Minor matters

Minor matters
Dennis Sarfate picked up his ninth save tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, walking a batter and striking out two. His fastball topped out at 99 mph. I wonder if the Orioles will give him another look. He's doing everything possible to get noticed. Tyler Henson hit his sixth home run for Double-A Bowie. Steve Johnson took the loss against Reading after allowing six runs and five hits in five innings - including a grand slam - with five walks and five strikeouts. Pat Egan threw three perfect...
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Rough night for Bergy

Rough night for Bergy
Brad Bergesen, making his first start for Triple-A Norfolk since being optioned, gave up a three-run homer to Toledo's Jeff Larish and lasted only 2 2/3 innings before leaving the game with the Tides trailing, 3-1. Bergesen is charged with three runs and five hits, with two walks and two strikeouts. He threw 65 pitches, 44 for strikes. His night ended after a fly ball and a throwing error by third baseman Josh Bell, with Jim Miller coming out of the bullpen and getting a strikeout. Perhaps...
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Up next: The Padres

Up next: The Padres
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the San Diego Padres entered June with the best record in the NL (31-20) for the first time in franchise history. Their 38-28 record is the third-best in franchise history. The Padres were 40-25 in 1998 and 39-26 in 1984. The Orioles aren't catching them at the right time. Before last night, Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez ranked among the top National League left-handed batters when facing left-handed pitching in batting average (third at .318),...
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Rumors and ramblings

Rumors and ramblings
No truth to the rumor that Juan Samuel has removed himself from consideration for the full-time managerial position. No truth to the rumor that the Mets are holding a press conference to deny any interest in Kevin Millwood. No truth to the rumor that Millwood is holding a press conference asking them to reconsider. No truth to the rumor that Manny Machado wants to re-enter the draft - the 2010 draft. No truth to the rumor that a rival GM claimed Alberto Castillo off waivers so he could...
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Upon further review

Upon further review
I watched most of today's game at Little Havana - best pork bites in town - and I didn't need the sound cranked up to know that the Orioles wasted some golden opportunities against two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum. Lincecum's velocity is down. We're talking low-90s, which isn't the norm. He put runners on base, the Orioles would move them into scoring position, and then they'd apply the brakes. The Orioles went 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position and stranded 13 runners. They...
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No no-no for Lincecum

No no-no for Lincecum
I was thinking it, you were thinking it. Tim Lincecum might not give up a hit today. Well, he did. Nick Markakis singled with two outs in the first inning to save the Orioles from that particular indignity. Luke Scott walked, and both runners moved up on a wild pitch. A single would have plated two runs. Let's not get carried away. Adam Jones flied to right, and the rally fizzled. But hey, Lincecum won't throw a no-hitter today. I was thinking it, you were thinking it. Aubrey Huff's...
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Moore scratched

Moore scratched
Scott Moore was scratched from the lineup with a "lateral mid right foot strain". Julio Lugo will start at second base. Moore sustained the injury after stepping on a ball during batting practice. Apparently, interim manager Juan Samuel is determined to give Ty Wigginton the day off. Here's the new lineup: LF Corey Patterson 3B Miguel Tejada RF Nick Markakis 1B Luke Scott CF Adam Jones 2B Julio Lugo C Craig Tatum SS Cesar Izturis RHP Jeremy Guthrie Bring on Tim Lincecum!
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Today's lineups

Today's lineups
For the Orioles: LF Corey Patterson 3B Miguel Tejada RF Nick Markakis 1B Luke Scott CF Adam Jones 2B Scott Moore C Craig Tatum SS Cesar Izturis RHP Jeremy Guthrie For the Giants: LF Andres Torres 2B Freddy Sanchez 1B Aubrey Huff SS Juan Uribe 3B Pablo Sandoval C Bengie Molina RF Nate Schierholtz CF Aaron Rowand RHP Tim Lincecum
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More numbers and notes

More numbers and notes
Jeremy Guthrie is 3-0 with a 2.06 ERA in five interleague road starts, while Tim Lincecum is 2-2 with a 4.28 ERA in six career home interleague starts. Of the four runs that the Orioles have totaled in Guthrie's last three starts, only two have scored while he's been in the game. The Orioles are 1-4 in series finales when they have a chance to claim the series win. Their lone success came May 13 against Seattle. The Orioles are 10-6 when holding opponents to seven hits or fewer. Nick...
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Pitching by numbers

Pitching by numbers
The Orioles and Giants have split the first two games of this series, and they're sending pitchers to the mound today with sub-4.00 ERAs. Here's one difference: Tim Lincecum is 6-2. Jeremy Guthrie is 3-7. Lincecum also has won the last two NL Cy Young Awards. That's worth mentioning, as well. Lincecum had allowed 17 runs in his last four starts covering 22 1/3 innings before holding Oakland to two runs over eight innings last week. Guthrie has allowed three runs or fewer in six of his...
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Hernandez saves the night (w/Samuel quote)

