Roch Kubatko

Showalter on Jimenez, Johnson and more (updated)

August 04, 2014, 2:54pm

Orioles

Showalter on Jimenez, Johnson and more (updated)

WASHINGTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter didn't offer a date today for Ubaldo Jimenez to come off the disabled list and make a start. Showalter said it's possible "anytime after Thursday," which makes sense, considering that Jimenez worked six innings last night at Triple-A Norfolk. "We're going day to day," Showalter said before tonight's game against the Nationals in D.C. Showalter spoke with Tides manager Ron Johnson to get a report on Jimenez, who allowed one run in six...

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Jimenez: "Hopefully, I'll pitch in five or six days"

August 04, 2014, 12:39pm

Orioles

Jimenez: "Hopefully, I'll pitch in five or six days"

WASHINGTON - Pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez completed his brief injury rehab assignment last night and is in the visiting clubhouse today at Nationals Park. Jimenez will board the charter for Toronto following tonight's game and wait for his next start with the Orioles. Jimenez, who's 3-8 with a 4.52 ERA in 18 starts for the Orioles, has been on the disabled list with an ankle injury. He allowed one run in six innings last night at Triple-A Norfolk. "I threw six innings and everything felt...

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Orioles and Nationals lineups

August 04, 2014, 11:27am

Orioles

WASHINGTON - Back at Nationals Park for the makeup of a July 8 rainout, the Orioles will be without a designated hitter again as they take on the National League East frontrunners. Nelson Cruz is in left field and batting cleanup, Chris Davis is at first and Ryan Flaherty is at second against the Nationals. The Orioles will pit right-hander Kevin Gausman against Nats righty Tanner Roark. Gausman has allowed four runs in 13 2/3 innings for a 2.63 ERA over his last two starts. Roark is 4-0...

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A few pregame notes from D.C.

August 04, 2014, 10:57am

Orioles

WASHINGTON - Nothing much to report on Jim Johnson's bullpen session today in Sarasota. He completed it and the Orioles are still interested in signing him to a minor league deal. Scott McGregor watched Johnson's workout today at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. The Orioles remain the favorites to sign Johnson to a minor league deal. The only way he probably goes elsewhere is if a team steps up with a major league offer. Johnson would be an option as a September call-up when rosters expand...

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Updating Orioles' interest in Jim Johnson

August 03, 2014, 2:43pm

Orioles

Orioles pitching rehab coordinator Scott McGregor left Baltimore today and is headed to Sarasota, Fla., to watch reliever Jim Johnson throw a bullpen session Monday at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Johnson, who lives in Sarasota, is free to sign with any team after the Athletics released him over the weekend. Manager Buck Showalter spoke of the Orioles' interest in Johnson and the former closer's solid relationship with McGregor, who spent the past two days filling in as pitching coach...

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Makeup game and Matusz

August 03, 2014, 1:35pm

Orioles

The Orioles were supposed to be off today. So why am I driving to D.C. again and parking in a sketchy lot? Blame it on the rain. The Orioles and Nationals are playing a makeup game caused by a July 8 postponement. It's not a fair trade-off, since everyone drove to D.C. that night and waited out a delay that lasted approximately 72 hours. Felt like work. Anyway, Kevin Gausman is 1-1 with a 2.86 ERA in four road starts this season. His only career start against the Nationals ended poorly....

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orioles brian matusz featured_sidebar kevin gausman zach britton frontstory_orioles2

Showalter on leadoff home runs, Tillman, Markakis and more (updated)

August 03, 2014, 1:08pm

Orioles

Showalter on leadoff home runs, Tillman, Markakis and more (updated)

With the Blue Jays losing today in Houston, the Orioles now lead the American League East by 3 1/2 games. The Orioles improved to 43-10 when they score first, their .811 winning percentage leading the majors. Today marked the first time in club history that the Orioles won 1-0 on a leadoff home run. Nick Markakis reached the flag court in right field on the sixth pitch from Mariners starter Hisashi Iwakuma. Manager Buck Showalter can't recall winning a game after his first batter...

