Quick trivia question (with answer & final update)

Quick trivia question (with answer & final update)
Name the last Orioles pitcher to throw nine scoreless innings and get a no-decision. I'll trust you not to look up the answer. And no, you can't say Zach Britton. I mean before him. Kevin Gregg walked the leadoff hitter in the top of the 10th. That's never good. The Mariners didn't get a runner to second base until the 10th, but Mike Wilson bounced into a double play to bail out Gregg. Answer: Mike Morgan on April 16, 1988. Here's another one for you: Name the last major league...
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Britton through, yes, nine innings (updated twice)

Britton through, yes, nine innings (updated twice)
Zach Britton has completed eight innings, and the Mariners are stuck on three hits and no walks. No runs, either. Britton has struck out four, and he's the first Orioles starter to finish eight innings since Jeremy Guthrie on opening day. Unfortunately, the Orioles haven't scored for him tonight. Britton has thrown 98 pitches, including 69 for strikes. He needed only eight pitches to complete the eighth, getting a fly ball, line drive and grounder up the middle that Brian Roberts...
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Make mine a double play (updated)

Make mine a double play (updated)
The Orioles have hit into three double plays in the first three innings. That's the maximum allowed, as far as I know. Brian Roberts singled in the first inning, and Nick Markakis grounded into a DP. Adam Jones and Matt Wieters singled in the second inning, and J.J. Hardy grounded into a DP. Robert Andino singled in the third - and you wanted him out of the lineup! - and Roberts grounded into a DP. The Orioles have stranded only one runner in three innings, so let's choose to look on the...
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Roberts' early hitting already pays off

Roberts' early hitting already pays off
Brian Roberts singled into center field leading off the bottom of the first inning. And you wanted him benched tonight! Roberts snapped an 0-for-26 slump. He hadn't collected a hit since May 4 in Kansas City. Roberts is 3-for-37 this month, so he still has some catching up to do. And speaking of catching... A male fan caught two fouls balls from Chone Figgins during the same at-bat in the first inning. It pays to bring your glove. The fan was standing behind the last row of seats in...
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A few pregame comments from Showalter (updated)

A few pregame comments from Showalter (updated)
In my "1993 brawl" entry, I meant to point out that Cal Ripken's streak almost ended because of a knee injury sustained when he got caught in the bottom of a pile. Thanks to TomD for the reminder. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells worked on the knee the next day after Ripken said he wouldn't be able to play. The rest is baseball history. The Sun didn't report the injury because it went unnoticed with all the fights that broke out that afternoon. Once I joined the beat fulltime in...
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Just the facts

Just the facts
Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz will likely make two injury rehab starts before the Orioles consider activating him from the disabled list. Matusz is scheduled to throw a bullpen session tomorrow afternoon at Tropicana Field, fly back to Baltimore and start Monday night at Single-A Frederick. He will probably join Triple-A Norfolk and start the May 21 game against Louisville at Harbor Park. Manager Buck Showalter said the only way Matusz could be activated after one minor league game is if...
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Andino in left field tonight

Andino in left field tonight
J.J. Hardy moves up to seventh in the lineup after batting ninth and eighth this season, and Robert Andino replaces Luke Scott in left field against Mariners left-hander Jason Vargas. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino LF Zach Britton LHP For the Mariners: Ichiro RF Figgins 3B Smoak 1B Olivo C Cust DH M. Wilson LF J. Wilson 2B Rodriguez SS Saunders CF...
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Remembering the first brawl at Camden Yards

Remembering the first brawl at Camden Yards
Brian Roberts, in a 1-for-34 slump, is doing some early hitting on the field with Jim Presley, who's tossing him the ball underhand from halfway between the mound and the plate. Watching Felix Pie go nose-to-nose with Seattle first baseman Justin Smoak Tuesday night might have brought back a few memories of the infamous 1993 brawl between the same two teams at Camden Yards. I wasn't on the beat back then, but I sure do remember it. Mike Mussina drilled Mariners catcher Bill Hasselman, later...
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Jones and Tillman: That's what they said

Jones and Tillman: That's what they said
Adam Jones downplayed the idea that he's trying to prove something to the Mariners, the team that brought him into the majors and traded him to the Orioles. "I don't care about playing the Mariners anymore," he said. "The only thing that's cool is to still see Ichiro and some of the boys, my friends that get called up like Mike Wilson, some of the guys I played with. Besides that, they're another team now." It meant more to Jones that he had three hits off Felix Hernandez. "It's...
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Showalter speaks after 4-2 win

Showalter speaks after 4-2 win
Tonight's attendance: 11,561 Manager Buck Showalter needed Chris Tillman to go deep into tonight's game, and the right-hander completed six innings for the third time in seven starts. Tillman was removed after 112 pitches and improved to 2-3 with a 6.15 ERA. "What did he have, three walks and a hit by pitch? It's just things a young pitcher has to figure out to get deeper in games," Showalter said. "To be honest with all of us, you probably would have signed up in blood for that number...
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Roberts' slump continues

