John Parrish

John Parrish, Orioles reliever What's considered a fun night in Lancaster County, Pa.? "I don't go out in Lancaster. I don't really do anything up there anymore. I just hang out and barbecue somewhere."

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -It seemed like a simple enough equation when the Orioles opened spring training. Manager Dave Trembley could whittle the major league pitching staff down to 12 by Opening Day or keep an extra pitcher and go with only three extra position players on the bench. Three weeks into camp, there's nothing simple about it. The pitching situation is far from shaking out, and there are plenty of viable utility players trying to force their way into the coaching staff's consciousness.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. -- John Parrish is trying to squeeze into the Orioles' crowded bullpen after missing last season because of another elbow surgery. Jamie Walker is assured of being one of the left-handers, leaving Parrish to vie with Kurt Birkins and Brian Burres. He remains confident he'll accompany the team north despite not pitching in the majors since June 2005. How good are your chances of making the club? -- Very good, very good. I worked on slowing everything down, and I've been throwing a lot of strikes.

WIETERS CLUTCH AGAIN Top prospect Matt Wieters came up in the ninth inning with a chance to break up a combined no-hit bid by the Minnesota Twins, and he delivered again with a sharp grounder through the middle of the infield for the Orioles' only hit at Fort Lauderdale Stadium. Just the day before, Wieters came up with a chance to tie the score against the Florida Marlins with two outs in the ninth and delivered a similar knock through the infield to send the game into extra innings. "It's always fun to be able to produce," Wieters said.

FORT MYERS, FLA. -- Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo still hasn't decided whether he can afford the luxury of carrying two left-handed relievers in his bullpen this season. If Jamie Walker is deemed sufficient, Perlozzo most likely will choose among Todd Williams, Jeremy Guthrie and Rob Bell for the two available openings. Otherwise, John Parrish or Kurt Birkins could be the second left-hander. Dodgers@Orioles Today, 1:05 p.m., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Fri Blue Jays, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 Starters: Blue Jays' Scott Richmond (0-3, 5.14) vs. Chris Waters (3-4, 5.06) After a day off, Waters will make his final start of the season and second against Toronto. He threw a shutout against the Blue Jays on Sept. 16. Richmond has never faced the Orioles. DAN CONNOLLY Sat Blue Jays, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 Starters: Blue Jays' John Parrish (1-0, 4.10) vs. TBA Sun Blue Jays, 1:35 p.m., MASN2 Starters: Blue Jays' TBA vs. Jeremy Guthrie (10-11, 3.57)

Sat Blue Jays, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 Starters: Blue Jays' John Parrish (1-0, 4.10) vs. Brian Bass (3-4, 5.08) Bass (left) makes his third appearance and his second start against the Blue Jays. He didn't fare well in his most recent appearance against them Sept. 17, when he allowed five runs in 4 1/3 innings. Parrish, a former Oriole, is 0-0 with a 3.60 ERA in two games, one start, vs. his former team. Dan Connolly Sun Blue Jays, 1:35 p.m., MASN2 Starters: Blue Jays' Jesse Litsch (12-9, 3.67)

On July 28, 2006, STACY, devoted fiance of Rod Vanells, daughter of Gary Hill, of Forest Hill, MD and the late Trena Hill Swanson of Santa Rosa, CA; dearly beloved by her grandparents Thor and Winifred Swanson of Santa Rosa, Ca; loving niece of Tom and Muriel Parrish, Carl and Darlene Swanson; cousin of John Parrish, Julie, Brandon, Daniel and Mandy; future mother-in-law of Lorraine Vanells; also survived by other relatives and friends. Friends may call at the family owned PAUL STELLA FUNERAL HOME P.A., 7527 Harford Rd., (410)

"Limburger cheese" -- UP -- Trade offers that smelled last Tuesday night took on a sweeter fragrance to Syd Thrift by the weekend. Bye bye, Bordick, Timlin, Baines and C.J. The peasants won't storm the Bastille - for now. The Oak Tree -- UP -- Ray Miller doesn't have Mike Hargrove's resume or clubhouse rapport. But he'll tell you his teams didn't have this record, either. Albert Belle -- DOWN -- How badly is Belle's left leg hurting? One hundred and seven homer-less at-bats and a hand-timed 4.85-second jog to first on Wednesday's first-inning double play suggest a problem.

