Post-game Samuel

Post-game Samuel
Interim manager Juan Samuel was asked about the Orioles' failure to twice lay down sacrifice bunts tonight. They came up small in the small-ball department. "We need to do that if we are going to win some close ballgames," Samuel said. "We need to play good defense and do the little things. A little bit disappointed that we didn't get those down, so we've just got to continue to work on those little things. But if we are going to win the close ones, we need to do the little...
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Britton dazzles again

Britton dazzles again
Another brilliant night for left-hander Zach Britton, who registered his first Triple-A victory by holding Columbus scoreless on five hits over 7 1/3 innings in Norfolk's 4-0 win. Britton's ERA is 1.50 in three starts since moving up from Double-A Bowie. He threw a scoreless inning for Team USA in the Futures Game before making tonight's start. Britton struck out three and walked one. How much longer before we're watching his major league debut? Columbus led the International League in...
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More frustration (updated)

More frustration (updated)
Corey Patterson joined Craig Tatum tonight as players who were instructed to lay down a sacrifice bunt and couldn't do it. Tatum walked in the fifth to load the bases with no outs, and Cesar Izturis singled in two runs to give the Orioles a 2-1 lead. No real harm. But Patterson struck out in the eighth after Izturis' leadoff single. Miguel Tejada singled to put runners on the corners with one out, but Nick Markakis grounded into a routine 6-3 double play. Markakis took a pitch that he...
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That's more like it (updated)

That's more like it (updated)
Jeremy Guthrie left tonight's game with a chance to post his first victory since May 25. Guthrie gave up a home run to leadoff hitter Fred Lewis on his first pitch of the night, but that was it. He allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out six in 6 2/3 innings. Guthrie hadn't made it through the fifth in his two previous starts, surrendering 10 earned runs and 16 hits in a combined 8 2/3 innings. He also issued eight walks in those two games. Interim manager Juan Samuel removed Guthrie...
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Sloppy Saturday (updated)

Sloppy Saturday (updated)
The Orioles drew a walk and collected a hit off Toronto starter Brandon Morrow over the first three innings, but he faced the minimum number of batters. And he didn't need a double play. How is this possible? Corey Patterson broke too soon for second and was caught stealing after his leadoff walk in the first. Julio Lugo reached on a fielder's choice in the third, but he was caught stealing after getting a late jump and glancing back at the plate as if he expected Cesar Izturis to chase the...
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If you blinked...

If you blinked...
...you missed the first run of the game. Toronto leadoff hitter Fred Lewis swung at the first pitch from Jeremy Guthrie, a fastball, and drove it 405 feet over the center field fence to give the Blue Jays a quick 1-0 lead. Adam Jones made a nice leaping attempt, but couldn't bring down the ball. Lewis has hit four leadoff homers this year, and five in his career. Guthrie has allowed 16 homers this season, including one in each of his last four starts. The Blue Jays added a two-out...
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Blue Jays lineup; MacPhail's Q&A

Blue Jays lineup; MacPhail's Q&A
For the Blue Jays: Fred Lewis LF Yunel Escobar SS Jose Bautista RF Vernon Wells CF Adam Lind DH Aaron Hill 2B Lyle Overbay 1B Edwin Encarnacion 3B Jose Molina C Brandon Morrow RHP President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail took questions from season-ticket holders earlier today. Here are a few interesting points: * MacPhail indicated that the new manager will get to pick his coaching staff. The subject came up when a fan asked about Scott McGregor's chances of being named pitching coach...
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Roberts pushing to play (w/quotes added)

Roberts pushing to play (w/quotes added)
Interim manager Juan Samuel spoke to Brian Roberts earlier today and told reporters that the second baseman thinks he only needs about 15 additional at-bats before he's ready to come off the disabled list. He'll have to convince the Orioles. Roberts will report to Double-A Bowie on Monday, as I've written, and he's scheduled to stay there all week. He could be activated next weekend, putting him ahead of schedule. "He's missed a lot of time and we've got a little over two months...
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No Bell again today

No Bell again today
Here's the Orioles lineup: Corey Patteron DH Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Adam Jones CF Felix Pie LF Craig Tatum C Julio Lugo 2B Cesar Izturis SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP
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Round of Gulf

Round of Gulf
Brian Roberts started at second base today for the Gulf Coast League Orioles and went 1-for-4 with a strikeout before leaving the game. Roberts grounded to short, singled to center, struck out and grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. He's batting .533 in five games. The Orioles could choose to rest him tomorrow before assigning him to Double-A Bowie on Monday. Luke Scott served as the designated hitter today. He's 0-for-2 with a walk and run scored. Scott popped up and grounded out before...
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This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Brian Roberts is scheduled to continue his injury rehab assignment at Double-A Bowie on Monday, when the Baysox begin a seven-game homestand against Binghamton at Prince George's Stadium. Roberts is 7-for-11 with a double, run scored, two walks and two strikeouts with the Gulf Coast League Orioles. Left-hander Michael Gonzalez is supposed to pitch again tomorrow at Triple-A Norfolk after giving up two runs and three hits last night in two-thirds of an inning. Gonzalez has allowed six runs...
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Post-game Samuel (w/Gonzo update)

