TORONTO (AP) The Baltimore Orioles didn’t score a single run in either the eighth or ninth inning of their first six games. The past two days in Toronto, however, they’ve started making a habit of it.

Nolan Reimold hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the ninth and the Orioles beat the Blue Jays 6-4 on Saturday for their second straight comeback win.

”It’s not how many hits you get all the time, it’s when you get them and when guys are on base,” Reimold said. ”The last two games we’ve been able to do that late in the game.”

Wilson Betemit tied it with a solo homer in the eighth and Chris Davis also went deep for the Orioles, who won their second consecutive game at Rogers Centre. Coming into the series, Baltimore was 5-29 in Toronto dating to 2008 and had not won a series north of the border since June of that year.

”Every question seems to be prefaced with how we’ve struggled here before,” Reimold said. ”It’s good to come in here and have some close ballgames where we do the little things that you’ve got to do to get the win.”

Betemit’s go-ahead, two-run single in the eighth inning Friday night rallied Baltimore to a 7-5 victory that snapped a three-game skid.

”There’s a lot of good karma around our club,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. ”There has been since spring training started.”

Kelly Johnson homered for the Blue Jays, but the bullpen blew another late lead. Toronto relievers have blown four saves this season and are responsible for three of the team’s four defeats.

Betemit tied it at 4 with a shot to right off Casey Janssen in the eighth. Reimold hit a towering drive to left off Francisco Cordero (0-1), his second homer of the season and second ninth-inning shot in two days.

”The home run (Reimold) hit was a hit-and-run,” Showalter said. ”We’re going to change that sign to hit-and-trot. He’s been in a good spot.”

Luis Ayala (1-0) worked one scoreless inning for the win and Jim Johnson finished for his fourth save. Johnson has converted 12 consecutive save opportunities dating to Aug. 14, 2011.

Davis led off the ninth with a single that hit Cordero on the upper right thigh and was replaced by pinch-runner Ryan Flaherty. Roberto Andino struck out but Reimold followed with his homer, Baltimore’s sixth in the past two games.

When he connected, Reimold wasn’t sure his drive was going to stay fair. He soon saw it would.

”It was straight enough and I knew it had the distance,” he said. ”It was a good feeling rounding the bases after that.”

The Orioles opened the scoring in the first on a bases-loaded grounder by Matt Wieters, bringing in J.J. Hardy.

Baltimore right-hander Jason Hammel, who took a no-hitter into the eighth inning in his season debut against Minnesota last Sunday, didn’t keep the Blue Jays in check for long. Toronto’s second batter, Johnson, tied it by homering to left in the first.

The Blue Jays took the lead with a run in the second, but could have had more. Eric Thames doubled, moved to third on Brett Lawrie‘s single and scored on a base hit by Colby Rasmus, who was forced at second on J.P. Arencibia’s grounder.

Yunel Escobar walked to load the bases and Kelly Johnson struck out, bringing up Jose Bautista, who fell behind 0-2 before Lawrie broke for home plate. Hammel stepped off and fired a high throw to Wieters, who blocked the plate with his feet and tagged the sliding Lawrie for the third out.

”If we don’t have a 6-foot-5 catcher, it may have worked,” Showalter said.

Blue Jays manager John Farrell said Lawrie, who was later thrown out trying to steal second, was guilty of ”youthful exuberance.”

”We have to continue to educate the game situations,” Farrell said. ”When a pitcher is in a prolonged inning, when you’re running up a pitch count, you don’t want to give away an out on the basepaths, particularly early in the game when you’ve got a chance to put a crooked number on the board.”

Hammel called the play ”a big spot in the game.”

”I was surprised,” Hammel said. ”It was more of a thank you. With Bautista up there and the bases loaded, that’s kind of a favor to me for him to try and steal home.”

Baltimore reclaimed the lead in the fourth on Davis’ first homer of the season, a two-run shot to right that ended a streak of nine straight solo homers by Orioles batters.

Toronto answered in the sixth against reliever Matt Lindstrom. Adam Lind hit a one-out double and Edwin Encarnacion reached on Betemit’s error at third base, putting runners at the corners for Thames, who tied it with a sacrifice fly. Lawrie walked and Rasmus followed with an RBI single, giving him his first multihit game of the season.

Janssen replaced Blue Jays starter Henderson Alvarez in the eighth but failed to hold the lead, allowing a two-out drive to right by Betemit, his first.

Hammel allowed two runs and six hits in five innings. Alvarez gave up three runs and six hits in seven innings.

