Berken comes full circle, Guthrie tweets update

Berken comes full circle, Guthrie tweets update
Jason Berken picked up his first win of the season with two scoreless innings in relief. He struck out two batters. Welcome back, Jason. The Orioles won in Toronto for the first time since Aug. 7, 2009. The winning pitcher that day was Berken, who started and allowed three runs in six innings before Matt Albers replaced him.
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Lee in the clutch (Adams, too, but Lind homers)

Lee in the clutch (Adams, too, but Lind homers)
Derrek Lee was hitting .132 with runners in scoring position before stepping to the plate with no outs in the ninth inning and the potential go-ahead run 90 feet away. Lee hit a slow chopper to third, and Nolan Reimold beat the throw home. Credit Lee with an RBI on a fielder's choice that gives the Orioles a 3-2 lead. OK, so it wasn't the most dramatic at-bat in history. It wasn't the shot heard 'round the world. But the Orioles needed Lee to do something besides strike out or ground into...
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Guthrie done after fifth, back an issue? (yes it is)

Guthrie done after fifth, back an issue? (yes it is)
Manager Buck Showalter removed Jeremy Guthrie from today's game after five innings. The Blue Jays had only one hit and one walk, and Guthrie's pitch count stood at 64. This is clearly a health issue. Guthrie seemed to be dealing with some tightness in his back. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells sat next to him in the dugout, and Guthrie was making a motion as if explaining that he felt discomfort when following through on his delivery. Maybe tightness, maybe spasms. Definitely appeared...
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Again taking the fun out of fundamentals (Hardy homers)

Again taking the fun out of fundamentals (Hardy homers)
Mark Reynolds just got doubled off first base on a routine fly ball to right field. Reynolds singled to lead off the top of the fifth inning, his ground ball sneaking into left field, but he began trotting back to first on Ryan Adams' fly ball to former Oriole Jose Bautista. Then he sped up. Then it was too late. Bautista made the catch and gunned a throw to first. Reynolds made a late slide and was out. Manager Buck Showalter stood motionless in the dugout, his hand resting on his...
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Another setback for Duchscherer (updated)

Another setback for Duchscherer (updated)
I'm told that manager Buck Showalter relayed more bad news regarding pitcher Justin Duchscherer. Duchscherer was supposed to go four or five innings in an extended spring training game today, but he didn't make it past the first. He felt more discomfort in his hip while fielding a bunt and came out of the game. Who the heck was bunting on this guy? Apparently, the first batter of the game. Duchscherer's last start at extended ended in the third inning because of spasms. He threw a side...
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Ryan Adams starting at second base

Ryan Adams starting at second base
Manager Buck Showalter has posted his lineup in Toronto, and Ryan Adams is batting eighth and playing second base. Catcher Matt Wieters sits in a day game following a night game. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Derrek Lee 1B Mark Reynolds 3B Ryan Adams 2B Craig Tatum C Jeremy Guthrie RHP
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New time, new pitcher, new result?

New time, new pitcher, new result?
Maybe the Orioles can reverse this Rogers Centre curse with today's unusual 12:37 p.m. starting time. Maybe they can finally win a game in Toronto against a pitcher, Zach Stewart, who will be making his major league debut. No excuses if they lose their 17th straight game on the Blue Jays' home synthetic turf. They need to get it done today. It doesn't matter if the video vault is missing a "Zach Stewart" section. I'm sure they've got scouting reports on him. He was 4-3 with a...
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Left out by Romero (Jays win 4-1)

Left out by Romero (Jays win 4-1)
Remember that stat I passed along earlier today about the Orioles batting .239 against left-handed starters this season? They set out to prove tonight that it's not deceiving in any way. The Orioles have no runs and three hits in seven innings against Blue Jays southpaw Ricky Romero. They've struck out 10 times. And they're determined to waste Jake Arrieta's quality start. Arrieta has held Toronto to two runs in six innings. He's scattered nine hits. He's also waiting for the usual run...
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Orioles lineup against the Blue Jays

Orioles lineup against the Blue Jays
Matt Wieters continues to bat fifth for the Orioles, one spot ahead of Derrek Lee. Robert Andino makes another start at second base. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Derrek Lee 1B Mark Reynolds 3B Nolan Reimold LF Robert Andino 2B Jake Arrieta RHP
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Simon to DL, Berken comes up

Simon to DL, Berken comes up
Each day seems to bring more news from the Orioles. Reliever Alfredo Simon will be placed on the 15-day disabled list with a hamstring injury, and Jason Berken will be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to take his place on the roster. The Sun's Jeff Zrebiec reported the transaction, and a team official confirmed it to me in a text message. Berken has been stretched out as a starter at Norfolk, but he'll work as a long reliever again with the Orioles. He's 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in four starts...
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Klein update and other notes

