Roch Kubatko

Wrapping up a 2-0 loss

May 01, 2015, 6:37pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles got the final at-bats tonight in the bottom of the ninth inning, a reminder that they were the home team at Tropicana Field. They just couldn't give their cluster of fans a walk-off win. The Orioles struck out 13 times and lost to the Rays 2-0 before 9,945, an attendance figure they will carry back to Baltimore. Caleb Joseph was the only Orioles who didn't strike out. Both teams had four hits in a game that lasted only 2 hours, 19 minutes. The no-fan game at...

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Sights and sounds from the Orioles' home game on road (O's lose 2-0)

May 01, 2015, 3:32pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Oriole Bird led fans in the familiar chant of "O-R-I-O-L-E-S" before players jogged onto the field for the anthem. The "home" team wore black jerseys, making it a typical Friday night in only one sense. And we said it wouldn't get weird. I've heard that the expected crowd is around 10,000 for tonight's game. They're averaging 17,545 in 12 home dates. The Rays' public address announcer introduced the starting lineups in the same subdued voice. He's usually...

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Showalter: "White pants, gray pants, it's still baseball between the lines"

May 01, 2015, 2:30pm

Orioles

Showalter: "White pants, gray pants, it's still baseball between the lines"

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Rays are going out of their way to make the Orioles and media feel right at home, including the shipment of Bergers cookies from Baltimore to Tropicana Field. Boxes are stacked in the press dining room for dessert. That's the icing on the cookie. The Orioles took batting practice first at Tropicana Field, the usual order for the home team. The Rays came out of the dugout to stretch in their road gray pants, many of the players greeting the Orioles with hugs. "I...

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Hardy on today's workout

May 01, 2015, 1:09pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter noted that this is a big day for shortstop J.J. Hardy, who worked out at Tropicana Field this afternoon and joined Group 4 for batting practice. Showalter is hoping that Hardy (shoulder) and infielder Ryan Flaherty (groin) will begin injury rehab assignments Monday at Double-A Bowie. Hardy took about 15 swings in early batting practice, fielded ground balls and threw to the bases. He also worked with Steve Pearce on turning the double play....

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Orioles lineup vs. Rays (with Rays lineup)

May 01, 2015, 11:11am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - According to STATS Inc, tonight's game between the Orioles and Rays marks the fifth time since 2007 that the host team has batted first. * July 23, 2013: The Giants batted first at Pack Bell Park against the Reds in Game 2 of a doubleheader that was a makeup game rained out on July 4 in Cincinnati. The Giants won 5-3. * June 24-26, 2011: A three-game series was relocated from Sun Life Stadium to Safeco Field due to a conflict with a U2 concert. The Mariners took two of...

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More notes on tonight's game

May 01, 2015, 8:18am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - To avoid any confusion, the Orioles are playing on the road this weekend, but they're considered the home team. The statistics will count as road games. However, in real time through Sunday, the stats may appear as home for the Orioles until updated on Monday on all platforms. All three games will reflect home attendance for the Orioles despite the games being played at Tropicana Field. Got all that? Major League Baseball and the Elias Sports Bureau are driving this bus....

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Taking tonight's game to The Trop

April 30, 2015, 2:09pm

Orioles

Chris Tillman didn't expect to be back at Tropicana Field this quickly after making the opening day start for the Orioles. He also didn't imagine that he would be working on seven days rest. Perhaps a shift in the norm will get Tillman back in the proper direction. Tillman comes into tonight's game against the Rays with a 7.58 ERA in 19 innings. He's made it through the sixth in only one of his four starts, in the season opener beneath the dome. The rotation's ERA, which ranked last in the...

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Gary Kendall on Dylan Bundy: "He had dominating-type stuff"

April 30, 2015, 10:15am

Orioles

Gary Kendall on Dylan Bundy: "He had dominating-type stuff"

The box score says Double-A Bowie pitcher Dylan Bundy turned in his finest start in 2015 yesterday afternoon in Erie, Pa. His manager says it wasn't the first time that Bundy impressed. The results just happened to match his stuff. Bundy, still ranked as the Orioles' top pitching prospect, struck out five batters in three perfect innings. Before yesterday, Bundy had allowed four runs and eight hits in nine innings, with two walks and nine strikeouts. He gave up two runs and four hits over...

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This, that and the other

April 29, 2015, 6:02pm

Orioles

The Orioles finally start playing again and now they're off. This break in the schedule was planned. The Orioles will fly to Tampa later tonight, which wasn't supposed to happen until the three-game series moved south. Manager Buck Showalter considered holding a workout today at Camden Yards, but he wanted to check whether his team was rusty after back-to-back postponements. The Orioles batted around in the first inning, scoring six runs, and defeated the White Sox 8-2. Didn't look rusty to...

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Wrapping up an 8-2 win

April 29, 2015, 1:28pm

Orioles

A game was played inside an empty ballpark today with the world watching. If it blinked, it missed everything. The Orioles completed their 8-2 victory over the White Sox in 2 hours and 3 minutes. We learned that fans must be the problem with the pace of game. Ubaldo Jimenez allowed two unearned runs and lowered his ERA to 1.59 in 22 2/3 innings. Manny Machado committed an error, but he also went 3-for-4 with a double, home run and three runs scored. Chris Davis homered onto Eutaw St. Adam Jones...

