Roch Kubatko

Hardy supplies the hit, but Orioles need more runs (O's lose 10-2)

July 20, 2014, 2:06pm

Orioles

Somebody had to do it. The Orioles needed a hit this afternoon against Athletics starter Sonny Gray, and J.J. Hardy stepped up with an RBI double in the top of the fifth. Chris Davis scored from first base after a leadoff walk, and the Oakland lead was down to 4-1. The Orioles needed more, but Manny Machado struck out and Ryan Flaherty and Caleb Joseph grounded out. It was a poor at-bat for Machado, who flailed at breaking stuff and couldn't get the runner to third. The last pitch bounced in...

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Early trouble for Gausman (O's down 4-0)

July 20, 2014, 12:40pm

Orioles

Early trouble for Gausman (O's down 4-0)

The Oakland Athletics are 40-10 when they score first this season. The Orioles are 17-34 when their opponent scores first, and they have a losing record in day games and on Sundays. Those are the challenges facing the Orioles, who fell behind 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning. Kevin Gausman allowed a leadoff single to Coco Crisp and RBI triple to John Jaso. A wild pitch brought home the second run. Crisp is now 3-for-4 with a home run against Gausman, who went exclusively with his fastball...

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Orioles and Athletics lineups

July 20, 2014, 7:21am

Orioles

Steve Pearce remains in left field and Nelson Cruz continues to serve as the designated hitter today for the Orioles' final game in Oakland. Ryan Flaherty gets the start at second base and Caleb Joseph is behind the plate. Oakland starter Sonny Gray is 4-0 with a 2.41 ERA over his last five outings. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Steve Pearce LF Adam Jones CF Nelson Cruz DH Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy SS Manny Machado 3B Ryan Flaherty 2B Caleb Joseph C Kevin Gausman RHP For the Athletics Coco...

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More on Jones' big night in Oakland

July 20, 2014, 6:50am

Orioles

Center fielder Adam Jones had a rare and special night in Oakland, and it extended beyond his three-run homer in the first inning off former teammate Jason Hammel. Jones is the first Oriole ever, and the first center fielder since Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle, with five RBIs and two stolen bases in the same game. According to the Orioles' PR staff, Jones became the sixth player since 1914 to record at least one home run, one walk, two steals and five RBIs in the same game, joining Matt Lawton...

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Graham on Yaz: "What you see with him is a very complete baseball player"

July 19, 2014, 8:50pm

Orioles

Graham on Yaz: "What you see with him is a very complete baseball player"

Adam Jones is the only certainty in the Orioles' outfield in 2015. He's going to be in center. Book it. Nick Markakis is in the last guaranteed year of his contract, which includes an option worth $17.5 million. Nelson Cruz will be a free agent after signing a one-year, $8 million deal in spring training. As the Orioles continue to transfer players in their minor league system, I'm asked whether Dariel Alvarez could be an option in left or right. I'm asked whether Mike Yastrzemski could...

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Jones, Hardy homer in first inning (Jones has five RBIs, O's win 8-4)

July 19, 2014, 5:42pm

Orioles

Jones, Hardy homer in first inning (Jones has five RBIs, O's win 8-4)

Adam Jones was among three Oriole batters hit by pitches last night, taking a ball high off his left shoulder in the eighth inning. Earlier in the game, J.J. Hardy was drilled on the back of his batting helmet. Jones belted a three-run homer in the first inning tonight, and Hardy soon followed with a solo shot. Makes you wonder whether manager Buck Showalter should have started catcher Caleb Joseph, the third Oriole to get hit last night. I'm sure it's just a coincidence, but the Orioles...

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Orioles and Athletics lineups

July 19, 2014, 1:07pm

Orioles

With the Blue Jays and Yankees winning today, the Orioles need to defeat the Athletics tonight to maintain their four-game lead in the American League East. No pressure. According to STATS, the Orioles have been tied or led after seven innings in 10 of 11 games against the Athletics dating back to 2013, but are only 6-5. Manny Machado has reached base safely in a career-high 17 consecutive games since June 22, batting .415/.457/.754. In his last 37 games since May 31, he's batting...

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Chen vs. Hammel tonight in Oakland

July 19, 2014, 11:44am

Orioles

When Orioles manager Buck Showalter lined up his rotation coming out of the break, he leaned heavily on match-ups against opponents on their West Coast trip. Wei-Yin Chen's slot was pretty much a no-brainer. Chen starts tonight at O.co Coliseum, and he's 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA lifetime against the Athletics. He's allowed three earned runs in 27 innings, with eight walks and 25 strikeouts. In his only start in Oakland, Chen threw a career-high eight scoreless innings and earned the win on...

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Updates on Steve Johnson, Henry Urrutia and Suk-min Yoon

July 19, 2014, 9:02am

Orioles

Updates on Steve Johnson, Henry Urrutia and Suk-min Yoon

Right-hander Steve Johnson is headed to Triple-A Norfolk today and will start Wednesday night against the Toledo Mud Hens at Harbor Park. Johnson has been on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis. He's made one start with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Orioles and three with short-season Single-A Aberdeen, never going more than three innings. Johnson will remain on a strict pitch count Wednesday night, likely topping out at 50. In his most recent start with Aberdeen, Johnson allowed...

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More on the importance of the bullpen

July 18, 2014, 9:20pm

Orioles

The Orioles opened the second half of their season last night - not the mathematical one, but the one dictated by their schedule - with a rotation that accounted for 543 1/3 innings, the fewest for any team with a winning record. The starters' 4.09 ERA ranked 23rd in the majors and 11th in the American League. Yes, there's been a surge. Before last night, the rotation had posted a 3.18 ERA in 33 games since June 9. Chris Tillman allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings last night and has notched...

