What is left to say? The Orioles bullpen is the worst in baseball. Matt Albers just gave up a three-run homer to Marco Scutaro as Boston takes a 4-3 lead in the seventh. It costs Brian Matusz a possible win and he sure deserved better than that. For Matusz this year, more of his runs score after he leaves the game than when he is in the ballgame. The O's are getting good starting pitching this year. The problem is, at some point, they have to turn to the bullpen. Last night, the pen...

Orioles manager Dave Trembley could have left rookie Brian Matusz in the game to face Darnell McDonald with runners on the corners and none out in the seventh inning. He could have brought in right-hander Matt Albers, knowing Boston manager Terry Francona was going to send up a pinch-hitter as the potential go-ahead run. Trembley removed Matusz, who got a pitch up that Jeremy Hermida lined into right-center field for a single before coming out of the game. Francona countered with David Ortiz,...

Let's start with Brian Matusz being on the mound. It's such a comforting feeling - and he's just a rookie. I'll stop referring to him as a "kid" because he isn't pitching like one. Is there a way to bottle Matusz's changeup and distribute it to every other pitcher in the organization? Rhyne Hughes is aggressive in his first at-bat in the majors, wasting no time ripping a single into right field. One pitch, one RBI single. Welcome to the bigs. Adam Jones reaches on a bunt single....

I think it's time we start a Rhyne Hughes fan club. In his first at bat ever in the Major Leagues tonight, Hughes ripped a groundball RBI single to right to give the O's a 2-0 lead. He came up in the second inning with no outs and runners on first and third. He drove the first pitch into right field. He got his first big league hit off John Lackey. In his first at bat he did something most O's hitters have not done well this year - drive home a runner that was in scoring position. He...

On Sunday, the Nationals hosted the Children's National Medical Center for the third annual Children's Day at Nationals Park. The event honors the Nationals' partnership with Children's Hospital and the team's ongoing commitment to building a pediatric diabetes care complex. Children who receive treatment at the facility enjoyed pre-game activities, delivered the ceremonial first pitch and line-up card, took the field for the "starting 9" and announced "play ball." Special tickets...

A versatile infielder and veteran presence, Ronnie Belliard played an important role during three tough seasons in Washington. Traded to the Dodgers in late August 2009, Belliard found himself moving cross-country from a team pushing toward a 100 loss season to a team destined for postseason play. Added as a utilityman and bat on the bench, Belliard impressed the Dodgers quickly with his hot hitting and ended the season as an everyday player. This April, Belliard continues to impress. The...

The Orioles are 2-1 in games started by Brian Matusz this year and 0-14 when anyone else is the starting pitcher. That is not a knock on the other starters, who have mostly done a solid job. But the team seems to be developing that winning feeling and confidence when the 23-year-old lefty is on the mound. Matusz is 7-2, 4.55 in 11 career Major League starts. Of course, the real test for any O's pitcher is how do they stack up vs. the AL East, baseball's best division. Not only does the...

The Orioles made the roster move official. Rhyne Hughes is up, of course, and Justin Turner has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles are more comfortable with Julio Lugo at shortstop and Turner has options remaining. They also decided to keep the extra bullpen arm. Turner was 0-for-9 with three strikeouts in five games. I wish he would get some starts at shortstop with the Tides, but Robert Andino and Scott Moore apparently have dibs. I just think it would increase Turner's...

For the Orioles: Lou Montanez LF Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Matt Wieters C Luke Scott DH Ty Wigginton 2B Rhyne Hughes 1B Cesar Izturis SS Brian Matusz LHP Luke Scott is 2-for-5 with two home runs lifetime against Boston starter John Lackey. Miguel Tejada is 10-for-33 with a home run and five RBIs. Nick Markakis is 7-for-23 with two RBIs. Left-hander Brian Matusz has held opponents to a .235 average with one extra-base hit, a sixth-inning double by Kevin Kouzmanoff in his...

For the Red Sox: Marco Scutaro SS Dustin Pedroia 2B Victor Martinez DH Kevin Youkilis 1B Mike Lowell 3B Jason Varitek C Bill Hall RF Jeremy Hermida LF Darnell McDonald CF John Lackey RHP