BALTIMORE — Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts will begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment on Wednesday, a significant step in his bid to return from a concussion that has kept him sidelined for more than a year. Randy Moss Jersey . Roberts, 34, last played in a baseball game on May 16, 2011. Since that time, the two-time All-Star has languished on the disabled list. Although hes taken batting practice and fielded grounders with the Orioles, playing in a game — albeit one with Double-A Bowie — is a far more legitimate test of his readiness to return to the big leagues. Asked to describe his emotions, Roberts said Tuesday, “Excited. Scared. A little bit of everything. Its been a long time coming, for sure.” Roberts will travel to nearby Bowie for a game against Richmond on Wednesday night. His minor league rehabilitation assignment can last no longer than 20 days. “Im pretty sure well use the 20,” he said. “Its been over a year and I need to get some at-bats.” The plan is take it slowly at first and gradually pick up the pace. “I need to get in there and see some pitches,” he said. “The first few days, the first week, its going to be two at-bats a day. Its going to take a little while to get built up to play every day on a back-to-back situation.” Roberts played in only 59 games in 2010 before going on the DL with a concussion. He returned last year, but was shelved after participating in only 39 games. He compared this comeback to 2006, when he returned from elbow surgery to play in 138 games. “Seven years ago, I had apprehension that, even though the doctors and everyone told me I was ready, that I was OK, that it wasnt going to happen,” he said. “Youre still scared. Thats just the nature of going back out to a competitive environment when youve been hurt. Hopefully, once I get on the field and the first pitch is thrown, Ill just be playing baseball again.” There were times over the past year when Roberts wondered if he would ever feel right again, let alone play baseball. “When theres days you are laying on the couch and can barely function, youre not even thinking about baseball,” he said. “There were days that (baseball) never even crossed my mind, I was just trying to get back to a normal life. And then, as we continued to progress, I still had doubts about playing baseball. I had more confidence in being able to live a productive and enjoyable life. Now Im beginning to think that playing baseball at a high level is a reality.” Michael Vick Jersey . But Ryder Hesjedal has plenty of other things on his mind. Coming off his Giro dItalia victory last month, Hesjedal is currently in Spain, preparing for the 2012 Tour de France. Steve Largent Jersey . Zambrano homered and pitched into the eighth inning, and Hanley Ramirez went deep, too, leading the Miami Marlins to a 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday. Alex Smith Jersey . Hit a game-ending homer, circle the bases, get mobbed by teammates. Frank Gore Jersey . Blair Jones, acquired six days ago, scored his first goal in a Flames uniform in overtime and Miikka Kiprusoff made 23 saves as Calgary beat the Anaheim Ducks 1-0 Thursday night. Kiprusoff improved to 20-14-2 on the season and earns his third shutout of the season and 43rd of his career, tying him for 27th on the all-time list with Lorne (Gump) Worsley. Justin Smith Jersey . Taiwans actor and musician Jay Chou arrives at a news conference to promote his movie The Curse of the Golden Flower in Tokyo February 11, 2008. [Agencies] Li Liya, a teacher with the institute, told China Daily yesterday Chou accepted the offer on Sunday when he met more than 1,000 students at the school. SAN FRANCISCO — Matt Cain pitched the 22nd perfect game in major league history and first for the Giants, striking out a career-high 14 and getting help from two spectacular catches to beat the Houston Astros 10-0 on Wednesday night. Cains 125-pitch masterpiece for San Francisco featured a pair of great plays by his corner outfielders, and he got pinch-hitter Jason Castro on a grounder to third for his 27th and final out with the sellout crowd of 42,298 roaring. At a ballpark where Barry Bonds made home run history, Cain produced the signature moment for pitchers. Left fielder Melky Cabrera chased down Chris Snyders one-out flyball in the sixth, scurrying back to make a leaping catch at the wall. Cain raised both arms and slapped his glove in delight when Cabrera made the play. Then, right fielder Gregor Blanco ran into deep right-centre to make a diving catch on the warning track and rob Jordan Schafer for the first out of the seventh. The 27-year-old pitcher hugged Blanco in the dugout after the inning. “Those were unbelievable catches,” Cain said. “I mean that right there, that changes the whole thing.” Phillip Humber of the Chicago White Sox tossed the majors last perfecto at Seattle on April 21. This is the second time in three years there have been two perfect games in the same season — before that, the only other time it happened was in 1880. Cain (8-2) accomplished a feat even Hall of Famers Gaylord Perry and Juan Marichal couldnt with this storied franchise. It was the fifth no-hitter already this season, and the third in June. Johan Santana tossed the New York Mets first no-hitter on June 1 and six Seattle pitchers shut down the Los Angeles Dodgers last Friday. Jered Weaver had one for the Los Angeles Angels on May 2. The Astros were no-hit for the fifth time and first since Carlos Zambrano did so for the Cubs on Sept. 14, 2008. The Giants made a big commitment to Cain this spring, locking him up for a long haul — and he showed exactly why general manager Brian Sabean has vowed to keep his talented pitchers. In a week when the citys attention turned to golf and the U.S. Open, Cain delivered his most impressive gem yet in his 216th career start. The 125 ppitches were the most ever thrown in a perfect game. Darren Sproles Jersey. The two-time All-Star who had long been the Giants starter who endured a lack of run support already was rewarded with a new $127.5 million, six-year contract in early April before the season started. This certainly meant as much or more to the homegrown pitcher. Cain threw 86 of his pitches for strikes, faced just four full counts and still clocked 90 mph in the ninth. Cain followed up Madison Bumgarners 12-strikeout gem in Tuesday nights 6-3 win. It was the first no-hitter since departed left-hander Jonathan Sanchez pitched the Giants last one on July 10, 2009, against the Padres at AT&T Park. The Astros were no-hit by the Giants for the second time. Marichal did it on June 15, 1963. Catcher Buster Posey rushed the mound as Cain raised his arm. His teammates jumped the dugout rail as the final out was made, a moment reminiscent of that improbable World Series championship in 2010 at Texas. “I cant thank Buster enough,” Cain said. “I didnt even question once what he was calling.” Cains wife, Chelsea, fought tears when shown in the stands as the celebration began, then made her way to the dugout for a congratulatory hug and kiss. Cain had come close already this season — not once, but twice. In his second start of the year, in the teams home opener April 13, he one-hit the Pirates in a 5-0 win, then allowed only two hits over nine innings in the Giants 11-inning, 1-0 win over Cliff Lee and the Phillies. The Giants produced their first back-to-back 10-strikeout performances by one pitcher since 1978. On May 17, 1978, Vida Blue fanned 11 against the Cubs, then after an off day, John Montefusco struck out 10 at Los Angeles. Cabrera, Brandon Belt and Blanco all hit two-run homers and the Giants produced an offensive outburst rarely seen at home this season and rarely seen on nights Cain has pitched. On this night, he threw nine of his initial 11 pitches for strikes, commanding his repertoire with a dazzling fastball. Cain, who hit one drive into McCovey Cove alongside U.S. Open golfer Dustin Johnson before the game to show off one of his other favourite pastimes, sat by himself in the dugout between innings. ‘ ‘ ‘
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