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orioles buck showalter chris tillman nick markakis frontstory_orioles2

Tillman tosses seven scoreless innings (O's win 1-0)

August 03, 2014, 11:47am

Orioles

Tillman tosses seven scoreless innings (O's win 1-0)

Had Chris Tillman been removed from today's game in the middle of an inning, he would have received a standing ovation on his walk to the dugout. Instead, Tillman will have to settle for the high praise coming from his manager and teammates following the game. Tillman shut out the Mariners on four hits over seven innings, with no walks and six strikeouts. He was removed after 101 pitches, 65 for strikes. Tillman retired 14 in a row before Kendrys Morales led off the seventh with a single....

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Webb officially optioned, Markakis hits first leadoff home run (Tillman update)

August 03, 2014, 10:20am

Orioles

Webb officially optioned, Markakis hits first leadoff home run (Tillman update)

The Orioles have officially optioned reliever Ryan Webb to Triple-A Norfolk. Webb was designated off the 25-man roster on Friday to make room for left-hander Andrew Miller. Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis needs one more hit to reach 1,500 for his career. His latest should have counted as two. Markakis almost deposited a Hisashi Iwakuma pitch onto Eutaw Street today, the ball landing on the back of the flag court in right field to give the Orioles a quick 1-0 lead over the...

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Notes on Cruz, Young, Jimenez, Markakis, Machado, Jim Johnson and more

August 03, 2014, 9:05am

Orioles

Notes on Cruz, Young, Jimenez, Markakis, Machado, Jim Johnson and more

Nelson Cruz is out of the Orioles lineup today for only the second time this season. Cruz's average is down to .262. He batted .215/.282/.364 in June and .211/.292/.379 in July, and he's 1-for-8 with four strikeouts this month. "They're not getting him out. He's getting himself out mostly," said manager Buck Showalter. "It's so tough. You get down 1-2, you just miss a pitch, you hook a ball foul you might normally have kept fair because you're a little quick with your front hip....

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Cruz sits today

August 03, 2014, 6:57am

Orioles

Chris Davis has returned to the Orioles lineup today. Nelson Cruz is on the bench. Cruz is in a 1-for-28 slump. He struck out three times last night. Delmon Young is batting cleanup. He has one at-bat in the fourth spot this season. Manny Machado has four multi-hit games in his last six games, going 11-for-29 (.379). He's totaled six hits in his last two games. Over their last 12 games, Orioles relievers have posted a 1.67 ERA in 37 2/3 innings. Brad Brach has a 1.23 ERA in his last 13...

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Tillman vs. Iwakuma in series finale

August 02, 2014, 7:26pm

Orioles

Now that the Orioles' streak of one-run games has ended at seven, they can concentrate on increasing their lead in the American League East. The important stuff. They must be tired of playing the American League West. Not that they're thrilled with Monday's makeup game in D.C., or how they're forced to play at night before boarding their flight to Toronto. Would an afternoon game have killed the Nats? Anyway, Chris Tillman will try to win his second home game this afternoon. He's 1-5...

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Showalter speaks after 6-3 loss

August 02, 2014, 7:18pm

Orioles

The Orioles need to get their offense cranked up. They've scored three runs or fewer in six of their last eight games, and four or fewer in 12 of 13 games. The pitching has been outstanding, but that's too much pressure to put on the arms every single night. Miguel Gonzalez's streak of quality starts ended at four. Here's a sampling from manager Buck Showalter following a 6-3 loss to the Mariners before 36,508 at Camden Yards: On Gonzalez "OK. Really made one mistake. Obviously, he's...

