Corey Patterson

Making good on the promise that changes would be made to the club's woeful offense, the Orioles demoted starting left fielder Nolan Reimold to Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday and replaced him with veteran outfielder Corey Patterson. "I was kind of surprised. I haven't been playing well, so it's understood. I have to go down and start hitting," Reimold said in a phone conversation with The Baltimore Sun on Wednesday afternoon. "It has just been frustrating. I haven't been playing the way I want to play, the way I know that I can play."

The Orioles promoted outfielder Corey Patterson from Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday because they were hoping his speed would jump-start a lineup that has been sputtering for weeks. With all due respect to Patterson, what the Orioles need even more is some of their lineup mainstays to start producing as they have in the past. Two of those players -- Adam Jones and Luke Scott -- had big nights offensively and starter Brad Bergesen continued to turn around his season as the Orioles broke a three-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners before an announced 11,448 who braved a persistent rain at Camden Yards.

How it happened: Orioles starter Brian Matusz had his first rough outing of the season, allowing six earned runs in just 3 2/3 innings. Minnesota scored three times in the third inning off Matusz and added another three runs in the fourth. That would be plenty for the Twins as the Orioles were shut down by starting pitcher Nick Blackburn. The offense managed just four hits against the right-hander, and a total of six for the game. It was the third time this season the Orioles have been blanked.

If the Orioles don't trade for a young center fielder in the coming weeks, they will likely turn their attention to last year's Opening Day starter, Corey Patterson. "I have had discussions with his representative, Scott Boras, and they are familiar with our interest," Orioles president Andy MacPhail said. "We have agreed we will touch base a little later." A month ago, it seemed unlikely Patterson, 28, would return to Baltimore. The Orioles hadn't pursued him, and a half-dozen teams were actively searching for a starting center fielder.

TORONTO -- Though Orioles officials say they won't have any announcements on coaching staff changes until the end of the season, they already know they'll have at least one vacancy to fill. First base coach and outfield instructor Sam Mejias, who was hired by former manager Sam Perlozzo, has informed team officials he's not interested in returning for a second season with the club. Mejias, 57, said he told manager Dave Trembley and the team's front office of his plans about a month ago. "My heart just wasn't into it, that's about it," said Mejias, admitting it was difficult for him after his friend Perlozzo was fired.

The stopper Jon Leicester hadn't made a start in more than two years before joining the rotation Saturday. He's riding a two-game winning streak. Leicester threw 5 2/3 shutout innings, allowing four hits, walking three and striking out one. Bench coach Tom Trebelhorn, serving as manager during Dave Trembley's three-game suspension, removed Leicester after 83 pitches. Jim Hoey entered the game and needed one pitch to strand two runners and preserve a 2-0 lead. No mismatch John Lackey, a 16-game winner and Cy Young candidate, figured to mow down an Orioles lineup that was missing Brian Roberts, Miguel Tejada, Ramon Hernandez, Melvin Mora and Corey Patterson - the last two because of injuries.

Only here Where else can a team be credited with a home run when a ball hits a "C ring" above the outfield? Carlos Pena set the Devil Rays' single-season home run record with a two-run shot in the seventh that broke a 4-4 tie. His homer, off reliever Jim Hoey, struck one of the circular catwalks inside Tropicana Field as right fielder Nick Markakis tried to camp under the ball near the wall. He played the carom and threw toward the infield, but Pena recorded his 35th homer. It's a start Never before had left-hander Kurt Birkins started a major league game until last night, but it probably felt like a long relief outing.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Corey Patterson's recent surge has helped energize the Orioles' offense. Has it also improved his chances of getting re-signed by the club? Patterson will be a free agent after this season, and the Orioles still haven't made a decision on his long-term future, according to multiple team sources. But if the 27-year-old center fielder wants to return for a third season with the Orioles - and he says he definitely would like to explore it - he hasn't hurt his cause over the past month.

Poll results It was tight all week, but closer Chris Ray pulled out a save at the end. Last week, we asked which Oriole was most primed for a bounce-back second half. And, with more than 5,000 responses, Ray nipped Corey Patterson and Aubrey Huff in our closest vote yet. The results: Chris Ray, 26.3 percent (1,315 votes) Corey Patterson, 25.4 percent (1,272 votes) Aubrey Huff, 22.7 percent (1,135 votes) Danys Baez, 11.5 percent (575 votes) Jay Gibbons, 8.1 percent (407 votes) Daniel Cabrera 6.0 percent (300 votes)

Corey Patterson, Orioles outfielder What baseball brawl do you remember most? I guess last year between the Cubs and the White Sox with [A.J.] Pierzynski and [Michael] Barrett. That was a pretty big one. ... I didn't think Michael was going to hit A.J. and he did. More so you see what happened with us [on Monday], but that one turned into a real fight.