Lee talks about his 0-for-5 day and the O's struggling offense (Tatum note)

Lee talks about his 0-for-5 day and the O's struggling offense (Tatum note)
It was yet another Orioles game where the talk was about a lack of offense. Once again, Derrek Lee stood by his locker to answer similar questions after Saturday's 8-2 loss to Tampa Bay. "We didn't swing the bats. I don't know what else to say. We didn't score any runs," he said. "We are putting too much pressure on our pitching staff, scoring one and two runs every day. We're fighting hard, maybe too hard. We probably need to try and do a little less, play small ball or something like...
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Rough day at the office: Rays top Orioles 8-2

Rough day at the office: Rays top Orioles 8-2
Jeremy Guthrie entered his start today at Camden Yards with a run of seven consecutive quality starts against Tampa Bay. He also had given up just three runs total in three home starts this season. But this afternoon, Guthrie allowed three-run homers to Evan Longoria and B.J Upton as Tampa routed the Birds 8-2 in front of 18,961. Prior to today, Guthrie was 9-8 with an ERA of 2.93 in 20 starts since last season's All-Star break. Plus, he pitched eight shutout innings versus Tampa on opening...
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Can the Orioles improve at working the count?

Can the Orioles improve at working the count?
Programming note: Today's game is not airing on MASN, and instead is being broadcast on FOX. More information can be found here. With the Orioles' offense continuing to struggle, the issue of taking more pitches and trying to increase the opposing starters' pitch count often comes up. The Orioles want to become a good team at working counts, but right now, they just are very inconsistent at it. Some nights it happens, but many times it doesn't. Also, when a team is struggling to score,...
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Uehara talks about his recent struggles

Uehara talks about his recent struggles
Orioles reliever Koji Uehara has now been scored on in four of his last six appearances after giving up a two-run homer to Johnny Damon in the ninth last night. He's trying to regain the form that saw him start this season with 4 2/3 scoreless innings. "Major leagues is all about results so when you give up runs it's very frustrating," Uehara said today through his interpreter, Jiwon Bang. Last year, Uehara gave up as many homers, five, as he allowed walks over 44 innings. This year, he...
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For now, Townsend likely to stay put at Frederick

For now, Townsend likely to stay put at Frederick
With Joe Mahoney back on the disabled list at Double-A Bowie and expected to be out the next three or four weeks, some fans have wondered if the Orioles would move first baseman
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Orioles and Tampa notes

Orioles and Tampa notes
A couple of notes on tonight's game with Tampa leading the Orioles 3-0 in the fourth. *Zach Britton had given up just one run in the first and second innings over his first six starts, until Tampa got to him for three runs and four hits in the top of the second tonight. The Rays four hits in that inning was more than the three hits they had versus Britton when he pitched six innings against them in his major league debut. *Tampa starter James Shields is 2-0 with an ERA of 0.69 over his last...
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Machado update

Machado update
The MRI on Manny Machado's left knee found that he has a patellar sublaxation. I am not a doctor and cannot give more inside info on that, but it still doesn't appear to be too serious. While Machado is likely to go on the seven-day disabled list, it remains possible that he will not. If the club sees improvement in the next day or two, he may not go on the DL and could return to action in less than a week. Machado will remain with the Shorebirds, who are currently on a road trip in...
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Mark Reynolds: "I needed those games in Kansas City"

Mark Reynolds: "I needed those games in Kansas City"
After a three-hit game on Wednesday in Kansas City and with four hits over his last six at-bats, Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds hopes he is on the verge of a hot streak at the plate. "I had a pretty good stretch for a couple of games in K.C.," Reynolds said today in the Orioles' clubhouse. "Some times that is all it takes. Get a couple hits and get that snowball effect going. Hope I can keep it up and start driving the ball. I am seeing pitches better and squaring some stuff up. I...
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For now, Luke Scott can deal with his shoulder pain

For now, Luke Scott can deal with his shoulder pain
Orioles outfielder Luke Scott is in the lineup again tonight. He continues to play with some pain in his right shoulder. He is going to have an MRI Monday so doctors can take a more complete look. "I want to just see if there is anything going on in there," Scott said. "And, if there is, what to do and if there isn't, what to do. Just know exactly what to do and go from there. I've been playing with this for pretty much the (whole) season but it's been bothering me pretty good for about...
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The red hot Rays come to Baltimore

The red hot Rays come to Baltimore
The Tampa Bay Rays hit Baltimore tonight with a record of 17-14 and that is good for second in the American League East, one game behind the Yankees. Since starting the year with a 1-8 record, Tampa is 16-6. That is the best record in the major leagues since April 11. The Rays have the best road record in the AL at 8-4 and the best road record in the league since the start of last season at 55-38, a win percentage of .591. Tampa has scored 73 runs on the road this year, averaging 6.1 runs per...
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Machado says he feels "fine" this morning

Machado says he feels "fine" this morning
Orioles prospect Manny Machado said he feels "fine" this morning and is hopeful that he can be back in the Single-A Delmarva lineup in a few days. He'll know more later today, in a few hours, when a doctor takes a closer look at his left knee. Machado said he was not sure if he would undergo an MRI. Machado injured the knee in the first inning last night at Asheville. He fell to the ground when tagging up and trying to advance from second to third base. He was helped off the field. "Oh,...
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Zach Britton: For his next act ...

