Roch Kubatko

Jason Garcia debuts at The Trop (O's lose 2-0)

April 08, 2015, 5:40pm

Orioles

Jason Garcia debuts at The Trop (O's lose 2-0)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia made his major league debut tonight and tossed a scoreless seventh inning. Garcia walked Steven Souza Jr. with two outs. Two batters ran the count full. They all seem to run the count full. Catcher Ryan Lavarnway threw out Souza Jr. trying to steal second base while Garcia fell behind 3-0 to Asdrubal Cabrera. The Orioles continued to trail 1-0 heading to the top of the eighth. Rene Rivera popped up to first baseman Chris Davis, who raced into...

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Orioles win another challenge (O's down 1-0)

April 08, 2015, 3:54pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles are 2-0 this season and 2-0 challenging calls. Desmond Jennings was ruled safe at first base tonight with two outs in the bottom of the first inning, allowing a run to score and prolonging Miguel Gonzalez's stay on the mound. However, replays showed that Jennings was out and it should have been a double play. The umpires eventually got it right after manager Buck Showalter came out of the dugout to challenge. The Orioles executed the 6-4-3 double play, with...

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Pregame notes and quotes before series finale

April 08, 2015, 2:15pm

Orioles

Pregame notes and quotes before series finale

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Catcher Matt Wieters, on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his right elbow, began a throwing progression a week ago and was back on the field today before batting practice. Wieters classified it as "light tossing." "Just kind of trying to get it going again and get a normal throwing progression and kind of pick back up," Wieters said. "When it feels good enough at a certain step, we'll move back to the next step and go from there. "It'll be just move...

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Orioles and Rays lineups

April 08, 2015, 11:18am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Ryan Flaherty cracks the Orioles lineup again tonight, starting at shortstop for the second time in the series. He started at second base last night. Chris Davis is starting at first base and Steve Pearce is serving as the designated hitter. Ryan Lavarnway is behind the plate. For the Orioles Alejandro De Aza LF Steve Pearce DH Travis Snider RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Manny Machado 3B Ryan Flaherty SS Ryan Lavarnway C Jonathan Schoop 2B Miguel Gonzalez RHP For the...

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orioles spring training chris davis matt wieters ryan flaherty ryan lavarnway steve pearce frontstory_orioles2

Orioles going for sweep tonight

April 08, 2015, 5:25am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles will attempt tonight to complete a sweep of the Rays before heading home and stressing over the forecast for Friday's opener. It's not promising. Miguel Gonzalez is 4-3 with a 4.03 ERA in 11 starts against the Rays and 3-1 with a 2.64 ERA in five starts at Tropicana Field. Rays starter Jake Odorizzi is 0-2 with a 5.48 ERA in five games against the Orioles. Odorizzi posted a 2.62 ERA at home last season and a 6.32 ERA on the road, the largest discrepancy in...

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orioles buck showalter chris davis miguel gonzalez travis snider

Clevenger's agent wonders what future holds for catcher

April 07, 2015, 8:28pm

Orioles

Clevenger's agent wonders what future holds for catcher

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The agent for catcher Steve Clevenger suggests that the Orioles should let the Baltimore native seek a major league job with another organization rather than fight for at-bats at Triple-A Norfolk. Clevenger was optioned yesterday to create room for first baseman Chris Davis on the 25-man roster. He left Tropicana Field without speaking to reporters and headed to Norfolk. The Orioles included Clevenger on the roster submitted Sunday at the 3 p.m. deadline, but they brought...

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Wrapping up a 6-5 win

April 07, 2015, 7:44pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles won't go 162-0 this season, but they're keeping the dream alive. Zach Britton struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth inning to preserve a 6-5 win over the Rays at Tropicana Field and assure a series victory. Kevin Gausman allowed two runs and one hit in 2 1/3 innings, with two walks and four strikeouts, to earn the win. Darren O'Day retired all four batters he faced and Britton blew away the Rays. "We feel like if our starters give us six innings,...

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orioles buck showalter chris davis featured_sidebar kevin gausman steve pearce travis snider wei-yin chen zach britton frontstory_orioles2

Kevin Gausman fastball clocked at 101 mph (O's win 6-5)

April 07, 2015, 5:11pm

Orioles

Kevin Gausman fastball clocked at 101 mph (O's win 6-5)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Kevin Gausman threw 12 pitches in the fifth inning tonight after relieving starter Wei-Yin Chen. Most of them left a vapor trail. Gausman's fastball was clocked twice at 101 mph on the Tropicana Field radar gun during Evan Longoria's at-bat. He routinely hit 99 mph, including the only pitch thrown to Desmond Jennings, who popped up to shortstop Everth Cabrera to leave the bases loaded. The Orioles continue to lead the Rays 6-3. Gausman continues to intrigue. We're fond...

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J.J. Hardy on today's infield drills (O's lead 6-3)

April 07, 2015, 2:57pm

Orioles

J.J. Hardy on today's infield drills (O's lead 6-3)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Outfielder David Lough, on the disabled list with a hamstring injury, participated in baseball activities today and the Orioles hope he can get three or four at-bats Wednesday in an intrasquad game. Infielder Jimmy Paredes, on the disabled list with a lower back strain, may take some dry swings on Wednesday. He's eligible to be activated on April 16, five days after Lough, who may not be ready. I reported earlier that J.J. Hardy took ground balls at shortstop before...

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Pregame notes on Lough, Hardy, Davis and more

April 07, 2015, 1:57pm

Orioles

Pregame notes on Lough, Hardy, Davis and more

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Outfielder David Lough was scratched from today's intrasquad game in Sarasota, raising doubts that he's going to be ready to come off the disabled list on Saturday. Lough has been slowed by a hamstring injury. He also had back spasms earlier in camp. Shortstop J.J. Hardy will report to Single-A Frederick sometime after Monday next week to begin an injury-rehab assignment. "He's not going to make the 11th, but we're hoping it's not too far behind that," Orioles...

