Kris Benson

Things are looking up for the Orioles: The team won its first game, and yesterday Anna Benson -- wife of pitcher Kris Benson -- announced she was withdrawing her petition for divorce. Anna Benson, lovingly referred to as an "ex-stripper-turned-model" by the media, filed for divorce Friday from her husband of seven years. But through her publicist yesterday, Benson said she "expresses her love for her husband and her sincere desire to reconcile their marriage." Her lawyer, Jeffrey B. Bogart of Atlanta, said he filed papers yesterday to dismiss the divorce petition.

Quote: "I've been around long enough to know that you don't throw an inside fastball in that situation. I kind of left it out over the plate."-- Reds starter Steve Avery on Stan Javier's homer in the eighth that started the Giants' rally.It's a fact: The Mets' Rickey Henderson, who hit two homers yesterday, has 2,019 runs scored in his career, sixth best all-time.Who's hot: The Giants scored 26 runs on 33 hits with five homers in the three-game series with the Reds.Who's not: The Pirates' Pete Schourek, who had a 9.23 spring ERA,lost the strike zone after retiring the first eight Expos and quickly gave up two runs on four straight hits.

He made the most anticipated first start for an Orioles prospect in more than a decade last night. It started with Nick Markakis showcasing his patience and ended with the 22-year-old flexing his power. Markakis' 402-foot eighth-inning homer, his first major league hit, capped the Orioles' 16-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays before an announced crowd of 16,083 at a chilly Camden Yards. Devil Rays@Orioles Tonight, 7:05, Comcast SportsNet, 1090 AM Starters: Devil Rays' Mark Hendrickson (11-8, 5.90 in '05)

Kris Benson wasn't distracted by wife Anna's indecision concerning their divorce. He turned in a quality start in his Orioles debut: seven innings, four hits, two runs, three walks, three strikeouts. He threw 96 pitches, 53 for strikes. The best start of the season by an Orioles pitcher, and it results in their first loss. But isn't that always the way? A team scores 16 runs one night and does nothing the next. Happens over and over. Save a little for the next night's game. Did you hear that Washington's Jose Guillen charged New York Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez last night?

The Orioles are facing some fairly dangerous lineups these days. But they've looked more than a tad potent themselves. After an 18-9 win over the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night, the Orioles came back with a 9-4 victory over the Indians yesterday afternoon before 22,031 at Camden Yards. Orioles@Yankees Tonight, 7:05, Comcast SportsNet, 1090 AM Starters: Orioles' Kris Benson (1-2, 3.32) vs. Yankees' Chien-Ming Wang (1-0, 4.08)

Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo has given his relievers plenty of chances, shrugging off their frequent failures and often sending them to the mound for another outing, sometimes even the following day. But somewhere late in last night's 9-7 loss to Toronto, in which Troy Glaus had two home runs and the bullpen suffered its latest meltdown before 14,315 at Camden Yards, Perlozzo and Orioles officials finally ran out of patience. Blue Jays@Orioles Tonight, 7:05, Comcast SportsNet, 1090 AM Starters: Blue Jays' Casey Janssen (0-1, 4.50)

The impetus for Brandon Fahey's game-winning hit last night actually occurred in the sixth inning, when the second baseman struck out against Kansas City Royals left-hander Andrew Sisco with a chance to give the Orioles a lead. Still contemplating the four-pitch at-bat on the bench two innings later, Fahey got a visit from hitting coach Terry Crowley, who had specific instructions if the rookie got up in the eighth. Royals@Orioles Today, 4:35 p.m., Ch. 13, 1090 AM Starters: Royals' Mark Redman (0-2, 5.76)

The eighth-inning sequence symbolized the most dominating night of Erik Bedard's career. After retiring 11 straight Florida Marlins, the Orioles pitcher allowed an infield single and then hit Jeremy Hermida with a 3-0 pitch. For the first time all game against Bedard, the Marlins had a runner in scoring position. Bedard responded by striking out Miguel Olivo, who flailed at a curveball. Then, it was Chris Aguila's turn to swing through another curveball. Finally, with a good portion of the crowd of 16,135 standing, Bedard fanned Reggie Abercrombie on an outside fastball, his catcher Ramon Hernandez pumping his fist on the way to the dugout.

Amid reports that Miguel Tejada could be headed out of town, the man who signed the shortstop to a $72 million deal before the 2004 season said the All-Star is not going anywhere. "The Orioles have no interest in trading Miguel Tejada," said Orioles principal owner Peter Angelos. "He is an exciting and exceptional athlete and a great baseball player." Phillies @Orioles Day-night doubleheader, today, 1:35 p.m. and 7:05 p.m., Comcast SportsNet, 1090 AM Starters: Phillies' Cole Hamels (1-3, 4.41)

In a quiet home clubhouse at Camden Yards, Orioles pitcher Daniel Cabrera sat despondently, his head in his hands, his eyes fixated on the floor. The Orioles were hoping that the start of the season's second half would provide a clean slate, a chance to forget about all that ailed them. However, a three-day layoff didn't magically cure the Orioles' myriad problems, Cabrera now being chief among them. It did, however, work wonders for Severna Park native Mark Teixeira's home run swing. Rangers @Orioles Tonight, 7:05, Comcast SportsNet, 1090 AM Starters: Rangers' Kevin Millwood (8-5, 4.83)