For a player who is rather quiet and never seems to be in the limelight or the center of attention, this was different. When Cesar Izturis hit a bloop single to center in the second inning Sunday, the fans erupted in cheers and so did the players in the O's dugout. It was the 1,000th career hit for Izturis, who suddenly, at least for a short time, was in the spotlight. "To get that 1,000th hit is something special for me. That moment is something you look for all your career. Today was a...

Manager Buck Showalter must take his pre-game questions black, because this one wasn't sugarcoated. A reporter asked Showalter about Alfredo Simon, who would pick up his 17th save later in the day. "Based on what you've seen, is this guy a major league closer?" "Never overlook an orchid while searching for a rose," Showalter replied. "We'll see. You see the stuff and see why he's had success. Who knows? We've got to know. We don't want to be guessing about it. When we get through...

In case you haven't already purchased tickets to attend tonight's A Night at the Park event benefiting the ziMS Foundation, it appears that tickets will be on sale for a few more hours. A general admission ticket for $75 includes access to the Mutlu and Amos Lee live performances, as well as the silent and live auctions. This is the inaugural event for the ziMS Foundation in Washington D.C. and it begins at 7:00 p.m. with NBC's Chuck Todd as the Master of Ceremonies. Senator Dorgan,...

The best free agent pitching addition for 2010 occurred late in 2009. Pitcher Livan Hernandez was signed to a minor league contract on August 26, 2009 after the New York Mets gave up on him. Hernandez went 2-4 last year in eight starts with the Nats. In the offseason, the Nats resigned him February 24. Since Opening Day - and apologies to a certain phenom pitcher - Hernandez has been the Nats' most consistent starter. In his last 10 starts, Hernandez has gone 3-3 with an impressive 3.15...

Let's start with the good. Nolan Reimold, starting again in left field tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, is 2-for-3 with his 10th home run. He also stole his sixth base, always encouraging news when we recall the Achilles issues that have hounded him since spring training. Reimold is batting .232 with 31 RBIs. Maybe we'll see him in September. I'd like to think he'll be a major part of the 2011 team, but I'd also like to think that I still have a shot at Salma Hayek. The odds on Reimold are...

Troy Patton's timing could have been better. He gets called up and the rotation strings together six consecutive quality starts, making his role of long reliever obsolete. "It's really a tough situation," he said after the Orioles optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. "I came up here to be a long relief guy and it just happens to be the one week of the season that literally no long relief guy was needed. I wasn't needed to go in the games. "I understand it. It's good that I go back down...

Jeremy Guthrie began his recent roll of solid pitching July 17 vs. Toronto when he gave up just one run over 6 1/3. Now his ERA is 1.78 over his last five starts and today he matched his longest outing of the year and got the win as the Orioles beat Chicago, 4-3. "I'm just trying to be more aggressive. That's about the only thing I can put a finger on. Throw more strikes and my goal is to walk zero guys each game and make them hit the ball." Guthrie gave up just one run and six hits...

The rotation has a little competition going these days. Nobody wants to be the first pitcher to ruin the streak of quality starts, which has reached six games. Manager Buck Showalter hasn't seen a poor start since he got here. Buck Showalter meets with the media following a 4-3 win over the White Sox "I understand, I watched," he said. "I know it hasn't been the case all year, but it's not like these guys have never pitched well this year. And they seem to be feeding off each...

Roster move: The Orioles optioned left-hander Troy Patton to Triple-A Norfolk after today's game. A corresponding roster move will be announced tomorrow. Many of us are guessing Craig Tatum, who's on the 40-man roster, or Scott Moore. Alfredo Simon served up a two-run homer to Ramon Castro with one out in the ninth inning to reduce the Orioles' lead to 4-3. Tension time. Brent Lillibridge lined to short and Juan Pierre flied to left after Simon fell behind, 2-0. Simon notched his 17th...

The Orioles strong run of starting pitching continued this afternoon as Jeremy Guthrie was solid again in the Birds' 4-3 win over the first-place White Sox. Guthrie gave up just one run and six hits over eight innings as he improved to 6-11, 4.04. He tied his season high in pitching eight frames, throwing 116 pitches. O's starters have now recorded six straight quality starts, with an ERA of 1.94 in that stretch. Buck Showalter meets with the media following a 4-3 win over the White...