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The Orioles are back in Baltimore and will begin a seven-game homestand tonight with the opening game of three against the Oakland A’s.   First pitch is slated for 7:05pm at what is sure to be a sweltering night at Oriole Park.  Brian Roberts, after being held out of Sunday’s lineup with a bruised shin, is back in his familiar lead-off spot and will man second-base, while Aubrey Huff will at least start his night on Dave Trembley’s bench.

Following their 2-5 roadtrip in Detroit and Toronto last week, the O’s will send Jeremy Guthrie to the bump with his 7-11 record and 5.28 ERA.  In his last outing five nights ago, Guthrie was out-dueled by Edwin Jackson of the Tigers and was the hard-luck loser in the eventual 5-3 Detroit win.  He featured not only some of his best stuff on the year but also exhibited decent command in his seven-plus innings, something which has eluded him for good sized stretches the season.

The A.L. West’s last place Oakland A’s will have 24-year old rookie Gio Gonzalez on the hill this evening.  Gonzalez has pitched to a 3-2 record with an ERA above six in his 10 appearances.  Though it should be noted, he is coming off perhaps the best start of his young career, when he shutout the Texas Rangers over 6.1 innings last Tuesday.

Here are the game’s starting sides:

Orioles

Brian Roberts - 2B
Nolan Reimold - LF
Adam Jones - CF
Nick Markakis - RF
Ty Wigginton - 1B
Luke Scott - DH
Melvin Mora - 3B
Matt Wieters - C
Cesar Izturis - SS

A’s

Adam Kennedy - 3B
Rajai Davis - CF
Scott Hairston - LF
Jack Cust - DH
Kurt Suzuki - C
Tommy Everidge - 1B
Ryan Sweeney - RF
Mark Ellis - 2B
Cliff Pennington - SS