NOTES: Toronto closer Sergio Santos (paternity leave) will rejoin the roster Sunday and LHP Aaron Laffey will be optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas. … Orioles LHP Tsuyoshi Wada (left elbow) pitched six shutout innings in an extended spring training game. He allowed two hits, walked five and struck out seven. Wada is tentatively scheduled to pitch again Thursday in a start for Triple-A Norfolk. … Showalter said Wieters will likely get his first day off this season in Sunday’s series finale. Baltimore LHP Brian Matusz (0-1) faces Toronto RHP Kyle Drabek (1-0).

As the Baltimore Orioles made their way through the winter, it was hard as a fan to figure out what the game plan was. Dan Duquette was assembling a ton of arms, hoping that a pitching staff would emerge from the group. We had promising youngsters, guys returning from injuries, and gents from overseas. Many names were guys that have been in the big leagues, but never made a significant dent there.

I, for one, did not get excited about the prospects.

As spring training is winding down now, I find myself with a little more hope. That is because a rotation seems to be forming out of this mess of hurlers, and they have not looked half bad thus far. I would guess with the current spring rotation that Jake Arrieta will get the opening day nod for the Baltimore Orioles. This would seem to make perfect sense, considering he was the one guy on staff last year that was consistent.

His year ended early due to surgery, and left fans to wonder if he would come back as strong. Sure enough, Arrieta has been overpowering at times this spring. His fastball seems to be a few miles an hour faster, and his off-speed pitches are just nasty. It leaves Orioles fans to wonder how good he might have been last year, if the arm problems were not there.

Wei-Yin Chen looks to be the guy heading for that No. 2 slot. He has been the most promising of the new imports on the roster. Tsuyoshi Wada went down early with arm problems, giving Chen the opening to grab a starting slot. Wada started on March 27 against Minnesota and obviously had some struggles. If he makes the staff, I would guess it is in that long relief role.

Jason Hammel would appear to be the No. 3 guy on the staff. I will be the first to say that I thought the trade with Colorado for Jeremy Guthrie gave us little in return. Hammel, though, has shown considerable pop on his fastball, while showing that he has decent command of his other pitches. It is only spring, but hopefully Hammel will continue to prove me wrong when the regular season starts.

I thought from the beginning that Tommy Hunter had a rotation spot. When Hunter came in from Texas, I immediately penciled him into the rotation. Many fans did not think that would be the case, but I stuck with that premise. His spring began with some back issues, but those seem to be worked out, and he has looked overpowering in his last couple of starts. I see Tommy occupying that No. 4 position in the rotation.

The fifth piece of the puzzle is the remaining mystery. It seems that Brian Matusz might get that final spot. That is hard for some Orioles fans to believe, given his poor conditioning and horrible season in 2011. However, 2012 has been a fresh start for Matusz, who worked out with Brady Anderson in the offseason. The results have been favorable, so Matusz seems to have a reasonable chance at being fifth in the rotation. It would seem like only Wada could unseat him, but I do not think he has done enough to warrant that.

Though a Washington native, John Atchison grew up a fan of the Baltimore Orioles. Many think he should now become a Nationals supporter, but he says the Black and Orange is where he will stay! Follow him on Twitter @John_Atchison.

Source:

baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — The first spring start for Japanese left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada didn’t go exactly how the Baltimore
Orioles planned it — not in length of appearance, and certainly not in the results.

Wada gave up four runs and four hits in three innings during the Minnesota Twins’ 5-0 victory Tuesday. Wada walked two, struck out three and was pulled from his abbreviated performance an inning before planned.

Twins right-hander Anthony Swarzak, making his first start after four relief appearances, struck out three over 3 2-3 hitless
innings. He retired the first eight batters before Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty walked in the third. Matt Wieters and Mark Reynolds walked with two outs in the fourth, and Swarzak was done for the day.

The Orioles were hitless until Robert Andino doubled off Glen Perkins with one out in the eighth and was thrown out going for a
triple. It was Baltimore’s only hit of the game.

Wada, who signed a two-year, $8.15 million contract over the winter, is competing with left-hander Brian Matusz for the fifth
spot in the Orioles’ rotation. Wada was brought along slowly after inflammation in his left elbow delayed his first appearance.

He could end up in the bullpen as a long reliever, but that’s not how he’s viewed at the moment.

“I just want him to attack the rest of his time down here and hopefully get to five or six innings, and that leaves our options
to us,” manager Buck Showalter said. “Right now, we’re looking at him as a starter, and I don’t want him thinking anything else.”

Wada threw two innings in relief against the Atlanta Braves on March 18 in his other Grapefruit League game, allowing one run and one hit with three strikeouts.

The Orioles wanted Wada to go four innings against the Twins, but after he threw 18 pitches in the first and 30 in the second,
the leash shortened.

