Nate Robertson

Ramon Hernandez finds himself in an unusual position. On one hand, the Orioles' new catcher has drawn nothing but praise from the club's coaches and pitchers. They say he's exceptionally attentive to the details of calling pitches, providing a stable target and controlling base runners. He has been among the team's best hitters to boot with a .302 average, four homers and 20 RBIs. Tigers@O's Tonight, 7:05, Comcast SportsNet, 1090 AM Starters: Tigers' Nate Robertson (3-2, 3.25) vs. O's Daniel Cabrera (2-2, 4.73)

SEATTLE — Several years ago, on a typically raw winter's night in Detroit, Nate Robertson and his wife, Kristin, were warm and comfortable, sitting in an upscale restaurant waiting for friends to arrive. At that moment they were a world away from the pain and suffering that was hitting their depressed city, two of the lucky people in a suddenly unlucky town. But outside the restaurant that night, Nate saw a homeless woman peering through the window. Unlike most people, he didn't look away.

At Oriole Park at Camden Yards Day Time TV Starters Tonight 7:05 CSN Jason Johnson (1-1, 6.43) vs. Erik Bedard (0-0, 1.50) Tomorrow 7:05 Ch. 54 Nate Robertson (0-1, 3.75) vs. Sidney Ponson (1-1, 13.50) Radio: Both games on WBAL (1090 AM) Tigers update The Tigers (5-7) have won two straight after ending a five-game skid with a victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday. After facing the New York Yankees' Mike Mussina and Kevin Brown on Saturday and Sunday, the Orioles will oppose a former member of the organization in Johnson tonight for a third straight game.

DETROIT - Sitting in front of his locker this week, Melvin Mora downplayed his offensive surge after the All-Star break. He maintained that he wasn't doing anything differently. He insisted that he had been swinging the bat just as well in the first half, only his luck, as well as his health, had improved. In fact, Mora, 36, was feeling so good that day that he told a reporter he wanted to play until he was 50, and then scoffed when that suggestion was met with laughter. There is no disputing that Mora looks like a different - and more energized - player these days.

Detroit Tigers@Orioles Day ........................... Time ......... TV .......................................... Starters Tonight ..................... 7:05 ....... CSN ............. Nate Robertson (3-2, 3.25) ........................................................................ vs. Daniel Cabrera (2-2, 4.73) Tomorrow ............... 7:05 ........ CSN ............ Justin Verlander (3-3, 3.68) ......................................................................... vs. Rodrigo Lopez (1-4, 6.75)

DETROIT -- If Hayden Penn could just get through a couple of consecutive scoreless innings, Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo thinks things could be different. But with each big inning by the opposition, each slow walk off the mound to the backdrop of a lopsided scoreboard, Penn's confidence takes another hit. Does it behoove the Orioles to keep sending their 21-year-old pitching prospect to the mound? That will be a question Perlozzo and pitching coach Leo Mazzone will answer in the coming days.

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. -- Though nobody in the visiting clubhouse was saying it, the psyche of top pitching prospect Hayden Penn yesterday afternoon was probably more important for the Orioles than anything else that went on at a mostly empty Tropicana Field. So on a day when the Orioles lost, falling, 4-2, to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and failing to secure a three-game series sweep, Penn's performance made the defeat a little easier to accept. Pounded for a total of 22 runs in his first three starts this season, Penn pitched well, surrendering two earned runs and five hits over a season-high 6 2/3 innings.

Those left of the sold-out crowd started standing before Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo even reached the pitching mound yesterday. When Daniel Cabrera finally gave up the ball he so masterfully worked around the strike zone on this cold afternoon, the applause grew louder until the 6-foot-7 pitcher disappeared into the home dugout at Camden Yards. After Hall of Famer-elect Cal Ripken Jr. threw out the game's first pitch and after all the pomp and circumstance was over, Cabrera became the star attraction in the 54th home opener in Baltimore.

A recap of the Orioles' 11-6 win over the Indians last night: MONTANEZ DELIVERS TWICE Given the start with a left-hander on the mound for Cleveland, rookie outfielder Lou Montanez delivered, offensively and defensively. In the fourth inning, he made a diving catch on Asdrubal Cabrera's sinking line drive in shallow left center field. At the plate, he singled in the fourth inning and then drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning with a double to right-center field off reliever Rafael Perez.

Walks again doom Orioles Walking the leadoff guy is never recommended, especially in a tie game in the eighth inning. Orioles setup man Danys Baez did it, and it came back to cost the Orioles the game. Baez issued a four-pitch walk to Carlos Guillen, who scored the go-ahead run on pinch hitter Sean Casey's single under the outstretched glove of third baseman Melvin Mora. Placido Polanco added a run-scoring infield single off Baez in the inning, and the Orioles were beaten again.

Orioles@Detroit Tigers Day ........................ Time ....................... TV .................................... Starters Tonight .................7:05 ................... MASN ....... Daniel Cabrera (1-2, 4.09 ERA) ........................................ .......................................vs. Jeremy Bonderman (0-0, 3.18 ERA) Tomorrow ............ 7:05 ................ MASN .............. Adam Loewen (2-0, 3.20 ERA) ........................................ ............

Those left of the sold-out crowd started standing before Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo even reached the pitching mound yesterday. When Daniel Cabrera finally gave up the ball he so masterfully worked around the strike zone on this cold afternoon, the applause grew louder until the 6-foot-7 pitcher disappeared into the home dugout at Camden Yards. After Hall of Famer-elect Cal Ripken Jr. threw out the game's first pitch and after all the pomp and circumstance was over, Cabrera became the star attraction in the 54th home opener in Baltimore.

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. -- Though nobody in the visiting clubhouse was saying it, the psyche of top pitching prospect Hayden Penn yesterday afternoon was probably more important for the Orioles than anything else that went on at a mostly empty Tropicana Field. So on a day when the Orioles lost, falling, 4-2, to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and failing to secure a three-game series sweep, Penn's performance made the defeat a little easier to accept. Pounded for a total of 22 runs in his first three starts this season, Penn pitched well, surrendering two earned runs and five hits over a season-high 6 2/3 innings.