Post-game Samuel (w/Gonzo update)
Interim manager Juan Samuel praised starter Brad Bergesen for battling on a night when the right-hander didn't have his best stuff. "He kept the game close," Samuel said. "We got some opportunities there. Even though his command probably wasn't where he wanted it to be, he kept the game close for us. So that's all we wanted. "I think since he has been back here, he has had a few good outings. His tempo was very, very good. He threw a lot of strikes, his ball was sinking. We didn't see...
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The decision

The decision
The Orioles put runners on the corners with two outs in the bottom of the seventh after Felix Pie doubled and Julio Lugo extended the inning with an infield hit. Cesar Izturis stepped to the plate as the potential go-ahead run against Blue Jays left-hander Ricky Romero. Should a pinch-hitter step out of the dugout? Izturis was 0-for-2, but he began the night batting .310 in his last 18 games, with four doubles (half of his season total) and a homer (his only one of 2010). Interim manager...
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Bergy's night

Bergy's night
Brad Bergesen was lifted after six innings tonight. He allowed four runs and nine hits, walked two and struck out three. He threw 92 pitches, 55 for strikes. Unless the Orioles rally, Bergesen will lose his career-worst fifth straight decision. Bergesen has given up four earned runs or more in six of his last seven starts. He's allowed 20 hits in the last two starts covering 12 innings. Toronto scored in four of Bergesen's six innings tonight. The leadoff hitter reached base in five...
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Disturbing patterns (updated)

Disturbing patterns (updated)
Brad Bergesen has allowed a run in the first, second and third innings to fall behind, 3-0. They've come in different forms. Fred Lewis led off the top of the first with a double, Yunel Escobar reached on a bunt single and Vernon Wells hit a sacrifice fly with one out. Aaron Hill led off the second with his 13th home run. Lewis led off the third with a single to right field, took second on a passed ball and scored with two outs on Adam Lind's single to right. Bergesen also walked a batter...
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Matchups, Montanez and assorted notes

Matchups, Montanez and assorted notes
Tonight's game could begin with only three umpires. The fourth is heading to Camden Yards, but he might arrive a little late. However, it won't affect the starting time. Since we were kicking around lineup ideas earlier today, and I failed miserably with my assumption that Jake Fox would start at first base, I wanted to pass along some career numbers against Toronto left-hander Ricky Romero: Fox is 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Corey Patterson is 2-for-4 with two strikeouts. Ty...
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Gonzo, Scott nearing returns

Gonzo, Scott nearing returns
Interim manager Juan Samuel said he expects reliever Michael Gonzalez and outfielder/DH Luke Scott to be activated from the disabled list next week. Gonzalez is pitching tonight at Triple-A Norfolk. Scott started in left field today for the GCL Orioles. Kevin Millwood played catch yesterday, but he's "probably a week or so away," according to Samuel. Brian Roberts is still aiming for an Aug. 1 return. Samuel estimated that catcher Matt Wieters could have played early next week, but the...
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Quick injury updates (w/lineups)

Quick injury updates (w/lineups)
Brian Roberts went 0-for-2 with a walk and strikeout today as the GCL Orioles' designated hitter. Luke Scott, playing his second game in the GCL, started in left field and went 0-for-3. He served as the designated hitter yesterday. Scott flied to right in each at-bat before leaving the game. Lou Montanez tells me that his oblique injury has improved, but he's not game-ready. For the Orioles: Corey Patterson DH Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Adam Jones CF Felix Pie...
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Still waiting for kickoff

Still waiting for kickoff
Am I the only person who slept through last night's earthquake? A text message woke me at 4:30 a.m., but I didn't budge during a quake. I don't understand it, either. I'll be heading to the ballpark in an hour. I want to make sure that the temperature is deep in the 90s before I enter the press box. Later, I'll join Steve Melewski for the pre- and post-game shows on 105.7 The Fan. You can find us at the Bud Light Warehouse Bar from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. I heard "fan" and quickly...
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Halftime's over (updated)

Halftime's over (updated)
Let the second half begin. If I remember correctly, the Orioles won the toss back in April and elected to receive, so they'll begin tonight's game on defense. They've got a spot to fill on their roster after placing catcher Matt Wieters on the disabled list, retroactive to Saturday. Third baseman Josh Bell is expected to be recalled. Update: The Orioles just confirmed that they called up Bell. Felix Pie is available tonight after injuring his quad last Friday night while swinging at a...
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