Zach Britton:  For his next act ...
When you consider that, at this time last year, Zach Britton was 2-2 with an ERA of 3.60 for the Double-A Bowie Baysox, his start in 2011 for the Orioles is rather stunning. Living up to the hype and his top prospect status, Britton is now 5-1 with an ERA of 2.63 in his first six major league starts. He is tied for second in the American League with five wins with Max Scherzer of Detroit, Trevor Cahill of Oakland and Cleveland's Justin Masterson. He is 11th in the league in ERA, tied for...
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Mahoney expected to miss 3-4 weeks

Mahoney expected to miss 3-4 weeks
The Orioles' 2010 Minor League Player of the Year, Double-A Bowie first baseman Joe Mahoney, is expected to miss the next three to four weeks with a quadriceps strain. Mahoney is making his second trip to the disabled list this year for the same injury. Mahoney was out earlier from April 10-25, and returned to game action, but so did the quad injury, and he underwent an MRI yesterday. Mahoney is expected to report soon to the Orioles' spring home in Sarasota to continue his rehab. Mahoney...
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Road trip ends with a thud as O's get rocked at K.C.

Road trip ends with a thud as O's get rocked at K.C.
The Orioles took a 1-0 lead to the last of the first today at Kansas City. The lead lasted just three batters. It only would get worse as the Royals hammered Chris Tillman and the Orioles 9-1 in the series and road trip finale. The O's missed a chance to get back to .500 as Tillman gave up eight runs and 10 hits over just 3 2/3. Tillman allowed six runs in less than two innings April 13 at New York and this was another rough outing for the right-hander. He gave up four runs in the first, one...
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Minor moves

Minor moves
Single-A Frederck outfielder Trent Mummey, who suffered a concussion when his head struck the outfield wall in yesterday's game at Harry Grove Stadium, today was placed on the disabled list. It appears Mummey could miss at least two weeks. Steven Bumbry, who was with Frederick earlier, is returning to the Keys from Single-A Delmarva. Pitcher Tim Bascom joins Frederick from Double-A Bowie. At Delmarva, the Shorebirds have added Mikey Planeta off the DL and pitcher Doug Ferguson from...
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Nick in the day (updated with Tillman's line)

Nick in the day (updated with Tillman's line)
The long-awaited resurgence of Nick Markakis' bat may be underway. Maybe now I won't get any comments from fans that want him waived to help the club get out from under his contract. After driving in two runs last night, one with a homer, Markakis has singled in his first two trips this afternoon at Kansas City. His average is now at .229, meaning plenty of more hits should be forthcoming as well over the next few weeks. Have I mentioned six or eight or 20 times recently that I feel no...
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A lead that didn't last long

A lead that didn't last long
The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first today at Kansas City. But the Royals came right back and got four off Chris Tillman in the last of the first to lead 4-1. Nick Markakis singled in the first with one out and later scored on an Adam Jones single. It's Jones' 16th RBI. He now has eight hits over his past 15 at bats. But the first three hitters reached for the Royals as they took the lead. Chris Getz led off with an infield single to short. Robert Andino double-clutched...
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Some notes as the O's and K.C. get set for day baseball

Some notes as the O's and K.C. get set for day baseball
Having already secured a winning road trip at 4-2, the Orioles play at Kansas City this afternoon at 2:10 p.m. in the final game of this trip. Here are some notes on the Orioles: * The Orioles picked up their 14th win last night. Last year, they didn't win their 14th game until May 21.They improved to 7-7 on the road last night and last year didn't win their seventh road game until June 15. * Nick Markakis entered Wednesday's game with just one extra-base hit and just three RBIs during his...
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Arrieta with another good outing as O's top K.C.

Arrieta with another good outing as O's top K.C.
When Orioles pitcher Jake Arrieta threw a staggering total of 35 pitches in the second inning Wednesday night at Kansas City, it sure didn't look like he would be able to pitch seven innings in the game. But from the third through fifth innings, Arrieta needed only 35 more pitches and he was on his way to another solid outing for the Birds. Arrieta pitched a season-high seven innings, allowing just three hits and one run in the Orioles' 3-2 win. He threw 105 pitches and fanned eight, one...
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Lee and Markakis with early RBIs for the Orioles

Lee and Markakis with early RBIs for the Orioles
Nick Markakis and Derrek Lee tried to quiet their critics with RBIs in the early innings tonight at Kansas City. The Orioles lead 2-1 in the third inning. Lee's sac fly in the first scored Brian Roberts, who had doubled and advanced to third on a fly ball. It was Lee's seventh RBI on the year and his fifth over the past seven games. Markakis had an RBI single in the second which, at that point, gave the O's a 2-0 lead. He entered tonight with just three RBIs over his last 17 games and in a...
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