Notebook: O’s attendant will end streak

Umpire attendant Ernie Tyler will voluntarily end his consecutive games streak at 3,769 to see another man known for his ability to show up to work every day: Cal Ripken Jr.

Tyler hasn’t missed a Baltimore Orioles home game since assuming the position on opening day in 1960. This weekend, however, he will skip the Orioles’ two games against the New York Yankees to be in Cooperstown, N.Y., to see Ripken’s induction into the Hall of Fame.

The 83-year-old Tyler will be going as a guest of Ripken, who will pay the bill for the entire weekend.

A-Rod’s 500th?

Just in case his 499th homer turns out to be No. 500, Alex Rodriguez already has the ball.

Today, A-Rod will be on deck when the Yankees resume a suspended game against the Orioles in the eighth inning. If he homers in the completion of the game, it would count as being hit on June 28, when the game began. That would make it home run No. 493 – and Wednesday night’s homer against Kansas City would become No. 500.

Costas fires back

A day after Barry Bonds called him a “little midget man who knows (nothing) about baseball,” broadcaster Bob Costas said he wasn’t upset with the Giants’ slugger and responded with a jab of his own.

“As anyone can plainly see, I’m 5-6 1/2 and a strapping 150, and unlike some people, I came by all of it naturally,” Costas said.

Utley breaks hand

Philadelphia All-Star second baseman Chase Utley broke his right hand when he was hit by a pitch during the Phillies’ loss to Washington.

Utley was hit in the fifth inning by Washington’s John Lannan.

Schilling rehabs

Curt Schilling pitched five scoreless innings, striking out eight in his second rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket.