Now the real fun starts (updated twice)

Now the real fun starts (updated twice)
The Orioles pieced together two productive at-bats after Nick Markakis and Miguel Tejada walked to open the sixth inning, and they've taken a 3-1 lead over the A's. Ty Wigginton was swinging away - wise choice, I thought - and produced a sacrifice fly to right field after the runners had moved up on Tyson Ross' wild pitch. Adam Jones followed with another fly ball to right to score Tejada, who alertly took third on Wigginton's sac fly. Good at-bats, good baserunning. Now we're...
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Fit to be tied, and fed

Fit to be tied, and fed
The Orioles didn't rip the cover off the ball - I'm not sure they smudged it - but they manufactured a run to tie the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the fourth. Nick Markakis and Miguel Tejada walked to begin the inning. Ty Wigginton tapped to the mound, and A's left-hander Dallas Braden got the out at third base. Adam Jones followed with a ground ball that resulted in an out at second, but shortstop Cliff Pennington made a wide throw to first that allowed Tejada to score. Happy Birthday,...
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More good and bad

More good and bad
Adam Jones extended his hitting streak to 11 games, a career high and the longest by an Oriole this season, with a one-out single in the second inning. Jones was picked off first base for the second out. And so it goes. Oakland left-hander Dallas Braden caught Jones leaning. Manager Dave Trembley didn't agree with the call, however, and came out of the dugout. The discussion wasn't animated. Trembley spoke calmly to first base umpire Mark Carlson. He still hasn't released that pressure...
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Lineup change (Scott has shoulder strain)

Lineup change (Scott has shoulder strain)
Luke Scott has been scratched from the lineup with a strained left shoulder. Garrett Atkins will replace him. Corey Patterson LF Julio Lugo 2B Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Ty Wigginton 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Garrett Atkins DH Cesar Izturis SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP For the Athletics: Cliff Pennington SS Daric Barton 1B Ryan Sweeney RF Kurt Suzuki C Jack Cust DH Kevin Kouzmanoff 3B Gabe Gross CF Mark Ellis 2B Eric Patterson LF Dallas Braden LHP
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Pre-game notes (updated again)

Pre-game notes (updated again)
Left-hander Alberto Castillo is here. Right-hander Frank Mata is due to report at 4:30 p.m. "Our bullpen situation right now will be a challenging one," manager Dave Trembley said. "I don't know what the roles are. I don't have guys slotted at particular innings. We have an eight-man bullpen right now." That includes David Hernandez, who is likely to stay there unless injuries strike the rotation. Trembley knocked on the wooden bench while discussing this subject. Hernandez was told to...
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Lugo at second, Wiggy at first

Lugo at second, Wiggy at first
For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Ty Wigginton 1B Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Julio Lugo 2B Cesar Izturis SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP No Garrett Atkins vs. Oakland left-hander Dallas Braden. Down on the farm, Jake Arrieta allowed one run and seven hits in seven innings and Dennis Sarfate picked up his first save in Triple-A Norfolk's 2-1 victory over Rochester. Arrieta walked two and struck out six. He threw 112 pitches, 70 for strikes, and...
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Hernandez to bullpen

Hernandez to bullpen
The Orioles have made their decision regarding David Hernandez. His next appearance will come as a reliever. Manager Dave Trembley just confirmed that Hernandez is moving to the bullpen. He hasn't named a replacement in the rotation, but noted that Chris Tillman should be here soon from Triple-A Norfolk. Perhaps by Saturday? I think you can count on it. Check out Trembley's video journal today. He touches on these topics and others. Also, Brian Roberts is taking ground balls from Juan...
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Turner to Mets (w/Arrieta update)

Turner to Mets (w/Arrieta update)
The Orioles found out today whether infielder Justin Turner cleared waivers and could be outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. He did not, and he can not. I just checked with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, who confirmed that the Mets claimed Turner this afternoon. The news won't come as much of a surprise in the press box. We were discussing that possibility once Turner was designated for assignment Friday to make room for Scott Moore. Former Orioles executive Wayne Krivsky...
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Arrieta still pitching for Norfolk (updated)

Arrieta still pitching for Norfolk (updated)
Jake Arrieta has returned to the mound for his third inning today at Triple-A Norfolk. He's thrown 42 pitches through the second. It doesn't appear that the Orioles will purchase Arrieta's contract and give him the ball on Saturday. He would be working on short rest, so Tides manager Gary Allenson would have needed to restrict his pitch count today. Chris Tillman is the overwhelming favorite if the Orioles move David Hernandez to the bullpen. As I posted last night, Tillman has allowed one...
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The closer I get to you (w/Reimold update)

The closer I get to you (w/Reimold update)
The Orioles have gone through three closers this season if you count Jim Johnson. All three have come down with injuries - shoulder (Mike Gonzalez), elbow (Johnson) and hamstring (Alfredo Simon). The next guy will probably get appendicitis or a really nasty cold sore. If I'm Will Ohman, I'd be hiding from manager Dave Trembley today. Rip the bullpen phone off the wall after the eighth inning. Ohman actually has told pitching coach Rick Kranitz that he'd like the opportunity to close. He...
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Is Mata the man?

