Tonight's lineups
Tonight's lineups
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
For the Orioles: 2B Brian Roberts RF Nick Markakis 1B Ty Wigginton DH Luke Scott CF Adam Jones LF Felix Pie C Matt Wieters SS Cesar Izturis 3B Josh Bell RHP Jeremy Guthrie For the Rays: C John Jaso 2B Ben Zobrist LF Carl Crawford 3B Evan Longoria RF Matt Joyce DH Willy Aybar 1B Dan Johnson CF B.J. Upton SS Reid Brignac RHP James Shields A catcher batting leadoff. You don't see that one very often. Reliever Jim Johnson is moving his injury rehab assignment to Single-A Frederick tomorrow...
Owen Wilson to make Nats debut this December
Owen Wilson to make Nats debut this December
Josh Land
Nationals
The romantic comedy "How Do You Know" staring Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson and Jack Nicholson is set to be released this Christmas. The Washington Post's Dan Steinberg pointed out this morning that a new movie trailer for the film is available. In the film, Owen Wilson plays Manny, a Nationals reliever and the love interest of Reese Witherspoon's character. Last summer, Nationals fans had the opportunity to sit in as extras for filming at Nationals Park. The film is...
Getting to first base
Getting to first base
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
I hope everyone in the area survived the storms last night and wasn't affected by the tornado warning that made my daughter afraid to take a shower. I explained that she doesn't have any windows in there, but she said something about lightning and the pipes. I sent her up there anyway. And I'm happy to report that my instincts were correct. That's a switch. I had nightmares that somebody named Jeanmar Gomez shut down the Orioles and ruined their chance to sweep the Indians. Silly, I...
Harris battling "mental grind" as Nats' skid continues
Harris battling "mental grind" as Nats' skid continues
Byron Kerr
Nationals
The Marlins completed the three game sweep with a 5-0 win on Thursday, outscoring the Nats 22-7. The outfielders did their best to get on base against a very difficult Ricky Nolasco (13-8). Roger Bernadina led off the game with a double. Left fielder Willie Harris earned a walk against Nolasco and got a base hit in the seventh off of Jose Veras. Michael Morse had a tough 0-4. Harris said this shutout loss was similar to what happened to them throughout the series against the...
Stats to take you into the Tampa series
Stats to take you into the Tampa series
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Here are some facts, stats and notes to consider as the O's and Rays start a three-game weekend series tonight. The clubs played six times in the season's first nine games and have met just three times since. *The Birds are 2-1 on this six-game road trip and 16-41 on the year in road games. *The O's are 2-7 vs. Tampa and 10-35 vs. AL East clubs. The Rays are 27-17 vs. the East. *The O's are 8-2 with Buck Showalter as manager. They are 3-0 in series with Buck after going 4-28-2 in 34...
Lannan looking to continue recent good feeling
Lannan looking to continue recent good feeling
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Nationals left-hander John Lannan will make his 17th start Friday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He has a 2-1 record with an 0.47 ERA in three career games versus the Snakes. He is also coming off a quality start at Los Angeles, where he went six innings, allowing only two earned runs on five hits, two walks, two strikeouts and a homer. It was his first win since May 28 and his first quality start since June 2. Lannan got out of his biggest jam in the fourth inning. Ryan Theriot...
Not tonight:  O's fall short at Cleveland
Not tonight: O's fall short at Cleveland
Steve Melewski
Orioles
After sporting a team average of .308 and scoring 5.3 runs per game in the first nine games of the Buck Showalter era, Thursday night the O's offense got shutdown by a rookie right-hander and two relievers as Cleveland topped the O's 4-1. The Orioles are now 8-2 since Showalter took over and were denied their first three-game sweep at Cleveland since April of 1987. Jeanmar Gomez, the 22-year-old making just his fourth Major League start, held the Orioles to one run and six hits over six...
A Q&A with Joe Jordan as the signing deadline nears
A Q&A with Joe Jordan as the signing deadline nears
Steve Melewski
Orioles
As we head into the final weekend before the deadline at midnight Monday to sign picks from the First-Year Player Draft, the Orioles have come to terms with 34 of their 49 selections. They have agreed on deals with 10 of their 14 picks in the first 15 rounds. The four remaining unsigned among those picks include first-round selection, prep shortstop Manny Machado. They also have yet to agree with sixth-round pick, pitcher Dixon Anderson, seventh-round pick, pitcher Matthew Bywater and...
Pie shaken, Patterson stirred (updated)
Pie shaken, Patterson stirred (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Felix Pie appeared to injure his left foot while leaving the batters box on a single in the fifth inning, but he stayed in the game after taking a few practice jogs down the right field line. Corey Patterson watched Pie from the top step of the dugout. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells and assistant trainer Brian Ebel paid close attention as Pie rounded third on Cesar Izturis' liner to center field that ended the inning. Pie crossed the plate and took his position in left field. Maybe...
More first-inning woes (updated)
More first-inning woes (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Kevin Millwood gave up another run in the first inning tonight when Trevor Crowe reached on an infield hit with two outs - a play close enough to bring manager Buck Showalter out of the dugout. Millwood had allowed at least two runs in the opening frame in 11 of 12 starts before shutting down the White Sox in his last outing. Opponents have totaled 35 runs in the first inning. Michael Brantley and Asdrubal Cabrera singled tonight after falling behind, 0-2, in the count. Shin-Soo Choo flied...