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...

Steve Pearce ready for rehab assignment

Steve Pearce ready for rehab assignment
Orioles outfielder Steve Pearce is beginning his injury rehab assignment today with the Gulf Coast League team in Sarasota. He singled in his first at-bat as the leadoff hitter and designated hitter against the GCL Twins. Pearce is on the disabled list retroactive to July 19 with a strained left oblique muscle. He took live batting practice again yesterday and survived a pitch from Chris Perez that nailed him in the back. Pearce experienced a slight setback last week when his oblique tightened...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
Pitcher Kevin Gausman took special interest in the two-homer day by Yankees first baseman Greg Bird. And not because the teams are division rivals and the Orioles are trying to catch them. Gausman and Bird were teammates at Grandview High in Aurora, Colo., their families living a few minutes apart. Bird was a catcher, so the relationship only grew stronger. The Yankees called up Bird, their fourth-rated prospect, on Thursday, which prompted Gausman to send him a congratulatory text message....

Showalter: "The games are dwindling and it's that time"

Showalter: "The games are dwindling and it's that time"
The Orioles have delivered three walk-off home runs in six games of this homestand - August 14, 15 and 19 if you want to mark your calendars. Henry Urrutia's liner into the left field seats tonight off Mets reliever Carlos Torres was especially memorable. Urrutia led off the bottom of the ninth with his first major league home run to give the Orioles a 5-4 win over the Mets before 36,165 at Camden Yards. According to STATS, Urrutia became the fifth Oriole whose first home run was a walk-off,...

Orioles load 'em and leave 'em in first inning (Urrutia walk-off homer)

Orioles load 'em and leave 'em in first inning (Urrutia walk-off homer)
The Orioles showed tonight that they can get runners on base against Mets starter Noah Syndergaard. It's the scoring part that may be a challenge. Manny Machado doubled on the first pitch thrown by Syndergaard, Gerardo Parra singled and Adam Jones walked to load the bases with no outs. Chris Davis struck out on an 81 mph curveball with the count full, and Jonathan Schoop grounded into a 4-3 double play with the count full. Syndergaard threw 23 pitches in the first inning and the Orioles let...

Hearing from Buck Showalter before tonight's game

Hearing from Buck Showalter before tonight's game
The Orioles did more than check on catcher Matt Wieters' right hamstring following last night's game. They also made sure his right knee wasn't creating a health issue. Wieters took a foul tip off his knee, which brought head athletic trainer Richie Bancells out of the dugout. Wieters stayed in the game and collected two hits. "He feels good today," said manager Buck Showalter. "I'm going to talk to him out on the field a little bit and see. Hoping he gets through tomorrow and he'll be...

Notes on Pearce, Wieters, Roe and more

Notes on Pearce, Wieters, Roe and more
Orioles outfielder Steve Pearce took live batting practice today in Sarasota and was hit by a pitch in his third at-bat. Chris Perez, serving a 50-game suspension that was handed down in June for a second positive test for a drug of abuse, drilled Pearce in the back. The Orioles ended the BP session and will check on Pearce Thursday before determining how close he is to going on a rehab assignment. Pearce is on the disabled list retroactive to July 19 with a strained left oblique. The Orioles...

Orioles lineup vs. Mets (with Mets lineup)

Orioles lineup vs. Mets (with Mets lineup)
Caleb Joseph has returned to the Orioles lineup tonight for the finale of a two-game series against the Mets. Joseph, who's catching, is batting .342/.359/.816 with six doubles, four home runs and 12 RBIs in 11 games this month. Matt Wieters, on the bench tonight, has hit safely in his last seven games, producing a .385/.407/.500 slash line. Gerardo Parra is batting .478/.500/.913 (11-for-23) in his last five games. He's hit three home runs in his last four games. Parra is batting...

More notes and quotes on the Orioles' defense

More notes and quotes on the Orioles' defense
The Orioles entered last night with the lowest error total in the majors with 46 and the highest fielding percentage at .989. The Athletics, their opponent the past four games, led the majors with 99 errors, had the lowest fielding percentage at .978, and were so challenged to catch a fly ball, they should have worked with a safety net. The emphasis on defense is as much a Baltimore tradition as crab cakes, Natty Boh and humidity that soaks your shorts. It's not suggested here, it's demanded,...

Wrapping up a 5-3 loss

Wrapping up a 5-3 loss
The Orioles rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning tonight and brought Manny Machado to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. Pretty much how they'd draw it up, except the ending needed a rewrite. Machado grounded out against Mets closer Jeurys Familia, and the Orioles' winning streak ended at four games with a 5-3 loss before 34,068 at Camden Yards. The Orioles have lost nine straight games to the Mets. Kevin Gausman turned in a quality start by definition, allowing...

Hardy: "I haven't been getting hits and that all needs to change" (O's lose 5-3)

Hardy: "I haven't been getting hits and that all needs to change" (O's lose 5-3)
The Orioles are putting the tarp on the field and the start of tonight's game will be delayed due to the threat of inclement weather. In other words, dark clouds have rolled in and it's expected to rain. Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy would like the black clouds that follow him to home plate to finally disperse. Hardy batted .226 in 59 games in the first half of the season. He's batting .226 in 28 games in the second half. Hardy craves consistency, but not in this form. Going into tonight's...

Matt Wieters on his return to the lineup (and other notes)

Matt Wieters on his return to the lineup (and other notes)
Steve Pearce took live batting practice today in Sarasota and the Orioles will check on Wednesday to make sure the tightness in his oblique doesn't resurface. They want to reach the point where he's ready to go on an injury rehab assignment. Triple-A Norfolk pitcher Tyler Wilson, also on the disabled list with a strained oblique, threw off flat ground today from 75 feet. He's been feeling a little better each day. Manager Buck Showalter said the Orioles will keep all three catchers - Matt...

Matt Wieters returns to Orioles lineup

Matt Wieters returns to Orioles lineup
Matt Wieters has returned to the Orioles lineup tonight after missing five games with a strained right hamstring. Steve Clevenger remains the designated hitter for the series opener against the Mets. Henry Urrutia stays in left field. Hot-hitting Caleb Joseph takes a seat on the bench. The Orioles have lost eight consecutive games to the Mets, including two in May at Citi Field. Their last victory came on June 18, 2009. The Orioles' .285 average with runners in scoring position now ranks third...

Note on Jason Garcia and tonight's game

Note on Jason Garcia and tonight's game
The Orioles will continue to handle Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia with care, inserting him into high-pressure situations only out of necessity. If they can't stash him, they can at least try to protect him. The task becomes simpler after rosters, including the bullpen, expand in September. The Orioles could summon Oliver Drake, Cesar Cabral and Jorge Rondon from Triple-A Norfolk. They're on the 40-man roster. Chaz Roe and Mike Wright eventually will come off the disabled list. Steve Johnson isn't...