Is Mata the man?
Triple-A Norfolk reliever Frank Mata didn't enter tonight's game in a save situation. Armando Gabino handled the last three innings, blanking Rochester along the way, for his first save. The Tides held on for a 2-1 victory. Does this mean that Mata is headed to Baltimore as one of the bullpen replacements? It's certainly fair to speculate, and we do a lot of it around here. Mata, 26, signed in November as a minor league free agent after pitching for Double-A New Britain last year. He's...
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Checking on Tillman (updated twice)

Checking on Tillman (updated twice)
Chris Tillman isn't especially sharp tonight at Triple-A Norfolk, but he's limited Rochester to one run over four innings and the Tides hold a 2-1 lead. Tillman has scattered six hits, walked one and struck out five. He's thrown 82 pitches, 54 for strikes. I'd say a complete game is pretty much out of the question, but not a victory. Tillman threw 46 pitches in the first two innings and allowed four of the six hits. Josh Bell has an RBI double. Nolan Reimold, serving as the designated...
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A few updates (w/fifth item added)

A few updates (w/fifth item added)
No. 1: Everything's still quiet regarding manager Dave Trembley. He won't be fired today. Book it. I just got further confirmation. No. 2: Second baseman Brian Roberts is feeling better after being hospitalized last week with pneumonia, but he doesn't have any immediate plans to fly down to Sarasota and resume baseball-related activities. That idea has been put on hold. No. 3: Triple-A Norfolk first baseman Michael Aubrey has been placed on the seven-day disabled list with a right hip...
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So, what's going on today?

So, what's going on today?
I haven't been given any indication that the Orioles are prepared to make a managerial change today. I had a phone call returned a few minutes ago, and I'm told that nothing is imminent. Would I bet my life on everything staying the same throughout the homestand? No way. Yours? Perhaps. (OK, joking.) Things change, as I'm reminded, and the silence in some quarters always raises suspicions. But I'm fairly convinced that Dave Trembley is safe at home, at least right now. I might even...
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The waiting is the hardest part

The waiting is the hardest part
There's nothing like waking up to rain again, especially on a Monday. Makes you want to jump out of bed and get the day started early. I actually need that early start because I can't be away from my laptop as we approach the afternoon hours. I might have some extra work to do. Your guess is as good as mine. For the record, Lebron James doesn't care. Says it doesn't impact him one way or the other. All I ask is you spare me the posts that begin with, "I'm hearing a rumor..." We...
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The two plays

The two plays
Adam Jones talked about the ball that Roger Bernadina hit with the bases-loaded that turned into a triple and gave Washington a 3-1 lead in the first inning. "Missed the ball. Just missed the ball," he said. "I mean, there's no elaboration. Just didn't come up with it. You either catch it or you don't. I didn't. You're supposed to make that play. Just like Nyjer (Morgan) was supposed to catch that ball yesterday, I was supposed to catch this one today. It happens. "(Kevin) Millwood...
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Simon says...

Simon says...
Alfredo Simon said he felt "a little pop" in his hamstring before leaving the game in the 10th inning. "I just tried to run hard to the base. We'll see how fast I can recover," he said. "I think it'll be good in a couple of days, maybe just a week." The Orioles can't go that long without him, so they could be placing two relievers on the disabled list before Tuesday's game. Though manager Dave Trembley said Simon was injured while reaching for Luke Scott's throw, I thought I...
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Simon's injury

Simon's injury
Alfredo Simon strained his left hamstring while reaching for Luke Scott's throw to first base. The injury occurred to the upper part of his leg. It's not known how long he'll be sidelined. For those of you keeping score at home, the Orioles have lost two closers (Mike Gonzalez and Alfredo Simon), one set-up man (Jim Johnson) and one seventh-inning reliever (Koji Uehara).
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Simon hurt (updated)

Simon hurt (updated)
Just what the Orioles didn't need. Closer Alfredo Simon pulled up while covering first base in the bottom of the 10th, bringing head athletic trainer Richie Bancells and manager Dave Trembley from the dugout. Simon kept holding his left hip. He limped off the field with Bancells at his side. Simon retired all four batters he faced, and the Nationals couldn't get the ball out of the infield. He induced a sharp grounder to first from former Oriole Willie Harris to open the 10th, and Luke...
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Hold that epitaph (w/Florimon update)

Hold that epitaph (w/Florimon update)
I was crafting another entry detailing the Orioles' ninth inning rally and how they fell short against Nats closer Matt Capps. I was expressing disappointment in Matt Wieters' at-bat with runners on second and third and one out, how a weak ground ball to the right side felt empty despite scoring a run. Then Julio Lugo made me hit the delete button. Lugo's two-out single off Capps tied the game, 3-3, and brought us to the bottom of the ninth. Lugo was 0-for-3 and hadn't gotten the ball...
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