“It didn’t go that well. I’m not satisfied,” he said through his translator. “I wasn’t able to throw correctly with my normal
form today. The first-pitch strike with the fastball I pitched was hit easily. I have to work on it more.”

Wada gave up a run and two hits in the first inning, then allowed three runs on two hits and two walks in the second, the key
hit a two-run double by Jamey Carroll.

“If I keep pitching like this, I know I won’t be able to throw and be in the starting rotation,” Wada said. “I might not even be able to throw in general (for the Orioles) if I keep up throwing like this. I was trying to have fun today; and it wasn’t awkward or anything. I liked the atmosphere. I was really looking forward to pitching today. That’s why I feel sorry for the crowd that came here to watch me.”

Asked if he’s believes that he’s running out of time to make the team, Wada replied, “Yes, I do.”

Showalter isn’t going to judge Wada on one start.

“We like the guy a lot,” Showalter said. “It’s just another progression. Usually, this time of year, I wouldn’t say there’s
more intensity, but there’s a sense of urgency with the games, so it’s a good barometer to see where he is physically and
everything.”

Swarzak hadn’t gone more than 2 1-3 innings before Tuesday, and he was carrying a 6.35 ERA in 5 2-3 innings. He retired 11 of the first 12 batters he faced before the back-to-back walks in the fourth.

“I don’t care if it’s spring training or the regular season. It doesn’t matter. That’s unacceptable,” Swarzak said of the walks.

“But back to the positive, definitely a good outing, definitely a step in the right direction. I felt a lot of good things in my delivery today. I was working downhill when I needed to. I had a few misfires, but was able to get back to what I was working on. That’s always a good sign this early in the season.

“I’ve been told they’re going to stretch me out. That’s all they’ve told me, and that’s OK with me. The less I know, the better
at this point.”

The Twins added a run off Chris Tillman in the fifth when Carroll walked, stole second and scored on Justin Morneau’s one-out
single.

NOTES: Troy Patton retired the side in order in the fourth for Baltimore, throwing all nine pitches for strikes. He hasn’t allowed a run in 9 1-3 spring innings. … Orioles LHP Wei-Yin Chen faced 26 batters in a minor league game against the Twins’ Triple-A team. He allowed four runs and six hits, walked two and struck out five. Chen threw 85 pitches, 50 for strikes. … Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon, who’s been sidelined since March 18 with a sore groin, will pitch in relief Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin. … Twins reliever Jeff Gray retired all seven batters he faced after replacing Swarzak. … The Twins optioned right-handed pitcher Jeff Manship and outfielder Joe Benson to Triple-A Rochester. They also reassigned catcher Rene Rivera and infielder Pedro Florimon to minor league camp. The Twins now have 34 active players in camp.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) The first spring start for Japanese left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada didn’t go exactly how the Baltimore Orioles planned it – not in length of appearance, and certainly not in the results.

Wada gave up four runs and four hits in three innings during the Minnesota Twins’ 5-0 victory Tuesday. Wada walked two, struck out three and was pulled from his abbreviated performance an inning before planned.

Twins right-hander Anthony Swarzak, making his first start after four relief appearances, struck out three over 3 2-3 hitless innings. He retired the first eight batters before Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty walked in the third. Matt Wieters and Mark Reynolds walked with two outs in the fourth, and Swarzak was done for the day.

The Orioles were hitless until Robert Andino doubled off Glen Perkins with one out in the eighth and was thrown out going for a triple. It was Baltimore’s only hit of the game.

Wada, who signed a two-year, $8.15 million contract over the winter, is competing with left-hander Brian Matusz for the fifth spot in the Orioles’ rotation. Wada was brought along slowly after inflammation in his left elbow delayed his first appearance.

He could end up in the bullpen as a long reliever, but that’s not how he’s viewed at the moment.

”I just want him to attack the rest of his time down here and hopefully get to five or six innings, and that leaves our options to us,” manager Buck Showalter said. ”Right now, we’re looking at him as a starter, and I don’t want him thinking anything else.”

Wada threw two innings in relief against the Atlanta Braves on March 18 in his other Grapefruit League game, allowing one run and one hit with three strikeouts.

The Orioles wanted Wada to go four innings against the Twins, but after he threw 18 pitches in the first and 30 in the second, the leash shortened.

”It didn’t go that well. I’m not satisfied,” he said through his translator. ”I wasn’t able to throw correctly with my normal form today. The first-pitch strike with the fastball I pitched was hit easily. I have to work on it more.”

Wada gave up a run and two hits in the first inning, then allowed three runs on two hits and two walks in the second, the key hit a two-run double by Jamey Carroll.

