Pittsburgh Pirates

The Orioles announced Friday that right-handed reliever Preston Guilmet, who was designated for assignment off the 40-man roster Saturday to make room for infielder Alexi Casilla, has been traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash considerations. Guilmet, acquired in a minor league trade with the Cleveland Indians in April, was shuttled between the major leagues and Triple-A Norfolk frequently this season, making 10 appearances with the Orioles and 40 for the Tides. He allowed six earned runs and eight hits in 10 1/3 innings in the majors.

The Orioles announced Friday that right-handed reliever Preston Guilmet, who was designated for assignment off the 40-man roster Saturday to make room for infielder Alexi Casilla, has been traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash considerations. Guilmet, acquired in a minor league trade with the Cleveland Indians in April, was shuttled between the major leagues and Triple-A Norfolk frequently this season, making 10 appearances with the Orioles and 40 for the Tides. He allowed six earned runs and eight hits in 10 1/3 innings in the majors.

PITTSBURGH -- Before Orioles slugger Chris Davis left for PNC Park on Tuesday, he made a proclamation to his wife. Davis was giving himself a mulligan for the first seven weeks of the season. “I told Jill, I'm just going to start over. I'm going to start the season over today,” Davis said. “And that's kind of what I did.” After striking out in the first and hitting a single in the fourth, Davis' 2014 officially began again with a flourish -- three home runs in his next three at-bats against three different pitchers as the Orioles battered the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9-2, before an announced 22,787.

Faced with Friday's early afternoon playoff game, school officials and business owners in the Baltimore area are preparing for a day of empty classrooms and vacant work spaces. Sort of. "I don't know how big the number is, but there will definitely be some kids out," predicted Gilman School Headmaster Henry Smyth, himself an Orioles fan with tickets for Friday's game who faced the quandary of what to do. He and his two boys will not be going to the game, Smyth said. But he understands if some parents decide to make baseball the priority.

PITTSBURGH -- The skies were overcast, and so were the Pittsburgh Pirates' fans after the Cincinnati Reds hit two home runs and scored a 6-3 victory at Three Rivers Stadium.Cincinnati leads the best-of-seven series, 2-1."Zane [Smith] only really had bad location on a couple o pitches," said Pirates center fielder Andy Van Slyke. "And they went to a bad place . . . It's called the seats."Home runs by Billy Hatcher and Mariano Duncan were all th Nasty Boys needed to clinch the Reds' fifth victory in seven games in Pittsburgh this season.

Baseball Atlanta Braves -- Agreed to terms with OF Tommy Gregg (major-league highs of 18 pinch hits and 17 pinch RBI) on 1-year contract.Houston Astros -- Agreed to terms with SS Eric Yelding (.254 with 64 steals) on 1-year contract.Montreal Expos -- Signed P Bob McDonald.New York Yankees -- Renewed the contract of 3B Randy Velarde (.210, 5 HRs, 19 RBI).Philadelphia Phillies -- Agreed to terms with OF Wes Chamberlain (.283 in 46 at-bats) and 3B Charlie Hayes (.258, 10, 57) on 1-year contracts.

BASEBALL American League * New York Yankees -- Named Daniel McCarthy general partner.National League * Pittsburgh Pirates -- Signed Bob Walk (pitcher) to a two-year contract.FOOTBALL (NFL) * San Diego Chargers -- Named Bobby Ross coach.

Jim Leyland, who managed the Pittsburgh Pirates to their third consecutive National League East title in 1992, was named NL Manager of the Year yesterday.Article, 10B

BaseballPittsburgh Pirates -- Signed CF Andy Van Slyke to a three-year contract extension worth $12.65 million.BasketballOrlando Magic -- Signed G Scott Skiles to a multiyear contract.CollegesIllinois -- Named Cleve Bryant offensive coordinator.Indiana -- Named Clarence M. Doninger director of athletics.North Texas -- Extended the contract of men's basketball coach Jimmy Gales through the 1992-93 season.