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Gonzalez gives up run in third, more on SOR Night at the Yard (O's lose 6-3)

August 02, 2014, 4:08pm

Orioles

Gonzalez gives up run in third, more on SOR Night at the Yard (O's lose 6-3)

Dustin Ackley homered onto the flag court in right field with one out in the top of the third to draw Seattle even with the Orioles at 1-1. Miguel Gonzalez followed his 11-pitch first inning with 30 pitches in the second, leaving the bases loaded. He wishes he hadn't thrown Ackley that two-seam fastball in the third. The Orioles stranded two runners in the bottom of the second after J.J. Hardy reached on an infield hit and Jonathan Schoop walked. James Paxton has thrown 46 pitches in two...

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Game update and Davis note

August 02, 2014, 3:30pm

Orioles

Miguel Gonzalez had a nice little 11-pitch inning in the top of the first, retiring the Mariners in order on a line drive, popup and ground ball. Robinson Cano is now 2-for-25 against Gonzalez after his roller to second. Mariners left-hander James Paxton came off the 60-day disabled list to make tonight's start. He hasn't faced major league hitters since April 8. Manny Machado followed Nick Markakis' leadoff walk with a double to left field, and Adam Jones' ground ball gave the Orioles a...

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Notes on Davis, the rotation and more

August 02, 2014, 12:59pm

Orioles

Chris Davis is out of the Orioles lineup tonight for a variety of reasons, but his prolonged slump seems to be the primary issue. Davis batted .175/.292/.381 with six homers and 36 strikeouts in June, and .167/.250/.333 with four homers and 38 strikeouts in July. He showed up early again today to work on his swing mechanics in the indoor cage. The Orioles are facing a tough young left-hander in Seattle's James Paxton. Nick Markakis is the only left-handed batter in tonight's lineup. Also,...

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Davis out of Orioles lineup vs. Mariners

August 02, 2014, 11:03am

Orioles

One day after returning to the Orioles lineup following a bout with the flu, Chris Davis is sitting once again. Davis has started just one of the Orioles' last five games and is mired in a lengthy slump. Steve Pearce will man first in his place. Miguel Gonzalez, tonight's starter, is 2-2 with a 3.24 ERA in seven home starts this season. He's faced the Mariners once in his career, allowing one earned run in six innings on July 27. Robinson Cano is 2-for-24 lifetime against Gonzalez....

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orioles chris davis miguel gonzalez frontstory_orioles2

Orioles attempted to trade for Asdrubal Cabrera

August 01, 2014, 10:15pm

Orioles

The non-waiver deadline has passed, but I can't seem to let it go. I'm not sure why, since I mostly find it annoying. This could explain my relationship issues. But seriously... The Orioles failed to trade for a hitter Thursday despite making a final push shortly before 4 p.m. Executive vice president Dan Duquette was trying to work a couple of deals, and he came close to acquiring Indians middle infielder Asdrubal Cabrera, according to sources. The Indians decided to take Nationals...

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Showalter on Chen, Miller and a 2-1 win

August 01, 2014, 6:25pm

Orioles

In case you missed it in my last entry, the Orioles tied the franchise record tonight with their seventh consecutive one-run game. You have to go all the way back to June 21-29, 1956. The Orioles have won five of those games during the current stretch, including tonight's 2-1 victory over the Mariners at Camden Yards. Wei-Yin Chen is riding a career-high five-game winning streak. His 12 victories this season tie his career-high. Chen has gone eight and 7 1/3 innings in his last two...

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orioles andrew miller buck showalter wei-yin chen frontstory_orioles2

Sweet Chen music (O's win 2-1)

August 01, 2014, 5:26pm

Orioles

For Wei-Yin Chen, the song remained the same while facing the Seattle Mariners. Last week, Chen tossed eight scoreless innings at Safeco Field, leading manager Buck Showalter to tweak the rotation and pair them again tonight. It worked. Chen went 7 1/3 innings tonight, holding the Mariners to one run and five hits. He walked one, the final batter he faced, and struck out a season-high eight. Andrew Miller replaced Chen in his Orioles debut. He got Dustin Ackley to ground into a force and...