Roch Kubatko

Gausman on the mound for Game 1

September 11, 2014, 6:46pm

Orioles

What's better than one game? Try two. The Yankees can't be thrilled about playing at home last night and flying to Baltimore for today's doubleheader. And there isn't a device small enough to measure the amount of sympathy they're going to receive from the Orioles, who have been abused by the schedule all season. Last night's walk-off victory moved the Yankees 10 1/2 games behind the Orioles in the American League East. The Blue Jays were idle and remained 10 games back. The Yankees...

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Game 1 of ALDS set for Oct. 2

September 11, 2014, 1:53pm

Orioles

Major League Baseball announced its postseason schedule today, including the date for the opening game of the American League Division Series. That one may especially interest you. The AL Wild Card game is scheduled for Sept. 30 on TBS, followed by the NL Wild Card game that airs on ESPN on Oct. 1. This is the first time that ESPN will be part of baseball's postseason telecasts since 2006. Should the Orioles win the AL East, they would host Game 1 of the Division Series on Oct. 2. In fact,...

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Voting for the Most Valuable Oriole

September 11, 2014, 11:52am

Orioles

I received an e-mail today inviting me to vote for Most Valuable Oriole, and it got me to thinking about how much I'd appreciate the input of my blog readers. Also, there's no game today and I'd like to file a second entry. Members of the media who cover the team make three selections, with the first-place finisher receiving five votes, second place three and third place one. The winner will be announced at the conclusion of the homestand. Chris Davis was the easy choice last season. One...

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This, that and the other

September 10, 2014, 4:18pm

Orioles

BOSTON - For Orioles fans, there's no baseball today. You might prefer that I start you off with the magic number. OK, here goes ... Eight is enough. The Blue Jays and Yankees won last night. It's mathematically possible that the Orioles clinch the division during the homestand that begins Friday with a doubleheader against the Yankees. I haven't ventured inside a champagne-soaked clubhouse at Camden Yards since 1997 following the American League Division Series. I expected it to become...

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Showalter, Chen, Joseph and Flaherty after 10-6 victory

September 10, 2014, 2:10pm

Orioles

Showalter, Chen, Joseph and Flaherty after 10-6 victory

BOSTON - Don Werner, the Orioles minor league catching instructor who's been fighting cancer since he left the club in spring training, returned to the field today in the instructional league in Sarasota. Manager Buck Showalter eagerly passed along the news to reporters following today's 10-6 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park. "That's pretty cool," Showalter said. "That's the highlight of the day." The Orioles earned their first series sweep against the Red Sox since September 2012...

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Orioles complete sweep and lower magic number to eight

September 10, 2014, 1:00pm

Orioles

BOSTON - The Orioles currently lead the American League East by 10 1/2 games over the Blue Jays and 11 1/2 over the Yankees, who play later tonight. They've moved 27 games above .500. They're making a mockery of the pennant race. The Orioles' magic number is down to eight following today's 10-6 victory over the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Andy Etchebarren or Cal Ripken Jr. Take your pick. The Orioles have won the last three season series from the Red Sox for the first time since taking...

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Orioles bat around in third and take six-run lead (O's lead 8-1)

September 10, 2014, 10:46am

Orioles

BOSTON - Orioles starter Wei-Yin Chen has a pretty big margin for error this afternoon at Fenway Park. The Orioles staked him to a 6-0 lead in the third inning, sending 11 batters to the plate and making life real uncomfortable for Boston right-hander Brandon Workman. Ryan Flaherty had two hits and an RBI in the inning, which didn't include any home runs. The Orioles collected five singles, a double and two walks, and third baseman Carlos Rivero committed an error. I'm not suggesting that...

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Showalter on rotation and the chance to celebrate at home

September 10, 2014, 8:52am

Orioles

Showalter on rotation and the chance to celebrate at home

BOSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter still hasn't confirmed his starter for Tuesday night's game against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. The field, however, has been narrowed to T.J. McFarland, Joe Saunders and Ubaldo Jimenez. Yesterday, Showalter mentioned minor leaguers Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson as possibilities in extreme circumstances. Showalter is expected to make the announcement on Saturday. My guess is McFarland. There's nothing new on shortstop J.J. Hardy. He's still...

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Orioles and Red Sox lineups

September 10, 2014, 6:30am

Orioles

BOSTON - The Orioles are using almost the same lineup as Tuesday with a change at catcher being the only exception. Caleb Joseph is behind the plate after Nick Hundley caught last night's win. Alejandro De Aza is back in left and batting second after recording three extra-base hits yesterday, including his first two Orioles homers. Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen is on the mound seeking his 15th win of the season. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Alejandro De Aza LF Adam Jones CF Nelson Cruz...

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Taking the rotation for another spin

September 09, 2014, 8:42pm

Orioles

BOSTON - Does everyone remember the Orioles' magic number for winning the American League East? Number nine, number nine, number nine, number nine. Hope that helps. Chris Tillman wasn't particularly sharp last night - 108 pitches in five innings offered a clue - but he escaped a jam in the fifth and held the Red Sox to one run. Not a quality start, but a winning one. Nice little rotation the Orioles have built for themselves. Fresh eyes may have been the slogan going into spring...

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Showalter, De Aza, Jones and Tillman after 4-1 win

September 09, 2014, 7:45pm

Orioles

Showalter, De Aza, Jones and Tillman after 4-1 win

BOSTON - The Orioles' magic number is down to nine. Single digits. Don Buford's uniform number. Brady Anderson's number, too, for younger fans. Chris Tillman lasted only five innings and threw 108 pitches, but he's held opponents to three earned runs or fewer in 18 consecutive starts to tie Steve Barber for the fourth-longest streak in club history. Alejandro De Aza hit his first two home runs as an Oriole. Adam Jones cleared one of the signs above the Green Monster with his home run, the...