Hernandez saves the night (w/Samuel quote)
David Hernandez got the ball again tonight in a save situation, with interim manager Juan Samuel choosing to ease Alfredo Simon back into the role. Good choice. Hernandez picked up his second save with a scoreless ninth, brushing aside a two-out walk in the process and preserving a 4-1 win. It was pretty easy, and we're not used to such things from an Orioles closer. A drama-free ninth? Outrageous. Gary and Jim talks with Juan Samuel about the O's 4-1 win over the Giants "We do not want...
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Pass the baton (updated)

Pass the baton (updated)
Interim manager Juan Samuel removed Jake Arrieta in the bottom of the eighth inning after Bengie Molina's leadoff single. That's only three hits for the Giants, who still trail, 4-1. Left-hander Will Ohman enters the game with Arrieta's pitch count at 95. Assuming the inherited runner doesn't score - and why would it? - Arrieta has allowed four runs and seven hits in 13 innings over two major league starts. He picked up the win against the Yankees. He deserves this one against the...
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The one Jake

The one Jake
You must be feeling pretty good about Jake Arrieta right now. I know you've been scarred from the missteps of other young pitchers on this staff - and I'll still insist that it's way too soon to give up on any of them - but it's OK to get a little excited about Arrieta. The former fifth-round pick is rolling again tonight, holding the Giants to one run and two hits over six innings. Third baseman Pablo Sandoval homered in the third inning to account for all of San Francisco's...
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Tillman to 'pen for now

Tillman to 'pen for now
Orioles interim manager Juan Samuel told reporters in San Francisco that pitcher Chris Tillman, who allowed six runs in two innings last night, will go to the bullpen while the club needs only four starters. MASN's Amber Theoharis tells me that pitching coach Rick Kranitz believes that Tillman is still a starter, but the young right-hander can work out some issues in the bullpen and "just let it out." Tillman could return to the rotation on June 26, when the Orioles need a fifth starter...
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Tonight's lineups

Tonight's lineups
For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 2B Luke Scott 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Cesar Izturis SS Jake Arrieta RHP For the Giants: Andres Torres CF Freddy Sanchez 2B Aubrey Huff RF Juan Uribe SS Pat Burrell LF Buster Posey 1B Pablo Sandoval 3B Bengie Molina C Joe Martinez RHP
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This and that (w/Norfolk update)

This and that (w/Norfolk update)
Here's the pitch: The Giants have posted a 3.30 ERA, third in the majors. The Orioles have posted a 5.00 ERA, 27th in the majors. The Giants' starters have posted a 3.17 ERA, first in the majors. The Orioles' starters have posted a 5.17 ERA, 29th in the majors. The Giants' 497 strikeouts are tied for third in the majors. The Orioles' 382 strikeouts rank 28th. Jake Arrieta's win over the Yankees Thursday in his major league debut is the only victory by an Orioles starter in the last 18...
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Norfolk update

Norfolk update
Tim Bascom struggled today in his second start at Triple-A Norfolk, lasting only 4 2/3 innings and allowing four runs and eight hits, with one walk and two strikeouts. Columbus leads the Tides, 4-0. Bascom who gave up three runs in seven innings in his Norfolk debut against Gwinnett, threw 100 pitches before coming out of the game. Norfolk has been held to two hits through five innings, both coming from first baseman Michael Aubrey, who has singled and doubled. The Tides are off tomorrow....
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Tillman's time up?

Tillman's time up?
The debate is obvious, but not the decision. Do the Orioles send down Chris Tillman or keep running him out there every five days and hope that the education proves beneficial? Do they allow him to work out his issues in a less-pressurized environment and protect his ego, or figure he has nothing else to prove at Triple-A? The guess here is Tillman will land in Norfolk's rotation after he fell to 0-3 with an 8.40 ERA. He lasted only two innings last night, allowing six runs and six hits, and...
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I stayed awake for this?

I stayed awake for this?
I expect the losses to pile up, but can we please limit the number of blowouts? The offense managed only two runs tonight, though Ty Wigginton should have been credited with a home run instead of a double. That was one of three blown calls against the Orioles. They didn't influence the outcome, not with the Giants scoring 10 runs, but they still were infuriating. It's bad enough to rub salt in the wound. You don't have to empty the entire canister. Interim manager Juan Samuel came out to...
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Where's the outrage? (w/Norfolk update)

Where's the outrage? (w/Norfolk update)
Am I the only one with anger-management issues around here? Second base umpire Rob Drake calls Corey Patterson out on Miguel Tejada's grounder to short, which would be fine if Freddy Sanchez had been within 12 feet of the bag when he took the throw. But since he wasn't, it rates as one of the worst calls I've ever seen. The Giants turned the double play, which never should have happened, and interim manager Juan Samuel bolted from the dugout. Samuel protested briefly and went back to the...
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