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Orioles batters a hit with A's (O's lose 5-4)

July 18, 2014, 8:28pm

Orioles

For those of you keeping score at home, Oakland pitchers have hit three Orioles in tonight's game. Starter Jeff Samardzija nailed Caleb Joseph and J.J. Hardy, the latter taking a shot to the back of the helmet. Not to be outdone, reliever Ryan Cook hit Adam Jones on the left shoulder in the top of the eighth inning, the ball coming dangerously close to the face. I'm not suggesting that the pitches were intentional, but that's not going to make the Orioles feel much better. Factor in...

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Checking on the farm and Orioles-Athletics (Machado homer breaks tie)

July 18, 2014, 6:39pm

Orioles

Double-A Bowie was being no-hit for eight innings tonight by Altoona's Adrian Sampson before Mike Yastrzemski doubled with one out in the ninth - his fifth hit in two games with the Baysox. First baseman Christian Walker picked up his first Triple-A hit tonight in his second game with Norfolk. He drew three walks last night. Single-A Frederick's Parker Bridwell allowed one run and four hits in seven-plus innings. Hunter Harvey allowed one run and two hits in five innings for Single-A...

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Orioles and Athletics lineups

July 18, 2014, 2:30pm

Orioles

The Orioles open the second half of their season tonight with a familiar lineup. Once again, Steve Pearce is in left field and Nelson Cruz is the designated hitter. Caleb Joseph is behind the plate for starter Chris Tillman, and Jonathan Schoop is at second base. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Steve Pearce LF Adam Jones CF Nelson Cruz DH Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy SS Manny Machado 3B Caleb Joseph C Jonathan Schoop 2B Chris Tillman RHP For the Athletics Coco Crisp CF John Jaso DH Yoenis...

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Orioles sign 33rd-rounder, and other notes

July 18, 2014, 1:23pm

Orioles

The Orioles announced today that they signed right-hander Brandon Koch, their 33rd-round selection in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Temecula Valley (Calif.) High School. Koch had signed a national letter of intent to play for UC Riverside. Today was the deadline for signing picks. The Orioles continue to make changes to their minor league rosters, promoting reliever Jon Keller from low Single-A Delmarva to advanced Single-A Frederick. Keller, 21, was 3-0 with a 1.59 ERA in 24...

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Orioles getting first look at Samardzija

July 18, 2014, 9:43am

Orioles

Jeff Samardzija is living, breathing, spitting, scratching proof that wins and losses don't provide an accurate measurement of a pitcher's effectiveness and worth. Samardzija, who starts tonight against the Orioles, is a combined 3-8 with the Cubs and Athletics, but he's also registered a 2.78 ERA in 19 starts. He's allowed 108 hits, walked 32 and struck out 113 in 123 innings. The Orioles have never faced Samardzija and I'm guessing that most of them would have to look up the spelling of...

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Minor league recaps on Gonzalez, Alvarez, Walker, Yastrzemski and Johnson

July 17, 2014, 5:48pm

Orioles

Minor league recaps on Gonzalez, Alvarez, Walker, Yastrzemski and Johnson

Miguel Gonzalez made his start tonight at Triple-A Norfolk and threw 88 pitches in six innings. Gonzalez, optioned by the Orioles so he could get some work during the All-Star break, allowed three runs and five hits over six innings. He walked two, struck out one, gave up a home run and threw two wild pitches. As I've written previously, Gonzalez will be recalled and start the June 22 game in Anaheim. The Orioles will have a five-man rotation until Ubaldo Jimenez comes off the disabled list....

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Orioles set to begin the second half

July 17, 2014, 5:17pm

Orioles

It's back to baseball tonight for the Orioles, who begin a 10-game West Coast trip against the Athletics. Should Manny Machado expect a warm reception from Oakland fans? Probably not. But they may want to go easy on him. He's been a beast since his confrontation with Josh Donaldson and the bat-tossing incident. The only cool-down period came during his five-game suspension. Machado has reached base safely in 16 straight games since June 22 (.410/.455/.721), which is tied for his career-best...

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Bundy: "There are just some things I need to work on"

July 17, 2014, 12:08pm

Orioles

Bundy: "There are just some things I need to work on"

In three starts for short-season Single-A Aberdeen, right-hander Dylan Bundy allowed one run and struck out 22 batters in 15 innings. Opponents in the New York-Penn League hit .189 against him. In three starts for advanced Single-A Frederick, Bundy has allowed 12 runs and struck out six batters in 11 2/3 innings. Opponents in the Carolina League are hitting .326 against him. This just in: The competition grows tougher at each level of the farm system. Bundy worked four-plus innings last night...

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Orioles celebrating 60th anniversary

July 17, 2014, 10:21am

Orioles

This may come as a surprise to fans who think the Orioles don't look a day over 50, but they're actually celebrating their 60th season in Baltimore. The party really kicks in on Friday, Aug. 8 at Camden Yards - before, during and after their game against the St. Louis Cardinals. According to a press release, the club is welcoming back 23 Orioles Hall of Famers who will take part in a postgame celebration. Among the legends expected to attend are Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Cal Ripken Jr....

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Britton on closing: "I'm definitely settling into the role"

July 16, 2014, 9:23pm

Orioles

Britton on closing: "I'm definitely settling into the role"

The All-Star break has pretty much ended for the Orioles, who are holding a workout today in Oakland before starting a three-game series on Friday. There shouldn't be any news coming out of it, since manager Buck Showalter already announced his second-half rotation on Sunday. Chris Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen and Kevin Gausman will start against the Athletics, and Bud Norris, Miguel Gonzalez and Tillman will start against the Angels in the series that follows. Ubaldo Jimenez will attempt to throw in...