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More on today's game and quotes from Showalter (O's win 8-2)

April 29, 2015, 11:47am

Orioles

More on today's game and quotes from Showalter (O's win 8-2)

I wonder if it's out of habit today that first basemen Chris Davis and Jose Abreu have tossed the ball into the stands after the final out. I'm guessing it's a joke. Earlier today, catcher Caleb Joseph pretended to sign an autograph next to the dugout, then tipped his cap as he jogged onto the field. It's so quiet inside an empty Camden Yards that Adam Jones heard one member of the media's booming voice from the on-deck circle, looked up, pointed and nodded his head. Careful what you say...

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Orioles' bats making noise in quiet ballpark

April 29, 2015, 11:03am

Orioles

A group of fans have gathered at Gate H beyond left-center field today and are offering their support for the Orioles, who batted around in the bottom of the first inning and scored six runs. The fans yelled "O" during the anthem, spelled out O-R-I-O-L-E-S and began a chant of "Let's Go Orioles." We can hear every letter and word from the press box. Chris Davis hit a three-run homer to right, the ball landing on Eutaw St., as part of the offensive onslaught against White Sox starter Jeff...

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Adam Jones: "This isn't a cry that's acceptable, but this is their cry"

April 29, 2015, 9:59am

Orioles

Adam Jones: "This isn't a cry that's acceptable, but this is their cry"

Center fielder Adam Jones had something he needed to say this morning and the Orioles were happy to accomodate him. Jones has been deeply moved by the rioting and protests in the city. He's watched the footage on television, he's tried to reach out to people. Today, he spoke up. "The last 72 hours I think in this city have been tumultuous, to say the least," Jones said. "We've seen good, we've seen bad, we've seen ugly. We've seen our games canceled, postponed, relocated, a lot of...

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A few pregame notes from Camden Yards

April 29, 2015, 8:37am

Orioles

I have tons of transcription to pass along today after center fielder Adam Jones and manager Buck Showalter spoke to the media in the auxiliary clubhouse at Camden Yards. Watch for it in my next few blog entries. In the meantime, I'll just pass along some quick hits here while the White Sox take batting practice in an empty ballpark. The press box is full. Media requests were turned down due to a lack of space. Only scouts are allowed to sit in the stands. The media must remain in the press...

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Orioles-White Sox lineups

April 29, 2015, 7:04am

Orioles

On what is bound to be a strange day, the Orioles are putting out a pretty typical lineup. Ubaldo Jimenez and White Sox starter Jeff Samardzija will take the mound this afternoon, but will do so with no fans in the stands. Alejandro De Aza will lead off. Adam Jones will bat cleanup, with Delmon Young batting third and playing right field. For the Orioles Alejandro De Aza LF Jimmy Paredes DH Delmon Young RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Manny Machado 3B Everth Cabrera SS Caleb Joseph C Rey...

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A full field and empty seats

April 28, 2015, 3:42pm

Orioles

In ranking the most potentially bizarre scenes, I'm not sure whether to place a walk-off home run in an empty ballpark ahead of a walk-off home run in a road venue. Nothing make sense to me anymore - on the field and in the streets. The Orioles and White Sox will play today at 2:05 p.m., in a game that's closed to the public and, unless I'm missing something, guaranteed to set the record for lowest attendance. I've experienced it during intrasquad games in spring training, when you may find...

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Orioles set time for Wednesday game and move weekend series

April 28, 2015, 11:06am

Orioles

The Orioles intend to play the final game of their series against the White Sox at 2:05 p.m. Wednesday, and it will be closed to the public but air on MASN. Coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. Also, the three-game series against the Rays slated to begin Friday has been moved to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Orioles will serve as the "home" team and receive the gate. The postponed games between the Orioles and White Sox this week, impacted by the rioting in the city, will be made up as...

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Orioles-White Sox game postponed

April 28, 2015, 7:35am

Orioles

The Orioles have decided to postpone tonight's game against the White Sox at Camden Yards after consultation with Major League Baseball and state and local officials. No word on a makeup date, but the team stated in a press release that it would be announced "as soon as possible." Fans are encouraged to keep their tickets and parking passes until more information is made available. The Orioles will remain in contact with officials while plotting a course of action for Wednesday. Options...

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Latest update on Orioles-White Sox game

April 28, 2015, 6:47am

Orioles

The Orioles are hoping to play today's game against the White Sox with a 4 p.m. first pitch at Camden Yards, but a final decision is pending. The 10 p.m. curfew that begins tonight eliminated the possibility of playing at 7:05 p.m. The Orioles are examing all the possibilities, including another postponement and relocating to a different venue. The Orioles have been in steady contact with Major League Baseball and city and state officials to determine the best course of action. It would seem...

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Addressing the uncertainties of tonight's game

April 27, 2015, 6:50pm

Orioles

Addressing the uncertainties of tonight's game

The Orioles are supposed to play the White Sox tonight, just as they were scheduled to do last night before the postponement caused by rioting in the city. Another adjustment must be made. It's just a question of how it's done. I'm no longer comfortable using the term "protesters" because it's insulting to the people who tried to have a peaceful demonstration. You can come up with your own descriptions for the individuals who chose the path of violence and destruction, who burned the city...