Roch Kubatko
Roch Kubatko

Five-out save (updated twice)

Five-out save (updated twice)
Koji Uehara replaced Michael Gonzalez with one out in the eighth inning and retired the next two batters, fielding a bouncer to the mound and getting the force at second base, and inducing a fly ball to right-center field. Nothing to it. Nobody is warming in the bullpen. Uehara is coming back out for the ninth after throwing eight pitches. No way you take him out. And it made sense to go with your hottest reliever with a runner on first base in the eighth. The baton is being passed, but it...
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Roch Kubatko

More on Markakis (w/game updates)

More on Markakis (w/game updates)
Nick Markakis became the 19th outfielder since 1900 to record at least four seasons with 40 doubles in his career. Markakis is now tied for the third-longest streak of 40-double seasons. The other three players are in the Hall of Fame. Joe Medwick did it for seven straight years beginning in 1933. Harry Heilman's streak lasted five seasons beginning in 1923. Markakis is tied with Tris Speaker, whose streak of four consecutive seasons began in 1920. Yeah, it's been a while. Jay Moskowitz,...
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Roch Kubatko

Matusz no longer cruising

Matusz no longer cruising
Left-hander Brian Matusz took a two-hit shutout into the fifth inning, but Jed Lowrie deposited a 91 mph fastball into the left field seats with one out and Mike Lowell on base to reduce the Orioles' lead to 3-2. The Orioles scored twice in the third on Adam Jones' infield hit and shortstop Marco Scutaro's throwing error. Luke Scott raced home from first base as the ball rolled into right field. Manager Buck Showalter walked over to Scott in the dugout and engaged him in a lengthy...
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Markakis turning 40

Markakis turning 40
Not his age. He hasn't been around that long. Nick Markakis just collected his 40th double with one out in the first inning. He becomes the first player in franchise history with four consecutive 40-double seasons. Markakis scored on Luke Scott's single, giving the Orioles an early 1-0 lead against Josh Beckett. Scott was in a 2-for-21 slump. Brian Matusz got through the first inning without allowing a run, though he needed 23 pitches to do it. Victor Martinez singled with two outs before...
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Roch Kubatko

Taking notes

Taking notes
Luke Scott is 2-for-21 since homering off Chicago's Gavin Floyd. Felix Pie is hitless in his last 12 at-bats. The Orioles have 18 quality starts in their last 26 games. Their pitchers are riding a 26-inning scoreless streak and haven't allowed an RBI since Alex Rios homered in the eighth inning of Thursday's game in Chicago. In Brian Matusz's 26 starts, the Orioles have scored two runs or fewer 14 times while he's been in the game. They're 3-11 in those instances. Matusz is 0-9. Only...
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Roberts in lineup (w/quotes)

Roberts in lineup (w/quotes)
Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Felix Pie LF Matt Wieters C Cesar Izturis SS Josh Bell 3B Brian Matusz LHP Manager Buck Showalter was vague when the subject turned to tomorrow's potential call-ups. He said some decisions could hinge on the health of the current roster. Asked if he could reveal any names, Showalter replied, "No." Then he chuckled. "I can tell you who's not coming. No, I can't do that, either." It's fair to speculate that...
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Roberts still uncertain (updated)

Roberts still uncertain (updated)
Brian Roberts' status for tonight will be determined after batting practice. Julio Lugo has been cleared to play and will start at second base if Roberts is held out of the lineup. An MRI on Roberts' left hip yesterday came back clean. No structural damage. He's just dealing with the soreness. Lugo is fine after being hit on the helmet by a pickoff throw in Sunday's game. Adam Jones will start in center field, with Felix Pie in left and Nick Markakis in right. Ty Wigginton is playing...
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Waiting for Orioles lineup (Updated)

Waiting for Orioles lineup (Updated)
You know the drill. The Orioles won't post their lineup before checking on Adam Jones and Brian Roberts. We might have to wait until after batting practice. Update: Adam Jones says he's starting tonight's game against the Red Sox. For the Red Sox: Scutaro SS McDonald CF Martinez C Ortiz DH Beltre 3B Lowell 1B Drew RF Lowrie 2B Hall LF Beckett RHP
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This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Steelers safety Troy Polamalu reportedly has insured his hair for $1 million. He stole the idea from Jake Arrieta, who did the same thing with his mustache. Triple-A Norfolk avoided being no-hit by Gwinnett's Scott Diamond last night. Nolan Reimold and Robert Andino doubled for the Tides. Single-A Delmarva shortstop Garabez Rosa has received mention here for his 40-something errors, so it's only fair for me to point out that he hit his fifth home run last night. If you were tracking Steve...
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Checking Norfolk's rotation (updated)

Checking Norfolk's rotation (updated)
Left-hander Zach Britton is listed as tonight's starter for Triple-A Norfolk, with Chris Tillman taking the hill tomorrow night. Tillman is expected to join the Orioles once teams are allowed to expand their rosters on Wednesday. The trick is finding room for him in the rotation. Britton's chances of coming up appear to be diminishing, but mostly because of space issues, not worries about the amount of innings that he's logged. Manager Buck Showalter seemed more optimistic about...
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Izzy the answer at short?

