pitch today.
The clubhouse...
The rain is coming down hard here, but it's expected to stop before the first pitch is thrown. Just a morning shower, or so we're told.
I'm savoring a rare morning at Ed Smith Stadium. We travel to Dunedin tomorrow and Clearwater on Friday and Sunday. The Orioles also play a split-squad game in Fort Myers on Saturday, but I'll cover the Sarasota game.
Former Orioles farmhand Rommie Lewis accompanied the Blue Jays to Sarasota today. So did Raul Chavez and Joey Gathright. But no Adam...
Closer Mike Gonzalez threw a bullpen session this morning and expects to pitch in Friday's game in Clearwater.
"A couple batters came up and I tried to let it go a little bit," he said.
Gonzalez, who has been dealing with tightness in his lower back, will play light catch tomorrow.
"It's just little nagging aches," he said. "I've got to get it out."
Second baseman Brian Roberts will wait another day to determine whether the epidural had a positive effect on his back, consult with Dr. Lee Riley in Baltimore and proceed from there.
Not much of an update, but it's all I've got.
"I'm just waiting a day or two to see what the results are," he said. "Not a whole lot different yet.
"I had an epidural shot. Now it's just giving it a day or two to settle in. I'm not really doing much of anything right now."
Roberts said he doesn't...
Mike Gonzalez is scheduled to throw one inning against the Phillies on Friday.
Felix Pie threw and hit again today and will play in one of the intrasquad games on Saturday.
"He probably could play on Friday, but because it's a night game, I'll hold him back and play him on Saturday," manager Dave Trembley said.
"I'm encouraged by both Gonzalez and Pie."
Trembley won't make more roster cuts before the split-squad games.
Trembley said Chris Tillman, David Hernandez and Jason Berken...
Jason Berken threw 12 of his 13 pitches for strikes and escaped a two-on, no-out jam in the first inning.
Jarrett Hoffpauir reached on an error by left fielder Jonathan Tucker, who couldn't hold onto a sinking liner, and Alex Gonzalez followed with a broken-bat single into center field.
Jeremy Reed struck out, Randy Ruiz popped to short and Brian Dopirak grounded to second.
Cesar Izturis led off the bottom of the first with a single into right field.
Meanwhile, the White Sox have released...
Jason Berken allowed three runs and four hits in the third inning. He also walked a batter.
Alex Gonzalez lined a single into left field with one out. Jeremy Reed grounded a single into right and Nick Markakis overran the ball, allowing Gonzalez to score and Reed to take third base.
Randy Ruiz walked on four pitches and Brian Dopirak lifted a sacrifice fly. Back-to-back singles by Travis Snyder and Brad Emaus increased the lead to 3-0 and brought pitching coach Rick Kranitz to the...
Travis Snider hit an opposite-field home run off Kam Mickolio in the fifth.
Blue Jays 4, Orioles 0.
Mickolio has walked three batters in two innings. Matt Wieters threw out Brad Emaus trying to steal in the fifth.
The Orioles have one hit, Cesar Izturis' leadoff single in the first.
Update: Fifteen straight Orioles were retired until Ty Wigginton walked to open the sixth. Still only one hit as we enter the bottom of the seventh. Pedro Florimon pinch-ran for Izturis, who reached on a...
Miguel Abreu's bloop single with two outs in the ninth inning scored Pedro Florimon and prevented the Orioles from going hitless after Cesar Izturis' leadoff single in the first.
Cla Meredith turned in another spotless performance today. He hasn't allowed a baserunner in five innings. No hits, no walks, no runs.
"He's getting both right- and left-handed hitters out," manager Dave Trembley said. "For the most part he's kept his pitches down in the count. He locates down. And he's...
Cesar Izturis SS
Adam Jones CF
Nick Markakis RF
Miguel Tejada 3B
Luke Scott 1B
Matt Wieters DH
Lou Montanez LF
Craig Tatum C
Justin Turner 2B
Jeremy Guthrie RHP
Ricky Romero is starting for the Blue Jays.
Michael Aubrey says his injured groin is feeling better, but he's still day-to-day, with no target date for his return to the field. It's been a wasted spring for Aubrey.