Yamaico Navarro is back at second base as the Orioles face the Yankees in the middle game of their three-game set. Chris Dickerson will play center field tonight, with Adam Jones serving as the designated hitter. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones DH CHris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Chris Dickerson CF Yamaico Navarro ... read more
By Roch Kubatko, May 21, 2013 3:15 PM
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Orioles manager Buck Showalter has another decision to make tonight regarding his starter at second base. Yamaico Navarro started three straight games before stepping aside last night for Alexi Casilla, who made two dazzling plays in the field and also singled and scored from first base on Nick Markakis' double. "Alexi put on a show at second base," Showalter said afterward. "What a game he ... read more
By Roch Kubatko, May 21, 2013 11:30 AM
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The Orioles will activate Miguel Gonzalez from the 15-day disabled list this afternoon and hand him the ball tonight at Camden Yards. Nobody is asking me about Gonzalez, but I'm getting plenty of inquires about other players. And I keep getting them. The same ones. On this blog and via Twitter (@MASNroch). That's why I created "Because You Asked" and all of the sequels. You ... read more
By Roch Kubatko, May 21, 2013 5:46 AM
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Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't ready to change closers after Jim Johnson's third consecutive blown save. Asked if there was any doubt that he would go right back to Johnson tonight in another save opportunity, Showalter replied, "Come back tomorrow and watch it again." "He was one pitch away," Showalter said after the Orioles' 6-4, 10-inning loss to the Yankees at Camden Yards that extended ... read more
By Roch Kubatko, May 20, 2013 11:15 PM
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It happened again. Closer Jim Johnson blew his third consecutive save opportunity, serving up a solo home run to Travis Hafner with one out in the top of the ninth to tie the game 4-4. Robinson Cano grounded out with the count full, but Hafner drove a 3-1 pitch into the seats in left-center field. Johnson shouted at himself as the ball cleared the fence, ... read more
By Roch Kubatko, May 20, 2013 9:57 PM
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We're no longer tied. Troy Patton entered the game in the top of the seventh, and the first batter he faced, first baseman Lyle Overbay, belted a home run to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead. The Yankees have four hits tonight. Three are home runs. Meanwhile, Alexi Casilla is making a strong argument for receiving more starts at second base. Casilla is in the ... read more
By Roch Kubatko, May 20, 2013 8:50 PM
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The Yankees have seven left-handed hitters in tonight's lineup against Orioles right-hander Freddy Garcia. Somebody has been reading the splits. Left-handers were batting .333 against Garcia heading into the game. Right-handers were batting .156. Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano wasn't going to dispute the numbers. He homered to the opposite field with one out in the top of the first inning to give the visitors ... read more
By Roch Kubatko, May 20, 2013 7:16 PM
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Home hasn't been sweet to the Orioles, who are 9-11 at Camden Yards this season. They also began the 2011 season with a 9-11 home record. The Orioles have dropped six straight at home for the first time since April 9-14, 2010. The last time they lost seven straight at Camden Yards was Aug. 22-Sept. 7, 2007, when they dropped 11 in a row. The ... read more
By Roch Kubatko, May 20, 2013 4:38 PM
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