A day after giving up just one run and five hits over 6 2/3 innings, his best Major League start yet, Chris Tillman said pitching with less velocity led to better results. "Results-wise, I would say it was my best. But I don't think I pitched like myself. I kind of backed off on my velocity some, kind of stepped out of who I am. I just wanted to have a good outing to build off of. "I know the velocity would be there if I need it. I just wanted to see what would happen if I backed off...

LHP Mark Hendrickson (5-4, 4.43) tonight will make his 50th appearance and 8th start of this year, his 5th start at home and his 3rd start of the season vs. Tampa. Hendrickson tonight takes over the rotation spot of Brian Matusz. The rookie lefty has been shutdown for the rest of the season due to his innings load. So Hendrickson tonight makes his first start of the year since May 12th vs. Tampa, when he gave up five runs over two innings. Hendrickson has pitched much better this season out...

There have been three walk-off homers hit by rookies in the American League this year and two have been hit by Orioles. *Nolan Reimold, May 27 vs. Toronto *Luis Valbuena (Clev), August 22 *Matt Wieters, September 16 vs. Tampa With a win tonight, the Orioles would win a four-game series for the first time all year. Previously they have lost five and tied four 4-game sets. Matt Wieters 9 RBI over his last three games, matches his output of his previous 24 games. And, finally, in our...

Tampa right hander Wade Davis pitched a four-hit shutout tonight, in just his third Major League start, as the Rays beat the Orioles 3-0, in front of 12, 436 at Camden Yards. This came just days after Davis gave up eight runs in 2 2/3 in his last start vs. Boston. The 24-year-old walked two, fanned ten and threw 124 pitches in picking up his first Major League win. The O's were blanked for the 9th time on the season. The O's best chance to break through vs. Davis came in the first inning...

Looking out over Eutaw Street from the catwalk that connects Aramark to the Club Level of the ballpark this past weekend, I had to shake my head at the sheer smattering of red. "I can fly here, stay in a hotel and get better seats for the same price I can see at game at Fenway," one Red Sox fan told me. Does that make Oriole Park especially affordable or Fenway Park especially expensive? I'd say a little of both maybe. But as the Orioles faced the Red Sox for two straight weekends, I...

New Oriole Steve Johnson's first outing with the organization was a pretty quick turnaround with an unfortunately quick ending. Johnson didn't join the Baysox until the evening before his first start with the club--without wasting any time, he took the mound during his first full day with Bowie and pitched 4 ½ innings, all in the rain, before the grounds crew pulled out the tarp to end his outing. After a two-hour delay, Johnson wasn't able to finish what he'd started...

The Orioles announced today that several members of the 1989 "Why Not?" O's team will take part in an approaching Alumni Autograph Series on Friday, August 14. The previously unscheduled autograph signing is being held in honor of the 20th Anniversary of the celebrated O's team that created so many unforgettable memories for Orioles fans. Former catcher Mickey Tettleton, outfielder Mike Devereaux and pitchers Dave Schmidt and Dave Johnson will sign autographs for an hour, from 5:30 to...

Blanked - The Orioles were shutout tonight for the 9th time this year and the second time in nine games. They were held to four hits, going 4 for 29 at bat and were 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position. They were last shutout by Boston, 10-0 at Fenway Park on September 8th. In his third Major League start, right hander Wade Davis pitched the shutout for his first Major League win. Davis pitched out of a bases-loaded, no out jam in the first. He improved to 1-1, 4.34. Over nine...

You might remember back in March when Nick Markakis and his wife Christina announced the launch of their charitable foundation, The Right Side Foundation, which they explained was dedicated to helping distressed children across the state of Maryland. As the Foundation's first big event, The Right Side Foundation's 5K Run and One-Mile Fun Walk, draws nearer, Christina will be doing her part to promote both the Foundation and the 5K Run and One-Mile Walk by visiting the ballpark on Monday of...

Game Preview Boston (86-59) at Orioles (60-86) After splitting a four-game series with Tampa Bay, the Orioles welcome Boston to town tonight to start a three-game series at 7:05 p.m. It's the last series of the year between the teams. Jeremy Guthrie (10-14, 5.06) will pitch for the Birds vs. Boston's Clay Buchholz (5-3, 3.66). The Orioles are 2-2 on this homestand and 36-39 at home on the year with six Camden Yards contests remaining. The O's were shutout 3-0 Thursday as Tampa's Wade...