Designated Hitter

Forget that he made three different stops in Baltimore. Or that in seven years of playing at Camden Yards he never wore a glove. Or that he was 34 and hobbled when he first joined the club. On Saturday night, former designated hitter Harold Baines will be enshrined in the Orioles Hall of Fame as its 46th member. The reason? "The guy could flat-out hit," said Brooks Robinson, a charter member of the Orioles Hall. Baines, who spent seven of his 22 years in the majors with the Orioles between 1993 and 2000, was to be honored today at a luncheon sponsored by the Oriole Advocates.

Sunday was another first for phenom catcher Matt Wieters: his first time as a big league designated hitter. "He did it in spring training, and he did it in the minor leagues," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said, "So I don't really see that it will be that big of a difference for him other than he's not putting the gear on." As the club's DH, Wieters was hitless in three at-bats Sunday - a pop-up, strikeout and groundout - giving him two hits in his first 11 major league plate appearances.

The Orioles got about the best news possible on the health of designated hitter Luke Scott, as a magnetic resonance imaging taken Monday revealed just a sprain in his left rotator cuff and not a tear as Scott had originally feared. "I'm very thankful," said Scott, who hurt his shoulder sliding back into first base to beat a pickoff throw in the first inning Sunday. "God answered my prayers, so I'm happy." With his arm in a sling, Scott acknowledged after Sunday's game that he was concerned the injury could keep him out for an extended period.

Report: Urine samples link Bonds to steroids baseball Federal prosecutors preparing for Barry Bonds' perjury trial are said to have evidence that links Bonds to the use of performance-enhancing drugs other than the "cream" and the "clear." A person who has reviewed the evidence told The New York Times that the authorities detected anabolic steroids in urine samples linked to Bonds that they gathered in connection with their investigation. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity.

LAS VEGAS - Former Orioles catcher Ramon Hernandez knew he would eventually be replaced by prospect Matt Wieters. He just didn't expect it to happen this soon. "I know they like that kid Wieters, and I know they want to make a role for him, but I was surprised because it was that quick," said Hernandez, whom the Orioles traded to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday for outfielder-utility man Ryan Freel and two prospects. "But it's good to make that move now rather than in the middle of the season.

Barring a roster move before tonight, manager Dave Trembley will be left with nobody on his bench when the Orioles resume their April 28 game against the Chicago White Sox that was suspended after the 11th inning. The game, which will start at 6:05 p.m. before the regularly scheduled three-game series opener, will pick up in the top of the 12th inning with the score tied at 3. The Orioles, considered the road team, will send Kevin Millar up to the plate first. "It would be to our benefit for Millar to go up there and hit one out," Trembley said, aware of his limited pitching and position-player options.

A recap of the Orioles' 5-4 victory over the Red Sox last night: GREAT SCOTT Luke Scott emerged from his slump in dramatic fashion, going 3-for-4 and hitting a three-run homer that gave the Orioles a 5-3 lead in the third inning. Scott began the night with only seven hits in his past 55 at-bats and only one extra-base hit since April 18. His only homer came April 8. But he singled off Red Sox starter Josh Beckett in the second inning, hit a 385-foot homer to right field in the third and singled again in the fifth - each time being serenaded with "Luuuke" by happy Orioles fans.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. -- Lineups in the American League always differ from National League lineups because they include the designated hitter, which eliminates the need for having the pitcher hit. But Orioles manager Dave Trembley was a pioneer of sorts yesterday. What he did for the second intrasquad game was unique, to say the least. Trembley didn't include a designated hitter on Gary Allenson's club, and he omitted a left fielder for Brad Komminsk's team. But he had his reasons. Trembley explained that outfielder Jay Payton left camp earlier with flulike symptoms, and that he wanted to rest the veterans who played in Tuesday's intrasquad game.

Further examination of Orioles third baseman Melvin Mora's left foot yesterday revealed a Grade I sprain that kept him out of last night's lineup and likely will force him onto the disabled list. Though not considered serious, the injury leaves the Orioles shorthanded and compels them to bring up a player from the minors to take Mora's place. Mora projected that he would miss at least a week even if he remained on the active roster. Team officials were considering their options last night.

Making his return to the Orioles' lineup for the first time in four days was apparently not enough to temper Jay Gibbons' emotions. In an interview before last night's series opener with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, an agitated Gibbons expressed frustration over his decreased role with the team, saying he doesn't understand his recent lack of playing time. "I've thought about it, and I can't even find an excuse why I haven't been in the lineup three days in a row or four out of the last five," Gibbons said.