--RHP Danys Baez looked visibly shaken upon hitting Red Sox hitter Kevin Youkilis in the head with a fastball Friday night. Baez allowed two runs in the sixth inning, surrendering the lead to the Red Sox and suffering the loss.
--C Gregg Zaun threw out J.D. Drew on a stolen base attempt in the eighth inning. Zaun has provided superb defense, but went 0-for-4 and is batting just .115. He'll be arguably the best back-up in baseball once the club recalls top prospect Matt Wieters in the coming weeks. --RF Nick Markakis was not under consideration to pitch in Wednesday's series finale against Texas. Despite a 19-6 deficit, Orioles manager Dave Trembley would not consider calling upon the former college ace to eat up innings, MASNsports.com reported.
--RHP Dennis Sarfate had difficulty focusing during his 3 1/3 scoreless
innings Tuesday, MLB.com reported, because he was on medication to battle an ear infection. Sarfate said he "was on Cloud Nine," and noted Thursday's off day couldn't have come at a better time.
BY THE NUMBERS: 13 -- American League teams that employed Japanese-born players before the Orioles. RHP Koji Uehara enabled the Orioles to join the rest of the junior circuit, while the Reds, Marlins and Diamondbacks have never had a Japanese-born player on their big-league rosters.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "What I like is all three have the ability to do a variety of things. They can work the count -- and that's something (Adam Jones) is getting better at -- they can walk and they can use the other side of the field." -- Orioles manager Dave Trembley on his top third of the lineup: Brian Roberts, Adam Jones and Nick Markakis.