”If I keep pitching like this, I know I won’t be able to throw and be in the starting rotation,” Wada said. ”I might not even be able to throw in general (for the Orioles) if I keep up throwing like this. I was trying to have fun today; and it wasn’t awkward or anything. I liked the atmosphere. I was really looking forward to pitching today. That’s why I feel sorry for the crowd that came here to watch me.”

Asked if he’s believes that he’s running out of time to make the team, Wada replied, ”Yes, I do.”

Showalter isn’t going to judge Wada on one start.

”We like the guy a lot,” Showalter said. ”It’s just another progression. Usually, this time of year, I wouldn’t say there’s more intensity, but there’s a sense of urgency with the games, so it’s a good barometer to see where he is physically and everything.”

Swarzak hadn’t gone more than 2 1-3 innings before Tuesday, and he was carrying a 6.35 ERA in 5 2-3 innings. He retired 11 of the first 12 batters he faced before the back-to-back walks in the fourth.

”I don’t care if it’s spring training or the regular season. It doesn’t matter. That’s unacceptable,” Swarzak said of the walks. ”But back to the positive, definitely a good outing, definitely a step in the right direction. I felt a lot of good things in my delivery today. I was working downhill when I needed to. I had a few misfires, but was able to get back to what I was working on. That’s always a good sign this early in the season.

”I’ve been told they’re going to stretch me out. That’s all they’ve told me, and that’s OK with me. The less I know, the better at this point.”

The Twins added a run off Chris Tillman in the fifth when Carroll walked, stole second and scored on Justin Morneau’s one-out single.

NOTES: Troy Patton retired the side in order in the fourth for Baltimore, throwing all nine pitches for strikes. He hasn’t allowed a run in 9 1-3 spring innings. … Orioles LHP Wei-Yin Chen faced 26 batters in a minor league game against the Twins’ Triple-A team. He allowed four runs and six hits, walked two and struck out five. Chen threw 85 pitches, 50 for strikes. … Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon, who’s been sidelined since March 18 with a sore groin, will pitch in relief Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin. … Twins reliever Jeff Gray retired all seven batters he faced after replacing Swarzak. … The Twins optioned right-handed pitcher Jeff Manship and outfielder Joe Benson to Triple-A Rochester. They also reassigned catcher Rene Rivera and infielder Pedro Florimon to minor league camp. The Twins now have 34 active players in camp.

Bucs fall to Baltimore

Tuesday, March 27, 2012 12:06 AM EDT

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Tommy Hunter took a big step toward locking up a spot in the Baltimore Orioles’ starting rotation by handcuffing the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 4-1 victory Monday night.

Hunter worked six innings and allowed one hit, walked one and struck out five.

“It was definitely fun,” Hunter said. “That was baseball — going out for six innings and still having something left. We’ll see what happens when April 6 and the rest of the season comes around.”

Hunter was sharp, even though it was only his second Grapefruit League start. He was slowed at the start of camp by a sore back, then tossed five solid innings in his debut March 21 against the Toronto Blue Jays.

“The last time, it was a struggle to locate my fastball,” Hunter said. “Tonight, I fell behind the first batter. But after that, I settled in and me and (catcher Matt Wieters) were in sync pretty much all night.”

Wieters had three hits and scored a run. He began the seventh inning with a double and scored on Mark Reynolds’ soft single to right field. Reynolds scored on a throwing error by third baseman Pedro Alvarez.

“Both pitchers looked like they were ready to start the season,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “Tommy had a good look on his face. You could tell he was really focused tonight — a lot of left-handed hitters, the wind was blowing out in right (field). I thought he was effective.”

Left-hander Erik Bedard, who will be the Pirates’ opening day starter, worked six-plus innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on seven hits and struck out five.

“I did what I try to do every game, change speeds and hopefully they don’t hit it,” Bedard said. “There was a lot of swing-and-miss early, but that was because of the (setting) sun. I just threw strikes and changed speeds.”

Bedard was drafted by the Orioles in 1999 and pitched in 114 games for them from 2002-07.

Bedard held the Orioles hitless until the fifth, when Wieters led off with a single to center. Bedard ran into trouble in the sixth, when the Orioles loaded the bases on two-out singles by Nolan Reimold, J.J. Hardy and Nick Markakis. But Bedard found an escape hatch, blowing strike three past Adam Jones.

“I was throwing a lot of off-speed tonight, trying to make it better for the season,” Bedard said. “I know the fastball’s there.”