Izzy the answer at short?
I'm savoring my last morning before my daughter starts school. That means staying in bed past 6:30 a.m. and not trying to pack a lunch while half asleep. Tomorrow starts a whole new routine for me, so you'll see blog comments approved and entries filed a lot earlier. I suppose that's a good thing. How nasty was Michael Gonzalez's slider yesterday? Bobby Abreu had no chance at the last one. I just wish Gonzalez could avoid falling into the third base dugout on every pitch. If I'm a...
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Koji's closing again (w/minor league note)

Koji's closing again (w/minor league note)
Don't tell me that Koji Uehara isn't the closer on this team. Uehara has four saves since Aug. 21. He retired Torii Hunter on one pitch for the final out today to preserve a 1-0 victory and give the Orioles back-to-back shutouts for the first time since July 22 and 24, 2007 (Jeremy Guthrie and, yes, Daniel Cabrera.) Koji's the closer. I'll say it again: Koji's the closer. Wash my mouth out with soap, but Koji's the closer. Then again, Michael Gonzalez was called upon to strike out...
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New MLB rule?

New MLB rule?
According to plate umpire Brian Gorman, you can tag a runner with your hamstrings instead of the ball. Who knew? Gorman called out Josh Bell at the plate in the sixth inning after the Orioles rookie slid hard into Jeff Mathis, knocking the Angels' catcher on his backside. Bell touched the plate as Mathis tried to swipe at him with his mitt. He was clearly safe, except in the closed eyes of Brian Gorman. Nick Markakis lost an RBI. The Orioles will try not to lose a game. Matt Wieters'...
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And then there was one (w/Napoli note)

And then there was one (w/Napoli note)
Nice bench the Orioles are sporting these days. Can tomorrow's off-day, and roster expansion, come soon enough? Julio Lugo left today's game in the first inning after being drilled on the helmet by Jered Weaver's pickoff throw. As soon as Lugo hit the dirt, and stayed there, I began reworking the lineup in my head. Ty Wigginton to second base, Jake Fox to first. It didn't take long to break that code. What other choice did manager Buck Showalter have with Brian Roberts unavailable again...
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Quick Jones update

Quick Jones update
Orioles manager Buck Showalter believes Adam Jones could return to the lineup on Tuesday. Having tomorrow off gives Jones another day to recover after being hit behind the left shoulder by a Gavin Floyd fastball last Tuesday. Showalter told reporters that Jones is "more available" today than yesterday. Jones and Brian Roberts will report to Camden Yards tomorrow for treatment. Also, Showalter didn't dismiss the possibility that Jim Johnson could close some games before the season ends,...
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Still no Jones or Roberts

Still no Jones or Roberts
Julio Lugo 2B Felix Pie LF Nick Markakis RF Luke Scott DH Ty Wigginton 1B Corey Patterson CF Matt Wieters C Cesar Izturis SS Josh Bell 3B Jeremy Guthrie RHP
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J.J. more than OK in return

J.J. more than OK in return
Vikings quarterback Brett Favre threw two interceptions last night. Save it for the playoffs, Brett. Nice outing by Jim Johnson last night in his first major league action since April 30. Hard to believe it's been that long. Manager Buck Showalter found an opportune time to take Johnson for a test-drive, in the ninth inning with the Orioles holding a 5-0 lead. The first batter reached on an infield hit, but Johnson didn't allow another baserunner. Most impressive to me, his fastball was...
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Bell's crushing the splits (updated)

Bell's crushing the splits (updated)
Josh Bell has always hit better from the left side of the plate. The splits are so uneven that many fans have suggested that he give up switch-hitting. Team officials have chosen to wait, but they're aware of the discrepancy. So explain how Bell's three major league home runs have come against left-handers. Bell just took Scott Kazmir deep with Cesar Izturis on base, giving the Orioles a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning. He went to the opposite field with an 0-2 count. Kazmir has lost six of...
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While waiting on Jones (still not playing)

While waiting on Jones (still not playing)
Still no Adam Jones in the lineup. This is the fourth straight game without him. Julio Lugo 2B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Jake Fox LF Felix Pie CF Crag Tatum C Cesar Izturis SS Josh Bell 3B Kevin Millwood RHP Here's the Angels lineup: Bobby Abreu LF Howie Kendrick 2B Alberto Callaspo 3B Torii Hunter RF Hideki Matsui DH Mike Napoli 1B Erick Aybar SS Bobby Wilson C Peter Bourjos CF Scott Kazmir LHP
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Machado Man

Machado Man
If you're going to get your first professional hit, make it a home run. Don't fool around. First-round pick Manny Machado was 0-for-5 as a pro before launching a two-run homer in the sixth inning today for the Gulf Coast League Orioles. He had flied out to center field twice this morning after going 0-for-3 yesterday in his debut. He grounded to the pitcher in his last at-bat today. If you're going to start out 1-for-7 as a pro, make that one hit a home run. Machado will work out with...
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