In the minors

In the minors
In the minors this afternoon, the Double-A Bowie Baysox snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-3 win at Erie. Brandon Waring and Joel Guzman hit back-to-back solo homers in the third. Miguel Abreu went 3 for 5 with an RBI and Ryohei Tanaka gave up 2 ER over 5 1/3 and is 2-0, 2.08. The Baysox improved to 10-4, matching the 1994 team's mark for best 14-game start ever at Bowie. The Baysox host Akron tomorrow at 7:05 to begin a homestand with a post-game fireworks show scheduled. Tim...
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Lugo made Trembley's seat even hotter

Lugo made Trembley's seat even hotter
Julio Lugo was not the first Major Leaguer to jog to first base on a routine ground ball and he won't be the last. If you go to as many games at Camden Yards as I do, you see it every night on pretty much every team. That sure doesn't make it right. My take on it is this. That was Dave Trembley's chance to make an example of someone for lack of hustle. I wish he had been benched there. Dave doesn't and shouldn't have a sense of loyalty to Lugo and could have taken him from the game...
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Hobgood talks about his scoreless outing

Hobgood talks about his scoreless outing
For just the second time in his short pro career last night, Matt Hobgood took the mound and later left without yielding a run. Hobgood, in his third start of the year, pitched seven shutout innings, allowing just two singles, as Delmarva beat Greensboro, 1-0 on a Garabez Rosa homer in the last of the ninth. The Orioles first-round pick last June, Hobgood issued just one walk and had six strikeouts. His ERA for the season is 2.70. "I thought it was a really good outing. My fastball...
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Post-game notes: O's bats went silent in Seattle

Post-game notes:  O's bats went silent in Seattle
Offensive offense: One night after being held to a season-low five hits, tonight the Orioles picked up just four hits in a 3-1 loss to Seattle. The Orioles have scored just three runs with nine hits in the two games of this series. The team average is .143 in those two contests. They have scored just 32 runs on the year in their 13 losses. The O's went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position and are now batting .150 (16 for 107) with RISP on the season. This is the fourth time on the...
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Another night, another loss

Another night, another loss
For the Orioles it was another lackluster-looking night of little offense that led to another loss. Seattle starter Jason Vargas, a pitcher with a career ERA of 5.44, held the Orioles to just three hits over seven innings tonight as Seattle beat Baltimore, 3-1. The O's, who went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position tonight, have scored just three runs on nine hits in this series. The O's got a season-low four hits for the game. David Hernandez deserved better, giving up three runs...
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Matt Hobgood talks about his start tonight

Matt Hobgood talks about his start tonight
Delmarva Shorebirds right-hander Matt Hobgood is getting better with each start. After allowing three runs in four innings in his first start this season and two runs over 5 2/3 in his second, tonight he pitched seven shutout innings in Delmarva's 1-0, walk-off win over Greensboro. Garabez Rosa led off the last of the ninth with a homer to give the Shorebirds, now 8-5, the victory. Jacob Smith pitched shutout ball over the last two frames and is 3-0. Hobgood, last June's first-round pick,...
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A closer look at the hitters (w-Hobgood note)

A closer look at the hitters (w-Hobgood note)
It's no great secret that many Orioles are struggling at the bat right now and have most of the year. With the exceptions of Ty Wigginton (five homers his last seven games) and Nick Markakis (.310 his last seven games), most of the others are in droughts right now. Here's a rundown: Garrett Atkins: Is just 4 for 26 over his last seven 7 games and is 0 for 11 vs. left-handed pitching. Cesar Izturis: 0 RBI his last 10 games. Adam Jones: Has three hits his last 18 at bats and is 0 for 7...
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Ryan Minor on Hobgood, Berry and more

Ryan Minor on Hobgood, Berry and more
Former Oriole Ryan Minor has the Delmarva Shorebirds off to a good start in his first year as a pro manager. The Birds, who host Greensboro in Salisbury tonight, are 7-5 and tied for first in the South Atlantic League's Northern division. The Shorebirds have slugged their way to the top so far and lead the SAL with 72 runs scored and 13 homers. Shorebirds players are all over the league leaders at this early stage. Brian Conley leads the league in OBP and is second in batting at .457. ...
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What happened to Bergy?

What happened to Bergy?
It's been a stunning fall from grace for Brad Bergesen. A few months ago he was being featured in that TV promo to promote the upcoming season. Even though that didn't work out well, he was considered important enough to this season that he was chosen for that spot. Now he is headed back to the minors after just three starts in 2010. I'm surprised the O's are sending him out. It will be a popular move with the fans who get restless after a player's performance falls off, even over a...
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Post-game notes: O's fall 8-2 in Seattle series opener

Post-game notes: O's fall 8-2 in Seattle series opener
Not tonight: One night after scoring a season-high eight runs, the Orioles were no-hit thru six innings Monday in a 8-2 loss to Seattle. They were held to just five hits, tying their low total for the season. The Orioles have scored two runs or less in seven of their last 10 games and three runs or less 10 times on the year. The O's fall to 2-12 on the year and have lost 10 of their last 11 games. They are 1-4 on this ten-game road trip, and 2-6 in road games. The Orioles are now 0-5 in...
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This could be a big start for Bergesen tonight (updated)

This could be a big start for Bergesen tonight (updated)
Last year, Brad Bergesen gave up 5 ER just once in 19 starts for the Orioles. This year he has allowed 5 ER twice in two starts. His ERA last year was 3.43 and he went 5-3, 2.49 in 11 starts in June and July. Now he is 0-1, 11.74. Here is what some must be wondering. Has the league figured out Bergesen? Was last year's success a little bit of a fluke? Two starts to me does not wash away his tremendous success from 2009 when he was the Orioles best starter. Bergy contends his mechanics...
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Ryan Minor on Kolodny and Dalles

Ryan Minor on Kolodny and Dalles
Probably no player in the O's farm system has gotten off to a faster start at the plate than Delmarva first baseman Tyler Kolodny. The 22-year-old, right-handed hitter batted .226-9-42 in 107 games with Delmarva last year. But this year he is crushing South Atlantic League pitching so far and is batting .387-6-11. Today, he was named SAL Player of the Week. He leads the league in homers (6), slugging (1.000), total bases (44), extra-base hits (12) and triples (3). "It's a credit to...
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Well, that's one in a row

Well, that's one in a row
It's funny how good a team can look when it scores eight runs. There were no complaints about first-pitch swinging, the makeup of the lineup or working the count. The team scored early to give a starter the lead, added on and put it away with more offense late. Who knew Ty Wigginton would be the hero? At this point, who cares, it's just good that someone stepped up. Now the big question is this. Will the team build on this and start playing better baseball leading to more wins? The...
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Post-game notes: The O's come up winners in Oakland

Post-game notes:  The O's come up winners in Oakland
The end came: The Orioles finally ended their nine-game losing streak with Sunday's 8-3 win at Oakland. The A's were trying for a 10-4 start and their first home four-game sweep of Baltimore since August of 2004. The O's improved to 2-11 on the year and 2-5 on the road. They are 1-3 on this ten-game road trip. Oakland falls to 6-2 at home. The Orioles snapped a nine-game losing skid at Oakland, picking up their first win there since July 22, 2007. With the win, they even the all-time...
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That's more like it

That's more like it
The Orioles needed this. Ty Wigginton's two-out, two-run double in the third inning today not only broke a scoreless tie, but it seemed to relax the Orioles a bit. The Birds picked up an 8-3 win at Oakland today to avoid the four-game sweep and end a nine-game losing streak. Ty Wigginton talks with Amber about his 4 RBI performance against the A's Wigginton added a two-run homer to left in the 9th for a 2 for 5, 4-RBI game. He had just three hits in the series but they all went for extra...
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RISP (updated)

RISP (updated)
That's runners in scoring position, not rest in peace. Too early to dump dirt on this season. The O's entered the top of the third in Oakland today just 2 for 44 on the year when batting with runners in scoring position and two out. But with two out and runners on first and second, Ty Wigginton delivered a two-run double to right and Nick Markakis hit a ground ball RBI single to center. So they matched their total of hits with RISP and two outs for the season in one inning. Wigginton...
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Some pre-game stats and notes

Some pre-game stats and notes
Some Sunday O's pre-game stats and facts while wondering if today will be the day...... *The Orioles have played seven games this year decided by two runs or less and are 1-6 in those. *The Orioles have scored just 23 runs during a nine-game losing streak. *Today's starter, Brian Matusz, is making his 11th career Major League start today. Opponents are batting just .190 against him this year without an extra-base hit. The Orioles are 6-4 in his starts. Matusz, who has never faced...
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The starting rotations in Bowie and Baltimore

The starting rotations in Bowie and Baltimore
If you are looking for a nugget, a morsel, a small crumb to hang your hat on with something even remotely positive through this dismal Orioles start it is this - the starting rotation. Kevin Millwood and Jeremy Guthrie easily pitched good enough to win the last two days and it's been that way most days during this season. The starters are throwing a lot of strikes, getting deeper in games and keeping this so far terrible hitting team in games. The starters ERA is only 4.52, still a big...
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Post-game notes: O's fall in the 9th at Oakland

Post-game notes:  O's fall in the 9th at Oakland
It happened again: Apparently, any thought that it could not get any worse for the Orioles, was just not correct. They gave up two runs in the last of the 9th at Oakland Saturday afternoon to lose 4-3 to the A's. The Orioles, who lost four times all last year when leading after eight innings, have now lost three times this year when leading after eight. So, the Birds are 1-11 on the season with nine losses in row. They are 0-3 on this ten-game road trip. They are 1-4 in one-run games and...
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O's blow another 9th inning lead

O's blow another 9th inning lead
It's becoming so unbelievable, but the Orioles blew another game today in the 9th inning. They took a one-run lead to the last of the 9th at Oakland, but Ryan Sweeney's two-run single with the bases loaded and one out vs. Jim Johnson gave the A's a 4-3 win. Yes, the O's blew another one in the ninth. Johnson was clearly struggling, according to Joe Angel's radio call. In the inning he gave up two hits and threw two wild pitches with Matt Wieters making a nice save to stop a third. He...
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