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...

Alfredo Simon threw 81 pitches in five innings today in his first start on his rehab assignment, which ended with Harrisburg defeating Bowie, 8-6. The Senators scored twice in the ninth off Brandon Cooney. Simon read his prepared statement in one of the third-level suites at Prince George's Stadium and took questions from reporters related to today's outing. The entire session lasted about six minutes. Alfredo Simon talks about his rehab start with Double-A Bowie "I feel great. My pitches...

Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon read the following statement concerning his legal issues in the Dominican Republic. He later took baseball-related questions from a small group of reporters at Prince George's Stadium: "Today is the day that I'm addressing everyone in my personal and professional life. "I want to take this opportunity to apologize to my sport, to the entire Baltimore Orioles organization, the owner, general manager, the front office, the coaches, my teammates, sponsors, and...

President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said pitcher Alfredo Simon will make his next start with Double-A Bowie next week at Prince George's Stadium. The Orioles have an agreement with Major League Baseball that Simon can remain on the restricted list and continue his assignment as if he's going through a regular spring training. "I think the deal that was worked out in New York is pretty reflective of what you'd expect for spring training. That's how much time he gets, what a...

Alfredo Simon threw 81 pitches in five innings, and a reliever is warming in Double-A Bowie's bullpen. It looks like his first start in an affiliated game is over. Simon is charged with four runs (three earned) and six hits, with no walks and five strikeouts. He also hit a batter and threw two wild pitches. We had trouble getting an accurate read on the speed of his pitches. One fastball was clocked at 122 mph on the ballpark's radar gun. Another ball, which Harrisburg No. 9 hitter Archie...

The Orioles just passed along their lineup from Kansas City, and it includes Jake Fox behind the plate. Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Adam Jones CF Luke Scott LF Mark Reynolds 3B Jake Fox C Robert Andino SS Chris Tillman RHP Alfredo Simon allowed a leadoff double in the second inning, but he retired the next three batters, getting a called third strike on Tim Pahuta. Simon has allowed one run and three hits, and struck out four, over two innings....

Alfredo Simon, pitching for Double-A Bowie in his first affiliated game since being jailed in the Dominican for almost two months, struck out three Harrisburg batters in the top of the first inning. Simon threw 23 pitches, 18 for strikes. His fastball topped out at 95 mph and was mostly in the 92-93 range. Simon also allowed a run on two hits, though the RBI double by Tyler Moore should have been ruled an error. Xavier Avery ran down the ball in right-center field, and it bounced out of his...

President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, director of baseball operations Matt Klentak and director of player development John Stockstill are in Bowie. So is instructor Mike Bordick. Alfredo Simon is on a pitch count of 75-80 today. Double-A Bowie manager Gary Kendall isn't sure how long Simon will remain on the roster. "It's a stop along the way," Kendall said. "We didn't know if it was going to be one or maybe two starts. I don't have that information. But we're happy to...

Alfredo Simon looks thinner, and we've been told that he dropped around 30 pounds over the winter. He doesn't look that much thinner, but there's a noticeable difference. Here's the Bowie Baysox's lineup: Xavier Avery CF Greg Miclat 2B Robbie Widlansky 1B Brandon Waring 3B Ronnie Welty RF Steve Lerud C Carlos Rojas SS Adam Donachie DH Kyle Hudson LF Alfredo Simon RHP Dan Klein (UCLA) is expected to pitch today. Donachie was added to the Bowie roster from extended spring training....

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jason Marquis had a rough outing last night against the Philadelphia Phillies, getting knocked around in the fifth and sixth innings, leading to another loss against the bullies of the National League East. The loss drops the Nats' record for the season to 14-16 through 30 games. Two losses to start this 10-day, nine-game road trip, with the prospect of facing Roy Halladay tonight, is probably a bad omen if you believe in those things. But in the bigger...