Notes: The Orioles put LHP Zach Britton (left elbow soreness) on the 15-day disabled list. .. . 2B Brian Roberts (concussion) will break camp with the Orioles, but he will remain on the 15-day disabled list. Roberts will continue to participate in light pregame activities. … The Orioles reassigned C John Hester, INF Steve Tolleson, RHP Armando Galarraga, LHP Dontrelle Willis and OF Scott Beerer to minor league camp. RHP Brad Bergesen, INF Matt Antonelli and RHP Jason Berken were optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. … Alvarez was back in the lineup Monday after sitting out the previous three games due to inflammation in his left knee. He went 0-for-3, including two strikeouts.

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SARASOTA, Fla. — Baltimore Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts will begin the season on the 15-day disabled list as he strives to return from a concussion.

In other moves Monday, the Orioles optioned pitchers Brad Bergesen and Jason Berken, along with infielder Matt Antonelli, to Triple-A Norfolk and placed left-hander Zach Britton (back) on the 15-day disabled list.

In addition, Baltimore reassigned pitchers Dontrelle Willis and Armando Galarraga, infielder Steve Tolleson, catcher John Hester and outfielder Scott Beerer to their minor league camp.

Roberts played in only 39 games last year, none after May 16. He has practiced with the Orioles this spring but has not participated in an exhibition game.

Unlike last year, when the two-time All-Star rehabilitated alone in Florida, he will return with the team to Baltimore next week.

“I really didn’t want to be separated again, be down here away from my teammates and kind of not feel a part of things,” Roberts said.

He says being on the 15-day DL is an indication that the team expects him to return in the near future. Although there is no timetable, he says, “I have hope that I’m coming back.”

Bergesen was 2-0 with a 3.75 ERA in spring training, with 12 hits allowed in 12 innings over five appearances. Last season, he went 2-7 with a 5.70 ERA in 34 games, including 12 starts.

Berken didn’t make his spring debut until throwing a scoreless inning on Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies. He had been sidelined with a strained hamstring.

“I talked to both of them about it and they seem to be upbeat about starting down there,” manager Buck Showalter said. “We just feel like we have some people ahead of them right now. Berken got behind the eight ball because of the leg. I hope they pitch well and present options for us as starters. It’s not like they’re going away. Hopefully, they’ll be depth for us and impact our club. That’s going to kind of be up to them.”

Britton is shut down with left shoulder inflammation.

Showalter stopped short of saying that Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty, a utility infielder, has made the club because Antonelli and Tolleson could be brought back. However, Flaherty is likely to win the job.

Antonelli batted .194 in 20 games, and Tolleson batted .286 in 19 games. Flaherty, selected from the Chicago Cubs’ organization, is batting .279 with two doubles, two triples, one homer and eight RBI in 18 games.

Hester went 0 for 14. His removal from the camp roster indicates that Ronny Paulino could back up Matt Wieters on opening day.

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) Baltimore Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts will begin the season on the 15-day disabled list as he strives to return from a concussion.

In other moves Monday, the Orioles optioned pitchers Brad Bergesen and Jason Berken, along with infielder Matt Antonelli, to Triple-A Norfolk and placed left-hander Zach Britton (back) on the 15-day disabled list.

In addition, Baltimore reassigned pitchers Dontrelle Willis and Armando Galarraga, infielder Steve Tolleson, catcher John Hester and outfielder Scott Beerer to their minor league camp.

Roberts played in only 39 games last year, none after May 16. He has practiced with the Orioles this spring but has not participated in an exhibition game.

Unlike last year, when the two-time All-Star rehabilitated alone in Florida, he will return with the team to Baltimore next week.

”I really didn’t want to be separated again, be down here away from my teammates and kind of not feel a part of things,” Roberts said.

He says being on the 15-day DL is an indication that the team expects him to return in the near future. Although there is no timetable, he says, ”I have hope that I’m coming back.”

Bergesen was 2-0 with a 3.75 ERA in spring training, with 12 hits allowed in 12 innings over five appearances. Last season, he went 2-7 with a 5.70 ERA in 34 games, including 12 starts.

Berken didn’t make his spring debut until throwing a scoreless inning on Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies. He had been sidelined with a strained hamstring.

”I talked to both of them about it and they seem to be upbeat about starting down there,” manager Buck Showalter said. ”We just feel like we have some people ahead of them right now. Berken got behind the eight ball because of the leg. I hope they pitch well and present options for us as starters. It’s not like they’re going away. Hopefully, they’ll be depth for us and impact our club. That’s going to kind of be up to them.”

Britton is shut down with left shoulder inflammation.

Showalter stopped short of saying that Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty, a utility infielder, has made the club because Antonelli and Tolleson could be brought back. However, Flaherty is likely to win the job.

