Roch Kubatko

Orioles still working to retain Santana

June 02, 2014, 1:01pm

Orioles

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Orioles have until midnight to work out an agreement with veteran left-hander Johan Santana to push back the opt-out date on his minor league contract, and they remain optimistic that he will remain in the organization. Santana didn't make his scheduled start today at extended spring training. He was supposed to go six innings or throw 85 pitches. Santana threw 76 pitches in 4 1/3 innings in his most recent outing, allowing two runs and six hits, walking none and...

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Cruz named AL Player of the Week

June 02, 2014, 11:50am

Orioles

ARLINGTON, Texas - Have yourself a day, Nelson Cruz. And a week. Cruz has been named the American League's Player of the Week after batting .476 (10-for-21) with three doubles, four home runs, eight RBIs, five runs scored and four walks in seven games. Cruz led all major league hitters in slugging percentage (1.190) and was second overall with 25 total bases. Among his AL counterparts, Cruz was tied for second in batting average and homers and was third in RBIs and on-base percentage...

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Cruz, Wieters among leaders in AL All-Star voting

June 02, 2014, 10:26am

Orioles

Cruz, Wieters among leaders in AL All-Star voting

DALLAS - Orioles outfielder Nelson Cruz has a swollen left hand and an inflated vote total. Cruz has passed Boston's David Ortiz for first place among designated hitters in the latest round of All-Star balloting. Cruz, who leads the majors with 20 home runs and 52 RBIs, has received 888,855 votes to surpass Ortiz (766,631), a nine-time All-Star. Cruz would become only the fifth different fan-elected starter at the position, joining Edgar Martinez (1997, 2001, 2003), Jose Canseco (1999),...

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On Day 2,131, a different Orioles shortstop talks about his homerless streak

June 01, 2014, 3:33pm

Orioles

HOUSTON - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy delivered two more hits yesterday afternoon, a single in the fourth inning and another single in the sixth. His average is .306 heading into Tuesday's series opener against the Rangers in Arlington, second on the team behind Nelson Cruz's .314. Hardy also is tied for last in home runs with zero, which is sort of like the elephant in the room - except reporters talked to him about it before yesterday's game. We're not real good at the whole elephant...

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More quotes following 9-4 win

June 01, 2014, 2:57pm

Orioles

HOUSTON - Former Orioles pitcher Scott Feldman said he didn't intend to hit ex-teammate Nelson Cruz during today's game at Minute Maid Park. Feldman nailed Cruz on the left hand in the third inning of the Orioles' 9-4 victory over the Astros. X-rays taken on Cruz's hand came back negative and he's day to day with a bruise and swelling. "I didn't want to hit him," Feldman said. "I checked after the game to make sure he was all right and they said it was just a bruise, so that was a...

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Cruz: "I tried to stay in the game, but I can't hold the bat"

June 01, 2014, 2:29pm

Orioles

Cruz: "I tried to stay in the game, but I can't hold the bat"

HOUSTON - Nelson Cruz had his swollen left hand wrapped today following the Orioles' 9-4 victory over the Astros. Whether he plays on Tuesday will be decided later. X-rays on Cruz's hand were negative after he was drilled by a fastball from former Orioles pitcher Scott Feldman. "It's swollen, so hopefully just day by day stuff," Cruz said. "I have to wait until tomorrow to see how I feel. I tried to stay in the game, but I can't hold the bat, so hopefully tomorrow it is...

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Updating Cruz injury (O's win 9-4)

June 01, 2014, 12:51pm

Orioles

HOUSTON - The Orioles are reporting good news on outfielder Nelson Cruz. X-rays taken on Cruz's left hand came back negative. It's just a contusion and he's listed as day-to-day. Nothing more serious. Astros starter Scott Feldman, a former Oriole, drilled Cruz on the left hand in the top of the third inning. Cruz, starting today in right field, stayed in the game until the bottom half of the inning. The Orioles are off Monday, and Cruz could be back in the lineup Tuesday night for the...

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Machado hits grand slam, and more notes (updated)

June 01, 2014, 12:18pm

Orioles

Machado hits grand slam, and more notes (updated)

HOUSTON - Manny Machado got the best revenge today on Astros starter Scott Feldman. Machado, hit on the left elbow in his first at-bat, belted his first career grand slam in the sixth inning to give the Orioles a 9-1 lead. The ball appeared to slam off the Lexus sign high above the left fields seats, increasing Machado's RBI total from five to nine this season. Machado stood on second base in the third inning when Feldman drilled Nelson Cruz on the left hand. We're still waiting for an...

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Cruz HBP and leaves game

June 01, 2014, 11:16am

Orioles

HOUSTON - The Orioles have been struck with another injury, this one to their best hitter. Nelson Cruz exited today's game in the bottom of the third inning after being hit on the left hand or wrist by an 87 mph fastball from Astros starter Scott Feldman. No word yet from the Orioles on the exact nature of the injury. Feldman hit Manny Machado on the left elbow with one out in the first, and he drilled Cruz with one out in the third following Machado's double into left-center field. Cruz...

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The Lough-down on today's game

June 01, 2014, 10:43am

Orioles

HOUSTON - The Orioles have a two-run lead today. They also have their health. Nick Markakis reached on an infield single in the top of the first inning, and shortstop Jonathan Villar's throw nailed him on the left side of the head as he motored up the line. Markakis stayed in the game. The next batter, Manny Machado, was grazed on the left elbow by a pitch from Astros starter Scott Feldman. It's dangerous out there. The rally fizzled after Nelson Cruz grounded into a double play. David...

