Braves

Jason Hammel didn't arrive at Turner Field on Saturday night with many fond memories. He'd seen enough of the Braves in his three seasons in the National League. “These guys have given me nightmares, especially here,” he said. But it was here where the Orioles' 29-year-old right-hander would give his team its best pitching performance of the season. Hammel threw the best game of his seven-year career, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning and finishing with his first complete-game shutout win. He allowed just one hit on the night - Jason Heyward's single to left with two outs in the seventh - propelling the Orioles to a 5-0 win over the Braves at Turner Field.

This has been Orioles rookie Wei-Yin Chen's first foray into interleague play, where American League pitchers are forced to bat in National League parks, but the Taiwanese left-hander has already seen enough to know he's not a fan. “Not really, because I hate hitting,” Chen said through an interpreter. But Chen and the Orioles left Turner Field on Sunday afternoon able to boast that they beat the Braves at their own game - excelling in an NL style of baseball that leans on manufactured runs, solid pitching and technique-minded defense - for a 2-0 series-clinching win over Atlanta.

ATLANTA -   Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz's outing on Friday night came down to one batter - and specifically one pitch - against a rookie shortstop playing in just his 12th game in the major leagues. Matusz spent most of the night dodging disasters against the Braves at Turner Field, making key pitches to get critical outs. With two outs in the sixth, he was one out away from getting a quality start - and inched closer to his fifth win in his last seven decisions. But that's when Matusz hung a two-seamer split - one that was supposed to be low and away - over the plate to 22-year old Andrelton Simmons, and the Braves shortstop of the future sent Matusz's mistake into the left-field stands for a two-run homer.

The Orioles have traded minor-league left-hander Cole McCurry to the Braves, reportedly for cash. McCurry was 0-7 with a 6.10 ERA in 51 2/3 innings this season, mostly at Double-A Bowie, but had joined Triple-A Norfolk to work two outing in relief. Six days ago, when the Orioles added 49-year-old left-hander Jamie Moyer to Norfolk's roster, McCurry was assigned to short-season Class-A Aberdeen. On Saturday morning, McCurry -- a 43rd-round selection of the Orioles in 2007 -- acknowledged the trade on Twitter, saying, "Would like to thank the orioles for the opportunity.

Thank you for printing the full text of David Simon's Georgetown University commencement address. It was the best I have read, excepting Woody Allen's, of course. If Mr. Simon made anyone uncomfortable, good. Because it needed to be said, and it needed to be said now. I thank him for being gutsy enough to say it. Rosellen Fleishman, Baltimore

Ten years ago, my husband John and I moved into a retirement condo and met our new neighbors. They were a nice, older couple - typical Baltimoreans with a passion for family, Maryland crabs and the Orioles. I still remember the day my husband rushed in the door with news that would elevate Chick Serio's status from that of "typical Baltimorean" to superhero. "Chick was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action on Iwo Jima!" John said. "We're living across the hall from a war hero!"

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Mike Matheny had just answered a reporter's question about the challenges of being a first-year manager when an unexpected situation presented itself. The visiting Cardinals were under the impression that the National League team could continue using a designated hitter in all exhibition games through Wednesday. Yet nearly an hour after they had arrived at Disney's Wide World of Sports, the Cardinals were informed that the host Braves wanted the pitchers to bat in Monday's Grapefruit League game.

The Orioles play their second straight day of split-squad games today, with the Birds going on the road to play the Braves at Champion Stadium at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in the afternoon before a nightcap tonight at home against the Yankees. I'm here at the Braves game, where Orioles LHP Tsuyoshi Wada will make his Grapefruit League debut today. Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Wada will be limited to “30ish” pitches today. Some other items of note: - Orioles LF Nolan Reimold was scheduled to play in this afternoon's game because his wife was scheduled to deliver their baby in Jacksonville, which is closer than Sarasota.

Buck Showalter thought Orioles left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada would carry some adrenaline onto the mound with him for his much-anticipated Grapefruit League debut against the Braves on Sunday afternoon at Champion Stadium. But when the Orioles manager looked at the stadium scoreboard radar gun on Wada's fourth pitch of his outing and it clocked Wada's fastball at 94 mph, he did a double take. Wada, known in his native Japan more for his deceptive delivery and pinpoint control than any blistering fastballs, had already struck out Braves second baseman Martin Prado on three pitches.

Orioles left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada made his first major league Grapefruit League appearance, striking out three batters in two relief innings in a 2-2, 10-inning tie with the Braves at Champion Stadium at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. After entering the game in the sixth inning, Wada struck out Braves second baseman Martin Prado swinging on three pitches, fooling Prado with his change-up. He also struck out Dan Uggla looking to end the inning. “It being the first official spring training game for me, of course I was very glad to be ready to start,” Wada said through interpreter Danny McLeith.