In Three-Pitch Monte, Curveball Loses Out

The Dominican victory means that Cabrera will rejoin the Orioles on Monday at the earliest.

Perlozzo said he had to send his wife to the other room so he could watch the game. Beth Perlozzo was watching "American Idol," though the manager said he couldn't totally pull himself away from the show either.

"I was flipping back and forth," Perlozzo said.

Venezuela's loss means that catcher Ramon Hernandez will rejoin the Orioles on Thursday. Pitcher Rodrigo Lopez and catcher Geronimo Gil, part of Mexico's team that has been eliminated from the semifinals, likely will rejoin the team on Saturday.

"They're trickling back in," Perlozzo said. . . .

Count South Korea as another team that has benefited from Mazzone's teachings. In early January, Mazzone spent 10 days in Hawaii working with 18 pitchers from South Korea's team. Now, South Korea's 1.40 ERA is the lowest among teams in the Classic.

"They've got a lot of talent," Mazzone said.

Mazzone needed the help of several interpreters, saying he never learned how to say "down and away" in Korean.

Williams Still Out

Pitcher Todd Williams, who had been nursing a sore right shoulder, was held back from his scheduled throwing session because of a strained his right calf.

"Todd had a setback," Perlozzo said.

Williams has been out of action since the second day of spring training.

"His arm is fine now and we're trying to nurse the calf back," Perlozzo said. . . .

Pitcher Chris Britton was reassigned to the team's minor league camp. In four innings this spring, Britton had a 2.25 ERA. . . . Rookie Hayden Penn pitched three scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 1.12.

Quotable "After the first two games he plays we'll have a better idea." Orioles Manager Sam Perlozzo , on 2B Brian Roberts's chances of starting on Opening Day Up Next vs. Cardinals In Jupiter, Fla., 1 p.m.