Roberts' slump continues
The first 10,000 fans 15 and over who attend tonight's game will receive a Vladimir Guerrero T-shirt. Just be careful when wearing it in a bar. It'll chase anything. The Orioles have scored 11 runs in the last two games, which seems like an embarrassment of riches. Every starter had a hit last night except for Brian Roberts and Robert Andino - and Mariners second baseman Adam Kennedy robbed Andino by gloving his scorching ground ball while falling backward and starting a double...
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Mr. Jones and me

Mr. Jones and me
Adam Jones is a man on a mission. Prove to the Mariners that they never should have traded him. Jones is 6-for-9 with five RBIs in the first two games of this series. He's singled twice and delivered a two-run triple tonight, helping the Orioles to a 4-1 lead. Luke Scott broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning with a single off Felix Hernandez that scored Derrek Lee, who singled with two outs to start the rally. Hernandez hit Guerrero to bring Scott to the plate, and the left fielder responded...
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Diary of a bad inning (updated twice)

Diary of a bad inning (updated twice)
The Mariners scored once in the top of the third inning to take a 1-0 lead, which might not seem too bad on the surface. Let's dig a little deeper. Chris Tillman hadn't allowed a hit in the first two innings, but he threw 38 pitches. My math tells me that's 19 pitches per inning. That doesn't add up to quick outs. Tillman opened the third by hitting No. 8 hitter Brendan Ryan (.208) and walking No. 9 hitter Michael Saunders (.180). I don't have to tell you the flaws in that...
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Andino on the hot corner (updated)

Andino on the hot corner (updated)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter gave Robert Andino the start at third base over Jake Fox, his two backup options with starter Mark Reynolds taking a seat on the bench. Andino figures to provide better defense, though his only six career starts at third before tonight came during the 2010 season. Overall, Andino had appeared in nine games at third before tonight and didn't commit an error in 11 chances over 58 innings. It figures that the ball found Andino twice in the first inning tonight,...
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While waiting for first pitch ...

While waiting for first pitch ...
Here are some quotes from manager Buck Showalter that came out of his pregame session with the media: On Mark Reynolds: "He's not starting tonight, but he'll be back in there tomorrow, more than likely." "There are things that him and Jimmy (Presley) are constantly working on and it clicks for a day or so, and then he kind of gets into some habits again. Hitting up here is an ongoing process. Just because it clicks and you're doing it for a day or two... Hitting and playing in the big...
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Reynolds trying to be the guy "they traded for"

Reynolds trying to be the guy "they traded for"
Justin Duchscherer threw a side session today in Sarasota and will pitch a two-inning simulated game on Friday. He's eligible to come off the disabled list May 30. Third baseman Mark Reynolds has bigger worries than the virus that's sweeping through the clubhouse. He's not in the lineup, and he managed to smile when asked if it's just a scheduled day off. "I don't think it was an off day. I think it's because I'm struggling," he said. "I think they're just giving me a day. And it...
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Updating Matusz, Markakis, Reynolds, etc.

Updating Matusz, Markakis, Reynolds, etc.
Brian Matusz threw 40 pitches, including 26 strikes, over three innings in an extended spring training game today at Twin Lakes Park in Sarasota, Fla. Matusz didn't walk a batter and said he had a good feel for his fastball. His off-speed stuff was a little inconsistent, but it was very good at times. Matusz was hit on the right wrist/palm area by a comebacker, but he's fine. I'm sure manager Buck Showalter held his breath while watching the video. Matusz will join the Orioles in St....
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Lineup doesn't include Markakis or Reynolds (update)

Lineup doesn't include Markakis or Reynolds (update)
You wanted a different lineup? You've got it. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Felix Pie RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Robert Andino 3B Chris Tillman RHP Nick Markakis is a career .464 (13-for-28) hitter against Seattle's Felix Hernandez, with two doubles, five RBIs and five walks. Mark Reynolds is 1-for-4 with a home run. They're both sitting tonight. Update: Markakis came down with flu-like symptoms last night and...
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No roster move in the works

No roster move in the works
The Orioles had considered bringing up another reliever for tonight's game against the Mariners, but they apparently will stick with their current group. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail met with manager Buck Showalter after last night's 7-6, 13-inning victory to discuss the possibility of adding a fresh arm. Rather than make a roster move, they're "holding at present," according to a team official. Starter Jake Arrieta went six innings, which led to a parade of five...
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Will the bullpen and lineup change?

Will the bullpen and lineup change?
I had this crazy dream last night that the Orioles rallied to win a game in 13 innings after almost being arrested for littering the bases. The Orioles were 8-for-21 with runners in scoring position, and they stranded 16 runners. They ran into outs. They fought back to take leads and gave them up. They should have won, they should have lost, they should have won, they should have lost... Keep plucking the petals off that daisy. The Orioles were 0-17 before last night when trailing after...
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