Showalter on Hardy: "He'll play tomorrow and he can play today" (updated)

Showalter on Hardy: "He'll play tomorrow and he can play today" (updated)
Ryan Flaherty is making his second start this month as the Orioles try to avoid being swept by the Twins in a four-game series. They're also trying to keep J.J. Hardy healthy. Hardy said he feels better today after experiencing discomfort in his groin during Friday night's game. He played nine innings yesterday and is resting and receiving treatment today. Hardy expects to play Monday night in Kansas City. "Just trying to see if we can get some help clearing it up and I think he could use...

Steve Pearce staying at Bowie today

Steve Pearce staying at Bowie today
The Orioles will keep Steve Pearce on his injury rehab assignment at Double-A Bowie today rather than activate him from the disabled list. Pearce is batting third and playing left field today at Prince George's Stadium. He started at first base last night and went 0-for-2 with an RBI. He also was hit by a pitch. Pearce was 2-for-7 with two games with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Orioles. Manager Buck Showalter said Pearce won't fly with the Orioles to Kansas City later today because he...

Orioles and Twins lineups

Orioles and Twins lineups
Ryan Flaherty is playing shortstop today as the Orioles close their four-game series against the Twins and their homestand. J.J. Hardy made it through last night's game without any groin discomfort, but manager Buck Showalter wants to rest him. Steve Clevenger remains the designated hitter and Henry Urrutia is in left field. The Orioles are 5-4 on the homestand. For the Orioles Manny Machado 3B Gerardo Parra RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Steve Clevenger DH Jonathan Schoop 2B Henry Urrutia LF...

Taking the rotation for another spin

Taking the rotation for another spin
If the Twins are victorious again today, they will complete their first four-game sweep of the Orioles since Aug. 23-26, 2007 at Camden Yards. Steve Trachsel, Jim Hoey, Radhames Liz and Erik Bedard were the losing pitchers in that series. Miguel Gonzalez, Darren O'Day and Chris Tillman have been on the short end in these first three games. This year's version of the Twins, at least the group that showed up on Thursday, does all the little things that make them come up big in the clutch. They...

Wrapping up a 3-2 loss

Wrapping up a 3-2 loss
It's hard to believe that the Twins were a reeling team with a 21-37 record on the road when they arrived at Camden Yards for a four-game series. The Orioles will need more proof. Once again, the Orioles couldn't break out offensively and couldn't find a way to counter the Twins' small-ball approach. Chris Tillman retired 14 batters in a row before allowing the tying run in the sixth, and he was charged with two more in the seventh in a 3-2 loss before 35,301 at Camden Yards. The Orioles...

Steve Clevenger and Henry Urrutia keep contributing (O's lose 3-2)

Steve Clevenger and Henry Urrutia keep contributing (O's lose 3-2)
The newest call-ups from Triple-A Norfolk continue to make an impact with the Orioles. Steve Clevenger singled tonight with one out in the second inning and scored on Henry Urrutia's two-out double into left-center field to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead over the Twins at Camden Yards. Clevenger made the opening day roster and was gone the following night, optioned to Norfolk as Chris Davis came off the restricted list. He's 15-for-37 (.405) with two doubles, a home run, six RBIs and six runs...

Showalter on Hardy, the expanded roster and more

Showalter on Hardy, the expanded roster and more
J.J. Hardy took batting practice this afternoon and the Orioles haven't announced any changes to their lineup. Stay tuned. Hardy felt discomfort in his groin toward the end of last night's game. He did some running earlier today, including figure eights, "and felt pretty good," said manager Buck Showalter. Hardy is in a 4-for-46 slump in his last 13 games. He's been bothered this season by periodic back tightness, and now he's receiving treatment for the groin discomfort. Are the issues...

Orioles and Twins lineups

Orioles and Twins lineups
Shortstop J.J. Hardy is in tonight's lineup and the Orioles are hoping he can stay there. Hardy felt some discomfort in his groin last night. He ran earlier today and will take batting practice and field ground balls. Manager Buck Showalter was late posting the lineup because of Hardy's uncertain status. Steve Pearce is playing first base and batting third tonight at Double-A Bowie. Gerardo Parra is batting .354/.398/.579 (85-for-240) since June 11, which leads the majors in that span...

Pearce's pending arrival puts Orioles in position to make corresponding move

Pearce's pending arrival puts Orioles in position to make corresponding move
While the Orioles are continuing their home series tonight against the Twins, trying to figure out a way to beat them in 2015, Steve Pearce will be slipping on a Bowie Baysox uniform and checking out Eastern League pitching. The Baysox are hosting the Altoona Curve, and Pearce is expected to start at first base after playing left and right field yesterday for the Gulf Coast League team. He may continue to occupy the leadoff spot to receive extra at-bats. Pearce could be activated from the...

Buck Showalter: "The game's not always kind to you"

Buck Showalter: "The game's not always kind to you"
The Orioles had lost only once in 52 games before tonight when carrying a lead into the eighth inning. They were ahead by two runs and they had Darren O'Day on the mound. In most cases, O'Day preserves the lead and Zach Britton closes it out, but the Twins rewrote the script. O'Day surrendered three runs and the Orioles lost again to the Twins, 4-3, before 32,025 at Camden Yards. O'Day ranked third in the majors among relievers with a 1.15 ERA, allowing six earned runs in 47 innings, but he...

