Somes notes on the Yankees and Orioles as the teams begin a three-game series today at New York. *The Yankees are 86-51 and own baseball's best record. They are 30-19 in the second half and 29-21 vs. AL East clubs. *Toronto's 7-3 win Sunday ended New York's eight-game win streak. The Yankiees are 14-5 over their last 19 games. *They are 48-23 at home and are 16-4-3 in 23 home series this year. They are 105-47 (.691) since the start of last year at home and are 6-1 on their current...

It seems hard to believe, but it was 15 years ago today that Cal Ripken broke a record they said would never be broken. He played in consecutive game number 2,131, surpassing Lou Gehrig's 56-year-old record. The two-day celebration of 2130 and 2131 at Camden Yards was amazing and was voted Most Memorable Moment in baseball history by a fan vote. Ripken threw out the first pitch on Sunday in Baltimore and later remembered that special time and those special two days. "It was a...

The 2010 Arizona Fall League begins Tuesday, October 12. This year's team with players from the Nationals organization is the Scottsdale Scorpions. The best of the Nats, Orioles, Rockies, D-backs and Giants are represented on Scottsdale's roster. The Scorpions open at home October 12 against the Peoria Saguaros. There are six weeks in the season that spans October 12 through November 18. There are six teams in the league: two based in Peoria, Surprise, Phoenix (last year's Nats...

The Bowie Baysox picked a bad time for their offense to go south. Bowie was held scoreless on just two hits Sunday in a 1-0 loss at Richmond. Coupled with Harrisburg's 13-3 romp over Binghamton and Bowie is now one game back of the Senators for the final Eastern League playoff berth with one game to go. Bowie needs to win Monday's Noon game at Richmond while Harrisburg loses its 1 p.m game at Binghamton. If that happens, the teams finish the regular season tied for second in their...

Some quotes from Chris Tillman, Nick Markakis and Corey Patterson after the Orioles 8-7 win over the Rays on Sunday. It was the O's first series win this year vs. an AL East team other than Boston. Tillman on his outing: "I felt good. Overall, I thought it went well. I think all my pitches were there. It kind of rolled over from Norfolk and I think that's a good thing. "I just want to go out there and do my best, carry it over from Norfolk what I had going, and I think we're playing...

The official scorer exercised his right to award the win to Alfredo Simon, judging that Jim Johnson and Michael Gonzalez were too ineffective in brief appearances. Once Johnson was skipped, you pick the guy who was the most effective out of the remaining group. It's not real common, but it happens. Simon turned in a perfect eighth, and Koji Uehara did the same in the ninth by retiring Ben Zobrist, Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria. "We were all joking, everybody kind of turns when Koji...

For most of the time since Buck Showalter has been O's manager, when the team won it usually had a lot to do with the pitching. Sunday, the O's out-slugged Tampa in an 8-7 win to take the three game series, two wins to one, in front of 28,268 at Camden Yards. Buck Showalter meets with the media after the O's 8-7 win over the Rays Five different O's drove in runs as the Orioles posted thier first series win this year vs. an AL East opponent other than Boston and they improved to 5-10 vs....

Koji Uehara took the ball again today, less than 24 hours after giving up back-to-back home runs. Uehara closed out an 8-7 victory, earning his sixth save, but he's not the closer. Just the guy who protected a one-run lead in the ninth. That's all. No need to slap a label on him. This one was easy. Strikeout, pop up and strikeout. Fans were chanting "Koji, Koji, Koji" before the final strike to Evan Longoria. This season has taken a strange turn in more ways than one. Alfredo Simon gets...

The Orioles have retaken the lead in the sixth, and the bottom third of the order spirited the comeback. Admit it, you didn't see that one coming. Craig Tatum and Cesar Izturis walked with one out against reliever Dan Wheeler. Chad Qualls replaced him and gave up Josh Bell's single to center field on an 0-2 pitch that tied the game. This was especially significant because Bell had struck out twice against starter Wade Davis, giving him 42 Ks and only two walks in 118 at-bats. Brian...

Chris Tillman gave up six hits today. Two were triples. Two were home runs. Not the extra-base ratio he sought in his return to the majors, but the Rays managed only three runs in 5 1/3 innings and he stood to be the winner if the bullpen could hold onto a 4-3 lead. It didn't. Pinch-hitter Reid Brignac greeted reliever Jim Johnson with a single and B.J. Upton hit a two-run homer, the ball traveling an estimated 410 feet. Tillman will have to settle for a no-decision. Evan Longoria's...