Kevin Millwood was throwing a perfect game for 4 1/3 innings. He retired 13 Royals in a row before designated hitter Jose Guillen grounded a single up the middle. Shortstop Julio Lugo was shaded far to his right and couldn't make up the ground. He never laid a glove on it. Millwood struck out six Royals, including Billy Butler twice, before Guillen reached. Alberto Callaspo followed with a single to put runners on the corners. In typical Orioles fashion, the game is scoreless as Kansas City...

Nolan Reimold is serving as the designated hitter tonight for Triple-A Norfolk. Brandon Snyder is starting at first base. Rhyne Hughes is playing right field and Michael Aubrey's in left. Will Aubrey be in D.C. on Friday? Stay tuned. Joey Gathright, batting .184, has moved from first to ninth in the order. Center fielder Xavier Avery went 3-for-3 with an RBI today in Single-A Frederick's 3-1 victory over Potomac. Third baseman Billy Rowell was 1-for-2 with an RBI. Nathan Nery held Potomac...

With Kevin Millwood facing Zack Greinke tonight, we could have a night where not a lot of runs are scored. Of course, usually when you think that the final will be 10-9. MLB - ERA leaders since start of 2009: 2.27 - Zack Greinke 2.33 - Tim Lincecum 2.42 - Cris Carpenter 2.54 - Roy Halladay 2.60 - Adam Wainwright Here is a stunning stat. Coming into tonight, Millwood and Greinke have combined to make 16 starts with just one win. Greinke is 1-4 and Millwood 0-4. It's the deepest into a...

Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez took a verbal shot at manager Fredi Gonzalez yesterday that rocked Dave Trembley on his heels. Trembley considers Gonzalez a good friend, so it already had become a sensitive issue. And it also must have stung when Ramirez, venting to reporters after being removed from the game for not hustling, belittled Gonzalez for never playing in the majors. Trembley is one of eight managers who never played professionally at any level. Dave Trembley reacts to the drama...

David Hernandez completed his bullpen session and didn't experience any discomfort in his right shoulder. He's set to face the Nationals Friday in D.C. "It went really good," he said. "I threw what I'd normally throw in any given side day. I had no pain, so that's good. I'm just going to keep doing treatment. Extra stretching is really key for it." Hernandez is convinced that skipping Sunday's start made all the difference in his recovery. "If I had started, I probably would have...

Well, manager Dave Trembley sure made up for last night's abbreviated post-game session with the media. No real news came out of it. David Hernandez threw his bullpen session - I'll check on him once the clubhouse opens again to the media at 5:30 p.m. - and he's still scheduled to make his next start. Reliever Michael Gonzalez is still scheduled to throw one inning in Thursday's extended spring training game in Sarasota and will stay there a while longer before embarking on a minor league...

The stat that keeps rearing its ugly head did again for the Orioles last night. They went 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position and today a couple of players talked about the lack of hitting in those key situations. "Is it tougher? (hitting in those spots)," Adam Jones repeated the question. "You've just go to be more selective. It's baseball, the opposition is trying to get you out and they're succeeding now. "We have so much scouting today and technology to keep people in...

For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Ty Wigginton 2B Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Matt Wieters C Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Garrett Atkins 1B Julio Lugo SS Kevin Millwood RHP For the Royals: Podsednik LF Kendall C DeJesus RF Butler 1B Guillen DH Callaspo 3B Maier CF Betancourt SS Getz 2B Greinke RHP

After he was roughed up in Syracuse to start the season, the Nationals decided to convert right-hander Collin Balester from a starter to a reliever. So they sent Collin to extended spring training in Viera, Florida, where he has faced off against the Astros, Braves and Tigers, among other squads. In his most recent outing, Balester told me he went two innings and allowed no runs. "I felt my changeup was a lot better. The two-seam fastball and curveball were good. This experience will help...

Since the Orioles have struggled all year when batting with runners in scoring position, here is a closer look at that stat. Lowest average, AL, with RISP: .217 - CWS .221 - Orioles .233 - Oakland .234 - Seattle Fewest at bats AL with RISP: 277 - CWS 303 - Orioles & Cleveland 310 - Toronto Most at bats AL with RISP: 372 - Detroit 366 - NYY 358 - Texas O's hitters with RISP: Atkins: .240 (6 for 25) Izturis: .238 (5 for 21) Jones: .200 (5 for 25) Lugo: .125 (2 for 16) Markakis: .276 (8...