Roch Kubatko
Roch Kubatko

Perfect execution (updated)

Perfect execution (updated)
The Orioles just completed one of your typical 4-3-6-2 double plays. If you've seen one... Brad Bergesen walked the first two batters in the third, including stolen base machine Rajai Davis. Catcher Matt Wieters went to the mound - alone this time - to settle him down. Ryan Sweeney followed with a grounder to second baseman Julio Lugo, who wisely ran Daric Barton back toward first base before throwing there for the out. Ty Wigginton fired the ball to shortstop Cesar Izturis, who alertly...
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In Bergy's head?

In Bergy's head?
We had the mother of all mound conferences in the top of the second inning after Oakland's Jack Cust grounded out. The umpires stopped play and met with Brad Bergesen, apparently to point out that his foot hadn't made contact with the rubber. Bergesen was standing to the left of it, which A's first base coach Todd Steverson must have noticed. It wasn't a five-man conference. The entire Orioles infield joined them, including catcher Matt Wieters. I was waiting for the bullpen to empty. I...
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More on Scott

More on Scott
Luke Scott took 25 swings in the indoor cage and completed three rounds of live batting practice. No longer confronted with pain in his left shoulder, he expects to play tomorrow night in Toronto. "I didn't turn it loose, but I put some good effort into it and it felt pretty good, so I should be ready tomorrow," he said. "I didn't go all out 100 percent. I just went nice and easy, but that was a good start." Scott was able to pull the ball, something he couldn't do on...
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Scott available tonight

Scott available tonight
Luke Scott had his left shoulder packed in ice when the clubhouse opened to the media. He isn't in tonight's lineup, but he could come off the bench if needed. Scott is going to hit off a tee and take some cuts at soft tosses this afternoon. "I'm going to go test it out and start building it up," he said. "It feels good right now. It feels much better than what it did, but when you swing the bat, of course, that will tell the tale. I haven't swung a bat in two days." Manager Dave...
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Roch Kubatko

Tonight's lineup

Tonight's lineup
For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Julio Lugo 2B Ty Wigginton 1B Miguel Tejada 3B Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Garrett Atkins DH Lou Montanez RF Cesar Izturis SS Brad Bergesen RHP For the Athletics: Davis CF Barton 1B Sweeney RF Suzuki C Cust DH Kouzmanoff 3B Gross LF Rosales SS Ellis 2B Gonzalez LHP Brian Roberts is taking ground balls at second base and throwing to first. I know baseball activities when I see them.
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Close call with Wieters

Close call with Wieters
Matt Wieters caught Adam Jones' throw in the sixth inning last night, made a sweeping tag of Oakland's Ryan Sweeney for the final out, grimaced and bent at the waist. Wieters straightened up, took a few steps and bent at the waist again. This would have been a good time for fans to slip into panic mode. Wieters isn't tearing the cover off the ball, but the Orioles don't need him tearing a muscle or ligament. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells and manager Dave Trembley bolted from...
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Brian's song not the same pitch

Brian's song not the same pitch
The idea would have seemed preposterous a month ago. Send Brian Matusz to the minors? Did someone leave the cap loose on the Elmers? I noticed that a few readers were pondering the possibility last night, asking about the length of his leash. I get the same question about Garrett Atkins and have fielded it, at various times, about Chris Tillman, Brad Bergesen, Jason Berken and David Hernandez. This team doesn't need a manager, it needs a dog walker. As I noted last night, there didn't...
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Oakland 6, Orioles 1

Oakland 6, Orioles 1
Manager Dave Trembley doesn't seem overly concerned about Brian Matusz, who's allowed four first-inning runs in back-to-back starts and fell to 2-5 with a 5.76 ERA. "I think it's a combination of him pitching in the middle of the plate, the ball up, and he's not getting his two-seamer across," Trembley said. "He's throwing a lot of four-seamers and he likes to pitch in to right-handed hitters with his four-seamer. I think we saw that last year when he came up, especially the first time...
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As a Mata of fact

As a Mata of fact
Frank Mata's major league debut lasted 1 1/3 innings. He allowed an infield hit and issued a walk to consecutive batters before Matt Albers replaced him in the seventh. Mata would have been charged with two runs while sitting on the bench if Nick Markakis didn't make a spectacular diving catch to rob Kevin Kouzmanoff. The ball would still be rattling around the warning track. Mata's fastball was clocked in the 93-96 mph range. He also mixed in a splitter. The first two outs he recorded...
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What's the Mata? (updated)

What's the Mata? (updated)
Frank Mata made his major league debut in the sixth inning after Brian Matusz failed to retire any of the three batters he faced and allowed another run. Mata, 26, entered with runners on first and second, no outs and the Orioles behind, 6-1. He fell behind, 2-0, to Jake Fox, who swung at a 93 mph fastball and flied to the edge of the warning track in left. Mark Ellis, batting with runners on second and third, lined a 96 mph to center, and Adam Jones' throw cut down Ryan Sweeney at the...
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Down on the farm