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Markakis provides neck update

June 01, 2014, 9:48am

Orioles

HOUSTON - Wondering how Nick Markakis' neck is feeling this morning? You came to the right place. Markakis almost was scratched from yesterday's Orioles lineup due to neck stiffness, but it subsided in batting practice and he made a tremendous running catch in right field to leave the bases loaded. Markakis remains in the lineup today as the designated hitter, though manager Buck Showalter indicated that he wanted to put Nelson Cruz in the outfield. Cruz came out of a game in Milwaukee last...

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Pregame notes on Hunter, Wieters, Santana and more (updated)

June 01, 2014, 9:18am

Orioles

Pregame notes on Hunter, Wieters, Santana and more (updated)

HOUSTON - Reliever Tommy Hunter threw a bullpen session today at Double-A Bowie and the feedback was positive. Hunter will join the Orioles in Arlington and throw on Tuesday for pitching coach Dave Wallace and bullpen coach Dom Chiti. He's expected to pitch in two rehab games before being activated from the disabled list. Hunter, on the DL with a strained left groin, could be activated on June 9 - four days after he's eligible. Matt Wieters' second throwing session today went extremely...

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Orioles and Astros lineups

June 01, 2014, 7:30am

Orioles

HOUSTON - Nelson Cruz will attempt to extend his hitting streak to 13 games today in the series finale against the Astros at Minute Maid Park. Cruz is batting .476 (20-for-42) during the streak, with six doubles, eight home runs, 15 RBIs and 14 runs scored. Cruz's 12-game hitting streak is the second-longest active in the majors behind Matt Carpenter (13). Cruz leads the majors in home runs (20) and RBIs (52). He also leads the majors in homers (13) and RBIs (39) on the road. Nick...

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Pitching matchups versus Rangers and note on Jones

June 01, 2014, 6:38am

Orioles

Pitching matchups versus Rangers and note on Jones

HOUSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter waited until this morning to set his rotation for the series against the Rangers that begins Tuesday night in Arlington. Here are the matchups: Tuesday - Ubaldo Jimenez (2-6, 4.65 ERA) versus Joe Saunders (0-1, 4.15 ERA) Wednesday - Bud Norris (3-5, 4.04 ERA) versus Nick Martinez (1-1, 2.75 ERA) Thursday - Miguel Gonzalez (3-4, 4.17) versus Colby Lewis (4-4, 5.44 ERA) Norris will be working on six days rest after starting May 28 in Milwaukee. He moves...

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Orioles go for the split today

May 31, 2014, 10:51pm

Orioles

HOUSTON - The Orioles will go for the series split today by sending left-hander Wei-Yin Chen to the mound against the Astros. Chen is 3-1 with a 5.33 ERA in five road starts this season. He's received 8.17 runs of support per nine innings. Maybe that will perk up the offense. Chen is 2-0 with a 3.14 ERA in two starts versus the Astros. He beat them on May 9 in Baltimore after allowing two earned runs in seven innings. Matt Dominguez is 3-for-6 with two doubles against Chen. Jose Altuve is...

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Cruz: "I'm in the zone right now"

May 31, 2014, 4:17pm

Orioles

HOUSTON - Nelson Cruz leads the majors in home runs and RBIs. He's homered in five of the last seven games. He's driven in five of the Orioles' last nine runs. He's still a bargain at $8 million. Manager Buck Showalter says Cruz is "in a good place." He's just glad to have Cruz in his own clubhouse. "Yeah, I see the ball well," Cruz said following today's 4-1 win over the Astros. "Like I said, I tried to be consistent for that long. I just stay with my routine and do it on a...

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Showalter talks about Tillman and a 4-1 victory

May 31, 2014, 3:51pm

Orioles

Showalter talks about Tillman and a 4-1 victory

HOUSTON - Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis made one of the most important plays of the today's game by running down Jose Altuve's fly ball in the second inning to leave the bases loaded and the score tied. To think, he almost came out of the lineup. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters following a 4-1 victory over the Astros that Markakis reported to the clubhouse with neck stiffness. "It kind of loosened up during the latter part of BP," Showalter said. "That's another typical...

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Pearce keeps producing and Cruz sets club record (O's win 4-1)

May 31, 2014, 1:37pm

Orioles

Pearce keeps producing and Cruz sets club record (O's win 4-1)

HOUSTON - Steve Pearce has thrown out a runner at second base today and walked to force in the go-ahead run. He's a professional hitter and fielder. Pearce registered the Orioles' 11th outfield assist this year when he nabbed Marwin Gonzalez trying to stretch a single into a double in the fourth. He walked with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth to break a 1-1 tie. Manny Machado reached on an infield single, his second hit in his last 19 at-bats. Caleb Joseph singled with two outs,...

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Cruz ties record, Tillman tackles tough second inning

May 31, 2014, 12:48pm

Orioles

Cruz ties record, Tillman tackles tough second inning

HOUSTON - Nelson Cruz did more today than give the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. He also tied a team record. Cruz's sacrifice fly scored Nick Markakis, who led off with a double, and gave him 50 RBIs to match Chris Davis for most by an Oriole before the end of May. Davis set the record last season. J.J. Hardy doubled with one out in the second, but was stranded. He hasn't homered since Sept. 5, 2013, but his average has climbed to .301. Chris Tillman retired the Astros...

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Notes on Hunter, Wieters, Reimold, Machado and the rotation

May 31, 2014, 11:00am

Orioles

Notes on Hunter, Wieters, Reimold, Machado and the rotation

HOUSTON - Orioles reliever Tommy Hunter will throw a bullpen session Sunday at Prince George's Stadium, home of the Double-A Bowie Baysox. "That's good news," said manager Buck Showalter. Hunter is on the disabled list with a strained left groin. He's eligible to return on June 5, which remains a realistic goal. "He's got a shot at making it," Showalter said. Hunter will throw a couple of bullpen sessions and likely appear in two rehab games before rejoining the Orioles. "It'll...