At Comiskey Park, Chicago Day ................Time ........TV............ Starters Tonight ............8:05 ........HTS ....... John Parrish (2-1, 4.40) vs. ............................................... Sean Lowe (3-1, 6.46) Tomorrow ..........2:05 ......54, 50 .......Pat Rapp (6-10, 6.00) vs. .................................................undecided Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM) White Sox update Chicago split a four-game home series with Tampa Bay after dropping the past two games.

The Orioles had been down this road before, the nightmare of being the only franchise besides the long-scattered Cleveland Spiders to have dropped almost half a month of games to end the season. Hours after their boss said this lost year wasn't as bad as he expected it to be, the Orioles sidestepped infamy and broke a 10-game losing streak thanks to an unrelenting rain and a pitcher trying to make a splash. Rookie Brian Bass pitched six strong innings, and the Orioles caught a break when their 2-1 game was called because of rain with a Toronto runner on second and nobody out in the top of the seventh and much of the announced crowd of 18,378 under cover.

Sat Blue Jays, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 Starters: Blue Jays' John Parrish (1-0, 4.10) vs. Brian Bass (3-4, 5.08) Bass (left) makes his third appearance and his second start against the Blue Jays. He didn't fare well in his most recent appearance against them Sept. 17, when he allowed five runs in 4 1/3 innings. Parrish, a former Oriole, is 0-0 with a 3.60 ERA in two games, one start, vs. his former team. Dan Connolly Sun Blue Jays, 1:35 p.m., MASN2 Starters: Blue Jays' Jesse Litsch (12-9, 3.67)

Fri Blue Jays, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 Starters: Blue Jays' Scott Richmond (0-3, 5.14) vs. Chris Waters (3-4, 5.06) After a day off, Waters will make his final start of the season and second against Toronto. He threw a shutout against the Blue Jays on Sept. 16. Richmond has never faced the Orioles. DAN CONNOLLY Sat Blue Jays, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 Starters: Blue Jays' John Parrish (1-0, 4.10) vs. TBA Sun Blue Jays, 1:35 p.m., MASN2 Starters: Blue Jays' TBA vs. Jeremy Guthrie (10-11, 3.57)

A recap of the Orioles' 9-8 loss to the Blue Jays last night: Batting around again For the second consecutive game, the Toronto Blue Jays batted around in an inning. Last night, they sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs, the most the Jays have scored in one inning this season. It was the second time the Orioles allowed seven runs in an inning, the first coming against the Kansas City Royals on July 3. Markakis still streaking Nick Markakis kept his career-best hitting streak alive at 16 with a single in the fourth.

The day started with news that Chris Gomez and John Parrish, two well-liked veterans, had been moved to teams fully immersed in pennant races. The Orioles who remained said their goodbyes, left to avoid another late-season swoon without two players who occupied key roles for them at different parts of the season. The sentimentality was pushed aside by the time Daniel Cabrera threw the first pitch against the Seattle Mariners last night, eventually giving way to a cruel reversal that hit the team's most accomplished player the hardest.

PEAVY PROVES TOUGH San Diego ace right-hander Jake Peavy, who entered the game 5-0 with a 1.65 ERA in his past eight starts, shut out the Orioles for five innings while the Padres built a 5-0 lead. But the Orioles got to him for three runs in the sixth on Miguel Tejada's RBI single and Melvin Mora's single that scored two runs because of third baseman Chase Headley's throwing error. However, with the bases loaded and two outs, Peavy struck out catcher Paul Bako to end the inning. TRACHSEL STRUGGLES It was a bad omen when Steve Trachsel loaded the bases without recording an out in the first inning, though he got out of the jam with a strikeout and a double play.

The day started with news that Chris Gomez and John Parrish, two well-liked veterans, had been moved to teams fully immersed in pennant races. The Orioles who remained said their goodbyes, left to avoid another late-season swoon without two players who occupied key roles for them at different parts of the season. The sentimentality was pushed aside by the time Daniel Cabrera threw the first pitch against the Seattle Mariners last night, eventually giving way to a cruel reversal that hit the team's most accomplished player the hardest.

Brad Penny pitched three perfect innings, and the Florida Marlins avenged Thursday's loss to the Orioles with a 6-0 victory at Roger Dean Stadium. Omar Daal allowed run-scoring doubles to Luis Castillo and Miguel Cabrera in the first inning, and a sacrifice fly by Jeff Conine increased the lead to 3-0. Castillo added a run-scoring single in the second. Daal was charged with four runs and seven hits in two innings. "The feeling with all my pitches, I know I am going to get it and I know it has to be soon, because I want to be in the starting rotation," Daal said.