BaseballMinnesota Twins -- Placed IF Scott Leius on the 15-day DL. Recalled P George Tsamis from Triple-A Portland.Pittsburgh Pirates -- Placed P John Candelaria on the 15-day DL. Recalled P Rich Robertson from Triple-A Buffalo.St. Louis Cardinals -- Sent OF Brian Jordan (Milford Mill) to Triple-A Louisville. Recalled IF Stan Royer from Louisville.

I remember back in October 1979 when a popular morning disc jockey in Baltimore was crowing after the Orioles were up three games to one in the World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He dedicated the Eagles' “Heartache Tonight,” to Pittsburgh Pirates fans on the morning of Game 5. We all know how that worked out. So I'm not here to be a premature bartender. If you believe in jinxes, just nod politely and move to the end of the bar and I'll talk to everyone else.

PITTSBURGH -- Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman said he wasn't fatigued Wednesday night in the Orioles' 9-8 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates after throwing 117 pitches and notching his first major league shutout last Friday in Kansas City. Tillman said he had no problem with a groin that had bothered him earlier this month or any physical malady that he could use as an excuse for his disaster of an outing Wednesday. No excuses, he said. He was just bad. “Coming off a good [start]

PITTSBURGH -- Before Orioles slugger Chris Davis left for PNC Park on Tuesday, he made a proclamation to his wife. Davis was giving himself a mulligan for the first seven weeks of the season. “I told Jill, I'm just going to start over. I'm going to start the season over today,” Davis said. “And that's kind of what I did.” After striking out in the first and hitting a single in the fourth, Davis' 2014 officially began again with a flourish -- three home runs in his next three at-bats against three different pitchers as the Orioles battered the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9-2, before an announced 22,787.

Maryland ace Jake Stinnett made a $70,000 gamble with his baseball career last summer, when he turned down the Pittsburgh Pirates' bid to sign him as a 29th-round draft pick and returned for his senior season. The downside was minimal. Falter as a senior, and he'd begin the same climb from anonymity to the big leagues as he would have in the Pirates system, only one year later. The upside for both team and player has proven greater. Stinnett will take the ball Thursday in the Terps ' opening round game against No. 3 seed Virginia in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Greensboro, N.C. It's Maryland's first appearance in the ACC tourney since 2005.

BRADENTON, Fla. -- David Lough is on the travel roster and said he expects to play a little bit tonight against the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field. It has been more than a week since he has been on a field due to a stiff neck and potential concussion symptoms that included dizziness and floaters in his eyes. “I'm just trying to get comfortable again before we break here. It feels like forever I haven't played,” said Lough, who was scratched from playing last Friday and hasn't been in the lineup since then.

BRADENTON, Fla. -- The competition for the reserve catcher role may not be the most compelling story in spring training for the Orioles, but it was very much on display in Monday's 7-6 victory over the host Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field. Steve Clevenger got the hot-hitting Orioles offense started in the second inning with a leadoff home run, and Johnny Monell entered later and delivered the game-winning single in the eighth to give the Orioles their seventh straight Grapefruit League victory.

The Orioles' 2014 regular season schedule was released Tuesday afternoon and it includes the club opening the season at home against the Boston Red Sox on March 31. After opening the season at Camden Yards against the Red Sox on March 31 and April 2-3, the Orioles will play their first road series against the Detroit Tigers from April 4-6. The Orioles will then travel to Yankee Stadium for the New York Yankees' first home series from April 7-9....

Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz, competing for the fifth starter's spot, took a step backward Sunday, allowing five runs in four innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Matusz was staked an 8-0 lead in the first inning, but allowed two runs in the first on an Andrew McCutchen homer and two more in the third on RBIs by Gaby Sanchez and Neil Walker. Overall, he gave up nine hits and a walk while striking out two. He threw 67 pitches, 46 for strikes. “Just went out there, never found a rhythm and didn't pitch well,” said Matusz, who now has a 4.26 ERA in six spring games (four starts)