Roch Kubatko

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...

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Hardy says he's not concerned about his back

September 08, 2014, 12:51pm

Orioles

Hardy says he's not concerned about his back

BOSTON - The Orioles are waiting to hear back from team orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs to determine when shortstop J.J. Hardy will undergo an MRI on his back. Hardy is returning to Baltimore and most likely will miss the remainder of the road trip. "Dr. Jacobs, we have a call there and I doubt that he's going to be able to see him today, though he might," said manager Buck Showalter. "He'll see him tomorrow for sure unless something comes up. We'll leave that up to Mike what he's going...

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Hardy to undergo MRI on back

September 08, 2014, 12:25pm

Orioles

BOSTON - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is flying to Baltimore tonight and will undergo an MRI on his back Tuesday morning. Hardy said he's still bothered by some soreness in his back, but he added that he's not experiencing spasms and the muscles aren't tightening, which leaves him encouraged that it's nothing serious. Hardy added that he'd probably play under different circumstances, but it's not worth risking a lengthy absence. Team orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs will examine...

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Cruz named AL co-Player of the Week, plus Hardy out of lineup

September 08, 2014, 11:10am

Orioles

Cruz named AL co-Player of the Week, plus Hardy out of lineup

BOSTON - Nelson Cruz has been named American League co-Player of the Week with Tigers' Miguel Cabrera. Cruz batted .407 (11-for-27) with a double, a triple, four homers, 12 RBIs and six runs scored in seven games to earn his third career weekly award and his second of the season. He also was named Player of the Week on June 2. Cruz led the majors in RBIs, was second in the AL in total bases (26), tied for second in homers, was third in slugging percentage (.963) and was tied for fourth in...

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A closer look at the Orioles' 2015 schedule

September 08, 2014, 9:36am

Orioles

BOSTON - Major League Baseball released the 2015 schedule today, which includes the Orioles' season opener April 6 against the Rays at Tropicana Field and their home opener April 10 against the Blue Jays. The first off-day on April 9 separates those two series. The Orioles host the Yankees April 13-15 and make their first visit to Fenway Park from April 17-20. They're in Boston for Patriots Day for the second consecutive season. The Orioles spend a week in New York, playing the Mets from...

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Looking back and ahead

September 07, 2014, 6:03pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles have left Tropicana Field. No '80s hair band promotions, no dogs barking in the upper deck, no Wiggles concerts, no kids introducing batters over the PA system, no rap-artist felines spinning records. The series against the Rays will be remembered for some costly mistakes by the Orioles and its overall weirdness. And if there's one thing The Trop can deliver, it's a healthy dose of weird. Ryan Flaherty is on the team because he's regarded as a good...

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Cruz, Hundley, Showalter and Norris following 7-5, 11-inning win

September 07, 2014, 3:40pm

Orioles

Cruz, Hundley, Showalter and Norris following 7-5, 11-inning win

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles' magic number is down to 12. Their lead in the American League East is 9 1/2 games, exactly where it stood before they arrived at Tropicana Field. Was it pretty? Absolutely not. Is it a requirement? Absolutely not. Nelson Cruz drove in all seven runs for the Orioles in their 7-5, 11-inning win over the Rays. Cruz became the first player with at least seven RBIs to account for all of his team's scoring since Colorado's Jason Giambi on May 19, 2011 in...

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Free baseball at The Trop (Cruz homers again, O's win 7-5)

September 07, 2014, 1:40pm

Orioles

Free baseball at The Trop (Cruz homers again, O's win 7-5)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - We're headed to the 10th inning today after another miscue in the ninth burned the Orioles. Zach Britton is charged with his fourth blown save after converting 18 in a row, but the tying run is unearned after Ryan Flaherty's error on Evan Longoria's ground ball leading off the inning. Flaherty made a high throw that pulled Chris Davis off the bag. He also committed an error in the ninth yesterday afternoon, and Nick Hundley's passed ball let the winning run cross...

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Series gets weirder with inside-the-park home run (O's lead 5-4 in 9th)

September 07, 2014, 11:17am

Orioles

Series gets weirder with inside-the-park home run (O's lead 5-4 in 9th)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - We said it wouldn't get weird. This series has included some odd moments, such as yesterday's walk-off passed ball. Today brings us an inside-the-park home run by Tampa Bay's David DeJesus in the fourth inning that increased the Rays' lead to 3-0. Bud Norris hadn't allowed more than three home runs in any start this season. All three today have come with two outs. DeJesus sent a fly ball into left-center field. Alejandro De Aza ran it down, but David Lough slammed...

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Norris has rare lapse with home run ball

September 07, 2014, 10:22am

Orioles

Norris has rare lapse with home run ball

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Dogs are barking in the upper deck today at Tropicana Field. Pets must be part of the Rays' promotion. They've got a few baseballs to retrieve. The Rays hit two home runs off Orioles starter Bud Norris in the bottom of the first inning, with Evan Longoria and James Loney going back-to-back with two outs. Longoria jumped on a first-pitch 93 mph fastball. Loney lined Norris' eighth pitch, a 94 mph fastball, to right field. There wasn't much doubt on Longoria's...

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Showalter on lineup decisions

September 07, 2014, 8:50am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles need a win today to avoid being swept in consecutive road series for the first time since July 4-10, 2011 in Texas and Boston. The Orioles have lost five straight road games for the first time since losing seven in a row Sept. 13, 2013 to April 5, 2014. They've been held to two runs or fewer in their last five road games, their longest streak since May 28-June 2, 2010, according to STATS. They haven't been held to two runs or fewer in six straight road...

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O's lineup missing three regulars (with Rays lineup)

September 07, 2014, 8:02am

Orioles

O's lineup missing three regulars (with Rays lineup)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles are looking to avoid the sweep vs. the Rays this afternoon, but the starting lineup doesn't include Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and J.J. Hardy. Jones and Markakis say they're just using the opportunity to rest, both of them welcoming the idea to get off the turf at Tropicana Field. Likewise, Hardy, who experienced back spasms Friday night, said he doesn't want to take any chances on the turf. Manager Buck Showalter expects all three to be in the lineup...