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De Aza hits first home run as Oriole (O's win 4-1)

September 09, 2014, 3:36pm

Orioles

De Aza hits first home run as Oriole (O's win 4-1)

BOSTON - Alejandro De Aza hit his first home run as an Oriole tonight, depositing a 91 mph fastball from rookie Anthony Ranaudo into the Red Sox's bullpen after Nick Markakis drew a leadoff walk. Orioles 2, Red Sox 0. De Aza has six home runs on the season, the first five with the White Sox before the Aug. 30 trade. Nelson Cruz doubled with two outs and is now 13-for-28 (.464) in his last eight games. Ranaudo threw 30 pitches before getting out of the inning. He walked Steve Pearce with...

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Revealing the rotation

September 09, 2014, 2:10pm

Orioles

BOSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter announced his rotation through Monday's game at Camden Yards. Kevin Gausman will start Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader against the Yankees, followed by Bud Norris in Game 2. Miguel Gonzalez will start Saturday afternoon and Chris Tillman will pitch Sunday night on ESPN. Wei-Yin Chen, who closes out the Red Sox series at Fenway Park, will start Monday night against the Blue Jays. Norris is 2-4 with a 5.75 ERA in seven day starts this season and 10-4...

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Good news on Hardy (with quotes)

September 09, 2014, 12:36pm

Orioles

BOSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter passed along a favorable update today on shortstop J.J. Hardy. Hardy underwent an MRI on his back that didn't reveal any structural damage. Team orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs told Showalter that the result matched the one in April. Nothing has changed to raise concerns in the organization. Hardy received a cortisone injection in the sacroiliac joint that's located in the lower back. Showalter will meet with Hardy during Thursday's off-day in...

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Orioles and Red Sox lineups

September 09, 2014, 11:12am

Orioles

BOSTON - Ryan Flaherty continues to start at shortstop in place of the injured J.J. Hardy as the Orioles continue their series at Fenway Park against the Red Sox. Right-hander Chris Tillman opposes Boston righty Anthony Ranaudo. For the OriolesNick Markakis RF Alejandro De Aza LF Adam Jones CF Nelson Cruz DH Chris Davis 3B Steve Pearce 1B Nick Hundley C Ryan Flaherty SS Jonathan Schoop 2B Chris Tillman RHP For the Red Sox Mookie Betts CF Daniel Nava RF David Ortiz DH Yoenis Cespedes LF Mike...

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A few early notes from Fenway Park

September 09, 2014, 10:43am

Orioles

BOSTON - Rather than early hitting today, the Orioles are focused on fielding drills involving their new double play combination. Third base coach Bobby Dickerson, who works with the infielders, has been hitting ground balls to shortstop Ryan Flaherty and second baseman Jonathan Schoop. One player fields the ball and the other covers the bag. Flaherty was getting a lot of work to his backhand side. He's also charging balls and throwing on the run. J.J. Hardy, scheduled to have an MRI today on...

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About last night and tonight ...

September 08, 2014, 8:34pm

Orioles

BOSTON - It doesn't seem that long ago when playing at Fenway Park was excruciating for the Orioles. A cup-splitting kick that doubled them over for days. Not anymore. The Orioles are 19-9 in Boston since Sept. 20, 2011. Overall, they're 32-19 against the Red Sox since 2012. The Orioles have won 11 of their last 15 games since being swept at Wrigley Field. They're 66-14 this season when scoring at least four runs in a game, including 26-1 beginning on July 19. Miguel Gonzalez is pitching...

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Hearing from Pearce, Hunter, Showalter and Gonzalez after 4-0 win

September 08, 2014, 7:26pm

Orioles

Hearing from Pearce, Hunter, Showalter and Gonzalez after 4-0 win

BOSTON - The Orioles' magic number is down to 11 and their lead in the American League East is up to 10. Try wrapping your arms around this one: The Orioles haven't led by that many games since Sept. 22, 1979. None of the current Orioles were born. "We hear it, we hear what's going on, but it doesn't feel like that," said first baseman Steve Pearce, who contributed two hits and an aggressive slide into second base in the Orioles' 4-0 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park. "We still know...

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Gonzalez hanging up more zeros (O's win 4-0)

September 08, 2014, 4:50pm

Orioles

Gonzalez hanging up more zeros (O's win 4-0)

BOSTON - Miguel Gonzalez may never give up another run as long as he lives. That's probably extreme, but his scoreless innings streak has reached 14. Gonzalez is shutting out the Red Sox on three hits over five innings tonight and he continues to hold a 1-0 lead. He's retired nine of the last 10 batters he's faced. Gonzalez has thrown 77 pitches, 22 coming in the first inning, when he allowed two hits and walked a batter. The Orioles have aided Gonzalez with two double plays. He's...

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Showalter on Hardy, Cruz on latest honor (O's lead 1-0)

September 08, 2014, 2:06pm

Orioles

Showalter on Hardy, Cruz on latest honor (O's lead 1-0)

BOSTON - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is flying to Baltimore around 8:40 p.m. tonight, and he has a 1 p.m. appointment Tuesday with team orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs. Hardy is expected to undergo an MRI, and he also could receive another cortisone injection. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed that Hardy will stay in Baltimore rather than fly back to Boston. Showalter is hopeful that Hardy will be in the lineup Friday against the Yankees. "When I talked to Mike, he already had looked at the...