Antonelli batted .194 in 20 games, and Tolleson batted .286 in 19 games. Flaherty, selected from the Chicago Cubs’ organization, is batting .279 with two doubles, two triples, one homer and eight RBIs in 18 games.

Hester went 0 for 14. His removal from the camp roster indicates that Ronny Paulino could back up Matt Wieters on opening day.

The Toronto Blue Jays will have a 2012 MLB schedule that features 72 regular-season games against AL East teams. Those teams include the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Blue Jays will host their first divisional series against the Red Sox from April 9 through April 11. Their last divisional series will occur against the Yankees from September 27 through September 30. They’ll host 19 of their first 25 divisional games in Toronto.

Here is a brief rundown of the Blue Jays’ schedule against divisional opponents for the 2012 MLB season.

Complete MLB schedule can be found HERE.

April 2012 (9 Home, 3 Road)

April 9-11: Boston Red Sox

April 13-15: Baltimore Orioles

April 17-19: Tampa Bay Rays

April 24-26: at Baltimore Orioles

May 2012 (7 Home, 3 Road)

May 14-15: Tampa Bay Rays

May 16-17: New York Yankees

May 21-23: at Tampa Bay Rays

May 28-30: Baltimore Orioles

June 2012 (3 Home, 3 Road)

June 1-3: Boston Red Sox

June 25-27: at Boston Red Sox

July 2012 (0 Home, 6 Road)

July 16-18: at New York Yankees

July 20-22: at Boston Red Sox

August 2012 (5 Home, 9 Road)

August 7-9: at Tampa Bay Rays

August 10-12: New York Yankees

August 24-26: at Baltimore Orioles

August 27-29: at New York Yankees

August 30-31: Tampa Bay Rays

September And October 2012 (12 Home, 12 Road)

September 1-2: Tampa Bay Rays (Continued)

September 3-5: Baltimore Orioles

September 7-9: at Boston Red Sox

September 14-16: Boston Red Sox

September 18-20: at New York Yankees

September 21-23: at Tampa Bay Rays

September 24-26: at Baltimore Orioles

September 27-30: New York Yankees

MLB schedules subject to change due to rainouts or any other unanticipated postponement.

Joshua Huffman grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs enthusiast. He immediately gained an admiration for Cubs fans after watching numerous games on WGN during the mid-90s. His favorite Cubs moment was Kerry Wood’s(notes) 1-hitter, 20K extravaganza that was only denied of a no-hitter by Kevin Orie’s defensive blunder. As a Packers and Cubs fan, he suffered through Steve Bartman and “4th & 26″ in a span of three months. He can be found on Twitter HERE.

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MLB Schedule for the Chicago Cubs (April 2012)

Who Will Bat Cleanup for the Chicago Cubs on Opening Day in 2012? Fan’s Preview

How Will Peyton Manning’s Release Affect the Tennessee Titans? Local Fan’s Take

The Tampa Bay Rays will play a total of 72 regular-season games against AL East opponents. That includes the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays.

The Rays will begin the 2012 MLB season with a three-game home series against the Yankees from April 6 through April 8. The Rays will finish their season with a three-game home series against the Orioles from October 1 through October 3. 18 of the first 26 divisional games will be played on the road.

Here is a brief rundown of the Rays’ schedule against divisional opponents for the 2012 MLB season.

Complete MLB schedule can be found HERE.

April 2012 (3 Home, 7 Road)

April 6-8: New York Yankees

April 13-16: at Boston Red Sox

April 17-19: at Toronto Blue Jays

May 2012 (5 Home, 11 Road)

May 8-10: at New York Yankees

May 11-13: at Baltimore Orioles

May 14-15: at Toronto Blue Jays

May 16-17: Boston Red Sox

May 21-23: Toronto Blue Jays

May 25-27: at Boston Red Sox

June 2012 (3 Home, 3 Road)

June 1-3: Baltimore Orioles

June 5-7: at New York Yankees

July 2012 (6 Home, 3 Road)

July 2-4: New York Yankees

July 13-15: Boston Red Sox

July 24-26: at Baltimore Orioles

August 2012 (6 Home, 2 Road)

August 3-5: Baltimore Orioles

August 7-9: Toronto Blue Jays

August 30-31: at Toronto Blue Jays

September And October 2012 (13 Home, 10 Road)

September 1-2: at Toronto Blue Jays (Continued)

September 3-5: New York Yankees

September 11-13: at Baltimore Orioles

September 14-16: at New York Yankees

September 17-20: Boston Red Sox

September 21-23: Toronto Blue Jays

September 26-27: at Boston Red Sox

October 1-3: Baltimore Orioles

MLB schedules subject to change due to rainouts or any other unanticipated postponement.

