Oh yeah, right, I have a blog. They're shooting off fireworks inside Tropicana Field, so I'm typing as fast as I can before I'm unable to see my laptop through the smoke. These people know this place has a roof on it, right? Brian Matusz walked three batters in spring training. He walked the bases loaded in the third inning tonight. Not a typical performance, but good enough to get the win. Amber Theoharis interviews Brian Matusz about his outing in the O's 5-4 win "I can't remember...

This time Mike Gonzalez got the save and the Orioles got the win. Barely. He got the first two outs of the last of the 9th before the Rays loaded the bases. Ben Zobrist came up with a chance to win the game, but Gonzalez got him to fly to right on a 1-1 pitch to end it and win it by a 5-4 score. Dave Trembley and O's fans everywhere can start breathing again. Gonzalez made Don Stanhouse proud. After suffering a blown save in the 9th in the season opener, Gonzalez gained his first O's...

Chris Tillman has impressed the Orioles in many ways. With his talent, with his poise and with the ability he has at just 21 years of age. Tonight, the young right-hander will make his Major League debut when the O's host Kansas City at 7:05 p.m. In spring training, he impressed O's Minor League Pitching Coordinater, Dave Schmidt. Tillman looked to improve one aspect of his game without any suggestions from the coaches. He worked to perfect his changeup. "He made a big jump with it...

Here are some comments from Orioles' players about Chris Tillman and his debut tonight. David Hernandez - "When I was brought up from Norfolk, he was just starting to get going. If he just pitches how he pitches, he shouldn't change a thing when he gets up here. "He's a guy that when he goes out there and if he's getting hit around, if you look at the guy you wouldn't know he was getting hit around. It's just how his demeanor is. If things are going good, he's the same." Nolan...

O's left fielder Nolan Reimold entered the All-Star break in a slump, but he's out of it now. Reimold was 3 for 28 heading into the break as his average dropped to .257. But he is batting .457 since the break with five doubles, four RBI and four stolen bases. "I just fell into some bad habits and had to work my way out of them. That happens during the year," Reimold said. "Now I'm ready to get some more hits." In the last five games, the hits are coming in bunches. Reimold is 11...

Game Preview Kansas City (40-59) at Orioles (42-57) The Kansas City Royals were struggling when they arrived in Baltimore on Monday. They had just completed a 1-8 road trip and had lost 11 of 12 games. They have the worst record in the American League. But they have posted back-to-back, 5-3 and 4-3 wins over the Orioles. Tuesday's win came in 11 innings as KC tied it 3-3 in the 8th and won it on John Buck's RBI single in the 11th. Seven of the O's last eight losses have been by two...

RHP Chris Tillman tonight makes his Major League debut. The 21-year-old right-hander was acquired by the O's from Seattle on February 8, 2008 as part of the Erik Bedard deal. At 21 years, 106 days old, Tillman will become the youngest Oriole to make his Major League debut since Hayden Penn did so at 20 years, 228 days old on May 28, 2005. Tillman has had two excellent years pitching in the O's farm system and is among the best pitching prospects in all of baseball. This season with...

Chris Tillman allowed solo homers to Alberto Callaspo and Miguel Olivo in the second inning tonight. It's the first time this year he has allowed more than one homer in a start. In 96 2/3 innings at Triple-A, he gave up only five homers. Over his last six Triple-A starts before tonight, he had given up just one homer, a span of 36 2/3 innings. He has thrown 53 pitches through three innings with 15 in the first, 22 in the second and 16 in the third inning.

The Orioles have had now five pitchers make their Major League debuts this year. Chris Tillman was the first of the five to allow more than two earned runs, as he gave up three over 4 2/3. It was not a great outing by any stretch, but a start for a 21-year-old who has to deal with hype and high expectations. The five debuts added together produced an ERA of 2.77. That is impressive. Tillman left tonight trailing 3-2 and the O's still trail by that score after five innings. He can only...

On a night where Chris Tillman allowed three solo homers in his Major League debut, the Orioles rallied for five late runs to gain a much-needed win. The Birds topped Kansas City 7-3 Wednesday in front of 19,741 at Camden Yards. The O's came to bat in the 7th down by 3-2. But after 116 pitches, Zack Greinke was taken out of the game and the Orioles rallied for three runs and the lead vs. the KC bullpen. Robinson Tejada walked the first two hitters to hand the O's a rally. An Adam Jones...