Game Preview Cleveland (56-70) at Orioles (52-75) It may be August 27th, the time for pennant races and almost time when Major League rosters can expand to 40 players, but tonight the Orioles will meet the Cleveland Indians for the first time this year. The O's host the Tribe tonight at 7:05 p.m. in game one of a four-game series and a ten-game homestand. The teams also meet in a three-game series late next month at Cleveland. Series pitching matchups: Thurs, 7:05p - David Hernandez (4-6,...

On June 24th, O's first baseman Micheal Aubrey was acquired from the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named later. Now, the next four days, Aubrey will be playing against Cleveland. "It's nice to see those guys. I was there since 2003 and left in June of this year. I have a lot of friends over there, I wished them well when I left. I just hope we win." Aubrey joined Triple-A Norfolk after the trade and was called up by the Orioles on August 18th. He said he was a little stunned...

RHP David Hernandez (4-6, 4.35) tonight will make his 13th start of this season, his 6th at home and the 1st of his career vs. Cleveland. Over his last four starts, Hernandez is 1-3, 7.11. In the four starts before that, he pitched to an ERA of 2.31. The Orioles are 5-7 when Hernandez starts, but have lost four of his last five starts. In five home starts, he is 2-3, 4.23. Hernandez has been solid at the outset of his starts, giving up just five first-inning runs and a batting average...

The Orioles were one strike away from a homestand-opening win vs. Cleveland. They took a 4-3 lead to the top of the 9th and closer Jim Johnson got the first two batters out. Then Matt Laporta singled and number nine hitter, Andy Marte hit a two-run homer to left to put Cleveland ahead 5-4. The Tribe went on to the 5-4 victory on Marte's second homer of the year that made it into the first row of the left field seats. He hit a 3-2 pitch for the game winner. Melvin Mora had three hits and...

The Orioles began tonight with a record of 44 and 2 this year when leading after eight innings. The Indians were 4-62 when trailing after eight. But Andy Marte's two-out, two-run homer on a 3-2 pitch lifted Cleveland to a 5-4 win. Marte is batting .414-2-8 during an eight-game batting streak. This was the Orioles' fourth one-run game in their past five contests. They are 1-3 in those games and 14-19 in one-run games on the year. Gopher balls this year - Jim Johnson did not allow a...

Game Preview Cleveland (57-70) at Orioles (52-76) The Orioles continue to play plenty of close games. They lost one last night and tonight look to even their four-game series with Cleveland at a win each at 7:05 p.m. Jason Berken (3-11, 6.49) will pitch for Baltimore and Fausto Carmona (3-8, 5.92) starts for Cleveland. Andy Marte's two-run homer on a 3-2 pitch with two outs in the top of the 9th Thursday gave Cleveland a 5-4 win in game one of this series. It was his second homer in 69...

In a brief shot with the Orioles last year, nine games, reliever Kam Mickolio pitched to an ERA of 5.87. Through eight games and 11 1/3 innings with the team this year, the 25-year-old Mickolio has worked to an ERA of 0.79. He has allowed just five hits with 13 strikeouts. Right-handed batters hit .263 against him but lefty hitters are 0 for 19 with eight strikeouts vs. the product of Wolf Point, Montana. He worked 9 2/3 shutout innings over seven appearances before allowing a run Tuesday...

OK, I'll try this again. While this rain delay goes on, feel free to ask any O's question - Major or Minors - and I'll take a shot at it. Post some questions right here and right now!!!

The start of tonight's game was delayed 56 minutes by rain. Tonight's first pitch was at 8:01 p.m. RHP Jason Berken (3-11, 6.49) tonight will make his 18th start of the year, his 10th at home and the 1st of his career vs. Cleveland. In 86 innings, Berken has allowed 113 hits, including 13 homers. The Orioles are just 4-13 when he starts. Berken, who has thrown over 100 pitches in a game just three times this year, is 1-6, 5.48 in nine home starts on the season. Berken has allowed 3ER...

Double-A Bowie, which still has an outside shot to make the Eastern League playoffs, got rained out tonight at Reading. So now the clubs will play a doubleheader tomorrow at 6:35 p.m in what is a crucial four-game series for Bowie. Second-place Reading is a game and a half ahead of third-place Erie and Bowie is another game and a half back in fourth place. So the Baysox are three back of Reading for second place and a playoff spot as the clubs are about to open a series. Ryohei Tanaka (4-2,...