Klein update and other notes
Double-A Bowie reliever Dan Klein will be examined Monday by renowned orthopedic specialist Dr. Lewis Yocum in California. Klein underwent an MRI in Baltimore two days ago that didn't show anything conclusive in his shoulder, but there are concerns. He's still bothered by discomfort that prevents him from throwing, and it looks like more than just simple biceps tendinitis. He could be dealing with a small tear in the labrum. We should know for sure after Klein travels to the West...
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Uehara serves up Lind's walk-off home run

Uehara serves up Lind's walk-off home run
Koji Uehara threw 11 pitches while retiring the side in order in the bottom of the 10th. He induced a pop up and struck out two batters, including Jose Bautista. How many times have we seen Uehara replaced after one inning despite being in cruise control? Manager Buck Showalter sent out Uehara for the 11th inning, and the game ended on the right-hander's second pitch. Adam Lind hit a walk-off homer. Gary Thorne talks with Buck Showalter about the homers allowed by the bullpen in the O's...
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Who will replace Rick Adair?

Who will replace Rick Adair?
If you wondered whether Felix Pie was going to spend last night's game in manager Buck Showalter's doghouse, your answer arrived in the eighth inning when he pinch-ran for left fielder Luke Scott. Putting Pie on the basepaths again? Showalter did it, and Pie raced from first to third on reliever Casey Janssen's errant pickoff throw. Pie was stranded, but at least he got off the bench. Showalter talked to Pie about the outfielder's ill-advised stolen-base attempt on Sunday - I'm sure the...
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Jakubauskas can't get through sixth (game tied)

Jakubauskas can't get through sixth (game tied)
The Orioles got five scoreless innings out of Chris Jakubauskas in his first start since April 2010. Tonight, he's charged with four runs in 5 1/3 innings, and he leaves with two runners on base and the Blue Jays threatening to build on a 4-1 lead. Jakubauskas allowed seven hits, walked four, struck out two, threw a wild pitch and hit a batter. He threw 101 pitches, 57 for strikes. One run probably should have been unearned, since it scored on Robert Andino's throwing error. Catcher Matt...
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Klein will be examined by Dr. Yocum this week (game updates)

Klein will be examined by Dr. Yocum this week (game updates)
Double-A Bowie pitcher Dan Klein, the Orioles' third-round pick in last year's First-Year Player Draft, will have his right shoulder examined later this week by renowned orthopedic specialist Dr. Lewis Yocum. Klein underwent an MRI yesterday in Baltimore that didn't show anything conclusive, according to a team official. Klein still has soreness in the shoulder, which prevented him from throwing over the weekend while the Baysox were on the road. Klein was officially placed on the...
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Showalter on Connor's resignation

Showalter on Connor's resignation
In case you missed O's Xtra on MASN2, here are manager Buck Showalter's comments about Mark Connor's resignation as pitching coach: "Mark called me yesterday about noon and we sat down for about an hour or so and talked. For personal reasons, he just didn't feel like he could continue to do what was needed for a pitching coach with the Baltimore Orioles and what our players needed. He's driving home to Knoxville. I spoke to him this afternoon. We'll see when the smoke clears in a couple...
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Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups
No big surprises here. J.J. Hardy continues to lead off and Derrek Lee is back at first base. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Derrek Lee 1B Luke Scott LF Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino 2B Chris Jakubauskas RHP For the Blue Jays: Escobar SS Patterson LF Bautista RF Lind 1B Arencibia C Encarnacion DH Hill 2B Davis CF Nix 3B Villanueva RHP
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Pitching coach Mark Connor resigns (updated)

Pitching coach Mark Connor resigns (updated)
In a shocking development, the Orioles have announced that pitching coach Mark Connor resigned for "personal reasons." Connor was in his first season as pitching coach, having replaced Rick Kranitz over the winter. Bullpen coach Rick Adair has been named pitching coach. Former hitting coach Terry Crowley replaces Adair on an interim basis. Connor, 61, was in his 36th season in professional baseball after serving the last two years as a special assistant in the player development...
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Jakubauskas takes another turn (Lee reinstated)

Jakubauskas takes another turn (Lee reinstated)
Chris Jakubauskas wasn't expected to rejoin the rotation until Saturday, when the Orioles needed a fifth starter, but he's taking the ball tonight in the series opener in Toronto. Manager Buck Showalter bumped rookie left-hander Zach Britton to Friday's game in Washington, which might seem puzzling. Wouldn't he want Britton going against a division rival? Well, it's a small sample size, but the Blue Jays scored seven runs off him (five earned) in five innings in a June 3 start at...
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Britton explains his move on the mound

Britton explains his move on the mound
While meeting with reporters following his last start, when he held Oakland to one run in 6 1/3 innings, rookie Zach Britton explained how he found better results after moving from the third base to the first base side of the pitching rubber. As a refresher, I give you the quote that I posted: "I kind of moved over on the other side of the mound. I was on the third base side, went back to the first base side. And I felt like I had a little better action on my pitches. My slider was there...
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