Josh Bell is excited today. Not only is he making his fifth Major League start for the Orioles, but someone special gets to watch him play in person. "I get excited every time you get to play. My mom will be here today. She's been waiting to see me play in the big leagues since 2005 when I signed." Bell's mom made the trip to Camden Yards from her home in Florida. She got to see him play in person several times when he was in the minors. "She was a bit of a roadie, usually got to...

With Corey Patterson expected to be unavailable for the next few days, I wonder whether the Orioles will keep Josh Bell on the roster tomorrow when Luke Scott is activated from the disabled list. Perhaps the smarter move is to send down Frank Mata and fatten up the bench. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, appearing earlier today on 105.7 The Fan, confirmed that he expressed interest in Justin Smoak after the Rangers drafted the first baseman in 2008. He knew the Rangers had...

Corey Patterson told reporters that he'll probably miss the next game or two with a bruised left heel. He isn't confident that he could pinch-hit today. Patterson said he sustained the injury last night when his left foot hit the bag on a bunt. A thin bench is almost transparent.

Corey Patterson has been scratched from the lineup with a sore heel, an injury sustained during last night's game. Patterson is being examined by a team physician, and the Orioles hope that he's available to pinch-hit. Otherwise, they're down to a two-man bench consisting of Julio Lugo and catcher Craig Tatum. "When he bunted last night, we think it happened," interim manager Juan Samuel said. Felix Pie will bat first and play left field. Just insert his name in Patterson's spot in...

Here's the Orioles lineup: Corey Patterson LF Miguel Tejada DH Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Adam Jones CF Jake Fox C Scott Moore 2B Josh Bell 3B Cesar Izturis SS Brian Matusz LHP Matt Wieters had his right leg wrapped in ice again today as he walked out of the trainers room, but he told me that his hamstring feels much better.

Nationals pitcher John Lannan struggled in the fifth inning of the Harrisburg Senators' 18-15 loss to the Altoona Curve. Most of the offense occurred after the left-hander exited the game. Lannan allowed just one earned run in 4 2/3 innings, leaving the game leading 4-3. The Curve scored three runs in the fifth inning to tie the game 4-4. The Curve made a dramatic comeback in the ninth inning. With Harrisburg leading 14-8, Altoona scored 10 runs in the ninth inning and won 18-15. Lannan...

Interim manager Juan Samuel was asked about the Orioles' failure to twice lay down sacrifice bunts tonight. They came up small in the small-ball department. "We need to do that if we are going to win some close ballgames," Samuel said. "We need to play good defense and do the little things. A little bit disappointed that we didn't get those down, so we've just got to continue to work on those little things. But if we are going to win the close ones, we need to do the little...

Another brilliant night for left-hander Zach Britton, who registered his first Triple-A victory by holding Columbus scoreless on five hits over 7 1/3 innings in Norfolk's 4-0 win. Britton's ERA is 1.50 in three starts since moving up from Double-A Bowie. He threw a scoreless inning for Team USA in the Futures Game before making tonight's start. Britton struck out three and walked one. How much longer before we're watching his major league debut? Columbus led the International League in...

The Toronto Blue Jays did two things Saturday night that they have been doing a lot this season. They hit two more home runs and once again, they beat the Orioles, as their pitching staff, as usual this season, held the O's hitters in check. Toronto is now 8-0 vs. the Orioles on the year after their 3-2 win in front of 28,518 at the Yard. Juan Samuel talks with the media after the O's 3-2 loss to the Blue Jays Major League homer leader Jose Bautista hit number 25, a two-run shot off Jason...

Corey Patterson joined Craig Tatum tonight as players who were instructed to lay down a sacrifice bunt and couldn't do it. Tatum walked in the fifth to load the bases with no outs, and Cesar Izturis singled in two runs to give the Orioles a 2-1 lead. No real harm. But Patterson struck out in the eighth after Izturis' leadoff single. Miguel Tejada singled to put runners on the corners with one out, but Nick Markakis grounded into a routine 6-3 double play. Markakis took a pitch that he...