Notes on Hardy and Flaherty, and game update (O's lose 4-3)

Notes on Hardy and Flaherty, and game update (O's lose 4-3)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter made some adjustments to tonight's lineup with the Twins starting left-hander Tommy Milone. Nolan Reimold replaced Henry Urrutia in left field and Matt Wieters replaced Steve Clevenger as the designated hitter. J.J. Hardy remains a constant at shortstop, no matter how much he's laboring at the plate. Hardy flied out to the warning track in right-center field in his first at-bat and is stuck in a 4-for-44 slump with only one RBI in his last 13 games, lowering his...

Buck Showalter on Miguel Gonzalez: "He's our best option"

Buck Showalter on Miguel Gonzalez: "He's our best option"
Miguel Gonzalez posted the lowest ERA of his career last season at 3.23, allowing three earned runs or fewer in 23 of his 26 starts. He posted a 2.19 ERA in his final 11 starts, as the rotation lifted the Orioles to a division title and a berth in the American League Championship Series. They continue to search for the same pitcher this summer. He's in the clubhouse and the rotation, but the results have been vastly different. Gonzalez has registered a 6.48 ERA in 11 starts since coming off...

Steve Pearce joining Bowie over the weekend

Steve Pearce joining Bowie over the weekend
Steve Pearce is flying into Baltimore tonight and will report to Double-A Bowie on Saturday. Pearce will be in the Baysox lineup for the next two days. The Orioles will decide whether to have him fly into Kansas City for Monday's series opener against the Royals. Pearce would need to leave Sunday's game earlier to make the team charter. He could grab a flight on Monday or report later in the week. It's up in the air, so to speak. The Orioles would need to make a corresponding 25-man roster...

Orioles lineup vs. Twins

Orioles lineup vs. Twins
Matt Wieters is serving as the Orioles' designated hitter tonight and Nolan Reimold is starting in left field against Twins left-hander Tommy Milone. Steve Pearce played left field and right field and batted leadoff today for the Gulf Coast League team. He went 1-for-3 with a double, walk and two runs scored after going 1-for-4 yesterday. The plan calls for Pearce to head north and join one of the affiliates here over the weekend. For the Orioles Manny Machado 3B Gerardo Parra RF Adam Jones CF...

Avoiding doubleheader only victory for Orioles last night

Avoiding doubleheader only victory for Orioles last night
One reason why the Orioles were concerned about a possible postponement of last night's game against the Twins, besides the usual distain for playing a doubleheader, was the challenge in finding a sixth starter for Tuesday night's game in Kansas City. Tyler Wilson is on the minor league disabled list with a strained left oblique. He's throwing on flat ground and nearing a bullpen session, but a Tuesday start would have been too ambitious. Mike Wright is on the major league disabled list with...

Showalter speaks after 15-2 loss

Showalter speaks after 15-2 loss
The Orioles endured a 2 hour, 31 minute rain delay tonight that seemed pleasant compared to the 15 runs they allowed to the Twins. They hadn't surrendered that many runs since a 19-7 loss in Minnesota on July 16, 2012. Miguel Gonzalez was charged with seven of the runs tonight over five innings in a 15-2 loss before 20,109 at Camden Yards. His ERA is 6.48 in 11 starts since coming off the disabled list. The Twins batted around in the second inning and scored five runs to take a lead that the...

Rain delay followed by five-run deficit (O's lose 15-2)

Rain delay followed by five-run deficit (O's lose 15-2)
The Orioles waited 2 hours and 31 minutes to start tonight's game because of rain. Fans were invited to move down to the lower seating bowl as a reward for sticking around. This is no way to thank them. Miguel Gonzalez retired the Twins in order on 11 pitches in the top of the first inning, but he threw 40 in the second while surrendering five runs. The Twins sent nine batters to the plate. One out was recorded by Henry Urrutia on the Orioles' 36th outfield assist of the season. They were...

Game status and note on Schoop (start time is 9:35 p.m.)

Game status and note on Schoop (start time is 9:35 p.m.)
The start of tonight's game is delayed due to threat of inclement weather. The tarp is on the field. The rain supposedly is on its way. While most of the attention last night fell on Henry Urrutia, and deservedly so following his walk-off home run, Orioles manager Buck Showalter noted Jonathan Schoop's contributions at the plate and in the field. Schoop was coming off one of his worst nights in the majors, committing two errors and dropping a throw that denied the Orioles a chance to cut down...

Injury updates and Twins lineup

Injury updates and Twins lineup
Now that Steve Pearce has started his injury rehab assignment, the Orioles will attempt to speed it along. Pearce received four at-bats today as the designated hitter for the Gulf Coast League team. He's scheduled to play in the field on Friday - perhaps three innings in left field, three in right and three at first base. Assuming that Pearce's oblique doesn't tighten up, he will fly back to Maryland and report to one of the affiliates for games on Saturday and Sunday. The Orioles will...

Orioles lineup vs. Twins

Orioles lineup vs. Twins
Henry Urrutia gets another start in left field tonight after his walk-off home run last night in the bottom of the ninth inning. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Urrutia is the first Cuban-born player whose first major league home run was a walk-off since 1968, when Cubs rookie Jose Arcia went deep at Wrigley Field for the only homer of his three-year career. Also according to Elias, the Orioles hadn't hit three game-tying or go-ahead home runs in the sixth inning or later in one game...