Joshua Huffman grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs enthusiast. He immediately gained an admiration for Cubs fans after watching numerous games on WGN during the mid-90s. His favorite Cubs moment was Kerry Wood’s(notes) 1-hitter, 20K extravaganza that was only denied of a no-hitter by Kevin Orie’s defensive blunder. As a Packers and Cubs fan, he suffered through Steve Bartman and “4th & 26″ in a span of three months. He can be found on Twitter HERE.

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SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) Nick Markakis had a successful return to the Baltimore Orioles’ lineup after offseason surgery – even if he didn’t have a hit.

Markakis was hitless in three at-bats in his first game since January surgery to repair a torn muscle in his abdomen and the Orioles lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-5 on Wednesday.

Markakis left the final game of the 2011 season with an injury to his abdomen. He tried to rehabilitate it, but had surgery on Jan. 5. Manager Buck Showalter started him for the first time as the designated hitter. He struck out, grounded out and walked before leaving the game after five innings.

”I was just happy to get out there, get some at-bats and start this thing off right. And get it going in the right direction,” Markakis said. ”No pain. The biggest thing was I wasn’t too worried about baseball activity, I just wanted to see how my body would react to my natural reactions. It was fine, I didn’t get to run. But we still got time for that.”

Showalter said he would play Markakis in right field for the first time on March 20.

The Pirates scored four runs in the second off Orioles starter Jake Arrieta, who pitched 2 2-3 innings. They added three in the fifth and four in the seventh.

”I made quite a few good pitches,” Arrieta said.

In his first start on March 8, Arrieta sailed through two hitless innings but was more erratic in his second start – even if he was happy with how he threw.

”I was real happy with a lot today, especially the way I was able to throw out of the windup. Everything in the windup was incredible. Like I said, it’s just a matter of finding that rhythm and that tempo from the stretch. And once I find that, things will really get rolling.”

Pittsburgh’s James McDonald allowed five runs and six hits in three innings. In three spring starts, McDonald has allowed eight runs and nine hits in eight innings.

”You could tell by watching. I didn’t feel too good,” McDonald said.

”Got to keep the ball down. They put good swings on the ball. I’ve got to execute better. I’ve just got to make better pitches. These are big league hitters. If you throw bad pitches, they’re going to make you pay – spring training or regular season – it didn’t matter.”

Manager Clint Hurdle didn’t give McDonald a pass.

”Today was mediocre,” Hurdle said.

”The problems he had was he was behind in counts, the ball got up and flattened out. He didn’t have much command today and didn’t have any secondary pitches to go to. The positives to take is that he threw 60 pitches. But he’s got things on his to do list that he’s still got to take care of.”

NOTES: Orioles C Taylor Teagarden had a CT scan and received an epidural injection in his strained back. Showalter said he is in jeopardy of missing the start of the season. … The Pirates are off on Thursday. LHP Erik Bedard will pitch four innings of a Triple-A game at Pirate City in Bradenton. … Baltimore RHPs Jim Johnson and Willie Eyre each pitched an inning in their first appearances of the spring. Johnson allowed three runs and four hits and Eyre four runs and four hits in 2-3 of an inning. Johnson had a lower back injury. Eyre had a groin injury. … Orioles LHP Tsuyoshi Wada threw 33 pitches in a simulated game and will pitch in a minor league game either Sunday or Monday.

The Boston Red Sox will play a slate of 72 regular-season games against their AL East rivals that include the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays. They’ll have 36 home games and 36 away games.

The Red Sox will host their first divisional series of the season when they play the Rays from April 13 through April 16. Their first series against the Yankees will occur at Fenway Park from April 20 through April 22. The Red Sox will finish their season with a three-game series in New York from October 1 through October 3.

Here is a brief rundown of Boston’s schedule against divisional opponents for the 2012 MLB season. All series against the Yankees are italicized and in bold.

Complete MLB schedule can be found HERE.