Down on the farm
Left-hander Rick Zagone, a sixth-round pick in the 2008 draft out of Missouri, went the distance today for Single-A Frederick in a 4-1 win over Wilmington. Zagone (2-5, 3.59 ERA) allowed one run and five hits over nine innings, with two walks and five strikeouts. Third baseman Buck Britton went 2-for-4 with a double, triple and two RBIs. Double-A Bowie left-hander Zach Britton has shut out Harrisburg through five innings, and the Baysox lead, 1-0. Britton has allowed four hits, walked one...
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Going, going, Garrett

Going, going, Garrett
It happened tonight on a 1-2 pitch in the bottom of the third inning. Garrett Atkins hit his first home run as an Oriole. Atkins was one at-bat shy of tying his career-long homerless drought of 146 when he gave Oakland's Trevor Cahill a smackdown. He also collected his fifth hit in his last 37 at-bats over 14 games. I'm sure Atkins won't request that the Orioles retrieve the ball, which traveled 374 feet, but he should have pimped it at the plate. Flip the bat like Reggie. Strike a pose...
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Too soon to worry? (updated)

Too soon to worry? (updated)
What's going on with Brian Matusz? Matusz has fallen behind, 4-0, in the first inning, the last three runs scoring on Adam Rosales' homer. Rosales crushed a 92 mph fastball that hung over the plate and begged to be hit. The inning finally ended when shortstop Cesar Izturis made a diving stop and throw to rob Jake Fox. Matusz retreated to the dugout after allowing three hits, walking one and throwing 26 pitches. His ERA's grown to 5.86. That's 11 runs, 11 hits and three homers off Matusz...
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Gonzo could return 3rd week in June

Gonzo could return 3rd week in June
Orioles reliever Mike Gonzalez hasn't been completely ruled out for a June 9 return, the date he's eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list, but he'll probably need to wait a little longer. Gonzalez has been advised to gear himself toward a return the following week, when the Orioles play road interleague games in San Francisco and San Diego. The West Coast opener is June 14, and the Orioles don't return home until June 22. The Giants and Padres lineups won't include a designated...
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Injured trio heading to Sarasota

Injured trio heading to Sarasota
Second baseman Brian Roberts and relievers Koji Uehara and Alfredo Simon will fly to Sarasota on Friday. I wonder which one gets the middle seat. Roberts is eligible to come off the disabled list on June 9, but the first week at the minor league complex will be like spring training for him. He'll have to play in some games and go on an injury rehab assignment. I wouldn't circle June 9 on my calendar. "I'm not sure that's an attainable goal, to be honest with you," manager Dave...
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Moore yes, Scott no

Moore yes, Scott no
Corey Patterson LF Ty Wigginton 1B Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Scott Moore 2B Garrett Atkins DH Cesar Izturis SS Brian Matusz LHP
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Now we're cooking

Now we're cooking
I'll pass along the lineups in about an hour. I ducked into the MASN WebStudio to file a quick entry on today's Orioles Cook-Off and to revel in the air conditioning. I took a little walk through the Inner Harbor. In the direct sunlight. Wearing a black shirt and gray slacks. You get the picture. My car temperature was 96 degrees after I retrieved it from one of the public lots on Commerce St., and it only got down to 95 by the time I pulled into Camden Yards. Anyway, enough about my...
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Look for Luke at The Zone (updated)

Look for Luke at The Zone (updated)
Luke Scott is still scheduled to appear at today's Orioles Cook-Off at ESPN Zone. He didn't cancel after being scratched from last night's lineup with a sore left shoulder. Scott couldn't swing a bat yesterday without experiencing discomfort in the shoulder, but he can wield a spoon. Scott told reporters last night that he might undergo an MRI today. I don't know if his appearance downtown means that his condition improved dramatically and he might be able to play, or if he didn't want...
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About last night...

About last night...
You might have been thinking it. I know that I was thinking it. "Why is Will Ohman coming into this game?" (And why am I using quotation marks for a thought? Good question.) I suggested to a few reporters in the press box that I'd bring back Mark Hendrickson for the ninth. The tall lefty had cruised through two innings, allowing only an infield hit and striking out one. He threw 14 of his 21 pitches for strikes. I've rarely seen him better. Put him back on the mound in the ninth inning,...
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Post-game Trembley

Post-game Trembley
Manager Dave Trembley praised the Orioles' situational hitting and bullpen after tonight's 5-1 victory. How many times has that happened? The sixth inning was huge, scoring twice on two walks, a wild pitch and two fly balls. And Mark Hendrickson pitched his best game of the season, according to Trembley, before Will Ohman retired the side in order in the ninth. "Productive outs. We turned the tables on them and worked the count," Trembley said. "I thought there were four at-bats in...
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