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orioles buck showalter chris davis david lough jj hardy ryan lavarnway steve clevenger frontstory_orioles1

Chris Davis talks about his return

April 07, 2015, 12:31pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Steve Clevenger, optioned to Triple-A Norfolk today, cleaned out his locker and left Tropicana Field. He wasn't available to reporters. Clevenger was removed from the 25-man roster to make room for Chris Davis, who's playing in his first regular season game since Sept. 10 in Boston. "It feels good," Davis said. "Obviously, watching the game, everybody's having all the fun, hitting home runs, scoring a bunch of runs. It's good to be a part of it today. I missed...

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Clevenger optioned, O's-Rays lineups, opening day notes

April 07, 2015, 11:26am

Orioles

Clevenger optioned, O's-Rays lineups, opening day notes

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -The Orioles made the anticipated move today and optioned catcher Steve Clevenger to Triple-A Norfolk to create room for first baseman Chris Davis on the 25-man roster. Clevenger is the fourth catcher placed on Norfolk's roster, including J.P. Arencibia, Brian Ward and Aubry Perez. Davis is in the Orioles lineup tonight for the first time since Sept. 10 in Boston, having served the final game of his suspension yesterday afternoon. He's serving as the designated...

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Hardy participating in fielding drills at The Trop

April 07, 2015, 11:02am

Orioles

Hardy participating in fielding drills at The Trop

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is engaging in fielding drills this afternoon before batting practice, another sign that he's ahead of schedule. Hardy was supposed to be shut down for a minimum of 10 days due to a strained muscle in his left shoulder, keeping him off the field until Friday at the earliest. He's eligible to return from the disabled list on Saturday. The Orioles have been encouraged by the daily reports on Hardy supplied by team orthopedist Dr. Michael...

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Looking back and ahead

April 06, 2015, 9:01pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles are making another roster move today with first baseman Chris Davis coming off the restricted list. The suspension finally is behind him. Steve Clevenger figures to be optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles have been checking the trade market. The Tides don't need four catchers. Clevenger won't be happy about being sent down. Reliever Ryan Webb isn't happy that the Orioles designated him for assignment yesterday after talking about placing him on the...

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orioles alejandro de aza chris davis featured_sidebar ryan webb steve clevenger steve pearce travis snyder frontstory_orioles2

Wrapping up a 6-2 victory on opening day

April 06, 2015, 3:45pm

Orioles

Wrapping up a 6-2 victory on opening day

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles are 5-2 against the Rays on opening day and have won 13 of 20 games between them since the start of last season. They've held Tampa Bay to three runs or fewer 13 times and now lead the all-time series 149-148. Here are a few more fun facts after a season-opening 6-2 win: * The Orioles' three home runs were one short of their opening day record. They hit four in 2006 and 1982. * The Orioles have won five straight opening day games and are 40-22 all-time. *...

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orioles alejandro de aza buck showalter chris davis chris tillman featured_sidebar ryan flaherty steve pearce travis snider frontstory_orioles2

De Aza and Snider filling in just fine (O's win 6-2)

April 06, 2015, 12:43pm

Orioles

De Aza and Snider filling in just fine (O's win 6-2)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles lineup on opening day is missing Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis, which doesn't qualify as breaking news. Stay with me here. Alejandro De Aza is playing left field instead of Cruz. He's leading off instead of Markakis. And he's having one heck of a day. So is Travis Snider, who's playing right field instead of Markakis. De Aza reached on an error and scored in the first inning, and hit a two-run homer in the fifth off Rays starter Chris Archer to give the...

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Game update and Flaherty on playing shortstop (updated)

April 06, 2015, 11:30am

Orioles

Game update and Flaherty on playing shortstop (updated)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Alejandro De Aza is the first Oriole to reach base and score a run in 2015. Travis Snider collected the first RBI. Manny Machado drew the first walk. Steve Pearce was the first to strike out. Delmon Young was the first to strike out swinging. I'm just trying to cover all the prop bets, so to speak. The run was unearned after Rays starter Chris Archer made a poor throw to first that allowed De Aza to reach. Pearce struck out looking with runners on the corners and one...

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Hearing from Duquette, Showalter and Lavarnway

April 06, 2015, 10:05am

Orioles

Hearing from Duquette, Showalter and Lavarnway

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette continues to explore trades, in part to get the pitching staff down to 12 players and give manager Buck Showalter a full four-man bench. The Orioles also are trying to move Ryan Webb, who was designated for assignment earlier today. Webb was in uniform and signing autographs for fans beside the visiting dugout. "We're just trying to get our team in shape to start the season," Duquette said. "Sometimes it takes a little...

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Ryan Webb confused by roster move

April 06, 2015, 8:42am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Ryan Webb walked out of manager Buck Showalter's office this morning just as confused as when he entered it. Webb was designated for assignment today to make room for catcher Ryan Lavarnway on the 25- and 40-man rosters. The Orioles are down to 13 pitchers. The Orioles have been trying to trade Webb, who's set to earn $2.75 million no matter where he pitches. They discussed placing him on the disabled list. "To clear that up, I had the problem with my knee in spring...

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O's opening day lineup at Rays

April 06, 2015, 8:18am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - With Chris Davis serving the last game of his suspension, Steve Pearce is starting at first base and batting cleanup for the Orioles on opening day at The Trop. Pearce has made five career starts batting fourth, but none last season. Ryan Flaherty is starting at shortstop with Everth Cabrera on the bench, which could have something to do with matchups against Rays starter Chris Archer. Flaherty is 4-for-9 with two doubles in his career against Archer while Cabrera has...