April 2012 (7 Home, 3 Road)

April 9-11: at Toronto Blue Jays

April 13-16: Tampa Bay Rays

April 20-22: New York Yankees

May 2012 (6 Home, 5 Road)

May 4-6: Baltimore Orioles

May 16-17: at Tampa Bay Rays

May 21-23: at Baltimore Orioles

May 25-27: Tampa Bay Rays

June 2012 (6 Home, 3 Road)

June 1-3: at Toronto Blue Jays

June 5-7: Baltimore Orioles

June 25-27: Toronto Blue Jays

July 2012 (6 Home, 6 Road)

July 6-8: New York Yankees

July 13-15: at Tampa Bay Rays

July 20-22: Toronto Blue Jays

July 27-29: at New York Yankees

August 2012 (0 Home, 6 Road)

August 14-16: at Baltimore Orioles

August 17-19: at New York Yankees

September And October 2012 (11 Home, 13 Road)

September 7-9: Toronto Blue Jays

September 11-13: New York Yankees

September 14-16: at Toronto Blue Jays

September 17-20: at Tampa Bay Rays

September 21-23: Baltimore Orioles

September 25-26: Tampa Bay Rays

September 28-30: at Baltimore Orioles

October 1-3: at New York Yankees

MLB schedules subject to change due to rainouts or any other unanticipated postponement.

Joshua Huffman grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs enthusiast. He immediately gained an admiration for Cubs fans after watching numerous games on WGN during the mid-90s. His favorite Cubs moment was Kerry Wood’s(notes) 1-hitter, 20K extravaganza that was only denied of a no-hitter by Kevin Orie’s defensive blunder. As a Packers and Cubs fan, he suffered through Steve Bartman and “4th & 26″ in a span of three months. He can be found on Twitter HERE.

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CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP)—Brian Matusz lost his last nine decisions in 2011
and struggled again in his first exhibition outing.

The next time out, he looked a lot better.

Matusz bounced back from a shaky spring debut, pitching four sharp innings
as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Philadelphia Phillies 1-0 Saturday.

“That’s a tough lineup—especially at home in Clearwater,” Matusz said.
“It felt nice to be able to go out there against a top-notch lineup and be able
to attack the zone like that.”

Matusz went 1-9 with a 10.69 ERA in 2011. Earlier this week, he gave up
three runs and six hits in two innings to Pittsburgh.

Against Philadelphia, the 25-year-old lefty allowed three hits without a
walk while striking out four.

“He’s put in so much this offseason since the last pitch was thrown,”
Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. “I want to see him getting a return.
When you’re doing the right things, I want to see them getting a return.”

Joe Blanton pitched three scoreless innings for the Phillies in his second
spring start. The 31-year-old righty was limited to eight starts last year
because of an elbow injury.

Blanton allowed four hits, struck out three and walked one.

“I feel good, physically I feel really good,” Blanton said. “I had zero
problem getting loose between innings and I know sometimes that can be a factor
in the spring, getting used to that up-and-down, up-and-down, even when you’re
coming off a 100 percent healthy season and you’re 100 percent going into
spring, that always is the tough one.”

Chris Davis greeted Phillies reliever Scott Elarton with a leadoff home run
in the fourth. It was Baltimore’s first homer this spring.

Elarton, who hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2008, retired the next
12 batters in a row.

The 36-year-old Elarton, a former 17-game winner, was invited to major
league camp after Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. personally scouted
him last fall.

“All I’ve ever done is battle, I was always injured, coming back from
injury, rehabbing, all that stuff,” said Elarton, who has allowed one run in
six innings this spring. “That’s kind of what I do. I’m very grateful for the
opportunity, absolutely.”

Philadelphia catcher Tuffy Gosewich was the only player on either team with
more than one hit in a two-hour, 18-minute game dominated by pitching. Gosewich
went 2 for 2 with a double.

NOTES: Orioles OF Nolan Reimold, hit in the face by a pitch from Tampa Bay’s
Alex Cobb on Friday, said his swollen jaw felt better Saturday morning. Reimold
will see a dentist for a chipped tooth on Monday, and should be able to play
Tuesday, Showalter said. … Orioles C Ronny Paulino, whose arrival was delayed
for three weeks by visa problems, reported to camp. … Orioles C Taylor
Teagarden said he hoped his strained back would allow him to play within a week.
… Orioles RHP Alfredo Simon took over for Matusz and pitched three shutout
innings. He has thrown five scoreless innings this week. … Philadelphia 2B
Chase Utley took batting practice prior but was out of the starting lineup for
the ninth straight game this spring. The Phillies are avoiding using Utley in
the early part of the spring after he missed seven weeks in 2011 with right knee
tendinitis. “We’ve been keeping him off his feet,” Amaro said. Phillies LHP
Dontrelle Willis played catch, the first time he has thrown since coming out of
a game on March 7 with arm tightness and fatigue. Pitching coach Rich Dubee does
not have a tentative plan for when Willis will again be able to pitch in a game.
…. Phillies RHP Jose Contreras’ next step in his rehab will come in a game.
Contreras, who had elbow surgery prior to the end of the 2011 regular season,
threw a live batting practice session on Friday. Dubee did not specify when
Contreras’ spring debut will happen.