Roch Kubatko

Orioles lineup versus Astros

May 31, 2014, 9:07am

Orioles

HOUSTON - Steve Pearce remains the left fielder today for the Orioles and Nelson Cruz continues to serve as the designated hitter. Caleb Joseph is behind the plate. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Steve Pearce LF Nelson Cruz DH Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy SS Manny Machado 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Caleb Joseph C Chris Tillman RHP

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Pregame notes and Astros lineup

May 31, 2014, 8:40am

Orioles

HOUSTON - Orioles center fielder Adam Jones is playing in his 1,000th career game today. He's appeared in 926 with the Orioles and 73 with the Mariners. Jones' 926 games are good for 19th on the club's all-time list. Cal Ripken Jr. is first with 3,001. Caleb Joseph's two-out walk in the eighth inning last night was the first for the Orioles since they drew three straight in the fourth inning Wednesday night against the Brewers' Yovani Gallardo. The Orioles went 21 innings and 83 plate...

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Note on Orioles' offensive approach and Russell's take on Wieters

May 30, 2014, 9:32pm

Orioles

HOUSTON - If the Orioles are going to break out of their offensive slump, they may need more than a live chicken in the clubhouse. They may require a less predictable approach at the plate. Left-hander Brett Oberholtzer has held the Orioles to one run over 14 innings in his two career starts against them. The Astros have permitted only two runs in the first two games of the current series. "We did some research," Oberholtzer, projected as Houston's sixth starter, told reporters after last...

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Jones: "There's no excuses"

May 30, 2014, 7:57pm

Orioles

HOUSTON - If the 2011 Red Sox will be remembered for having chicken and beer in the clubhouse during games, perhaps the 2014 Orioles will be remembered for substituting a live chicken before games. And skip the suds. Center fielder Adam Jones suggested tonight that some changes may be in store Saturday morning in an attempt to turn around a team that's lost four in a row and sank below .500. He's trying to maintain his sense of humor, no matter how sad the results. "It's frustrating,"...

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Hearing from Showalter after 2-1 loss

May 30, 2014, 7:50pm

Orioles

HOUSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter wasn't pleased with the called third strike on Chris Davis that completed tonight's 2-1 loss to the Astros. He wasn't thrilled that another quality start went to waste. He wasn't bragging about an offense that's produced five runs in the last three games. Not much to smile about during a four-game losing streak that drops your team below .500. Miguel Gonzalez took a shutout into the seventh inning, but Astros left-hander Brett Oberholtzer took the...

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Gonzalez is gone and so is the lead (O's lose 2-1)

May 30, 2014, 6:33pm

Orioles

Gonzalez is gone and so is the lead (O's lose 2-1)

HOUSTON - A hot starter and cold bats remain a toxic mix for the Orioles. It's their starter and their bats. Miguel Gonzalez didn't allow a hit until one out in the sixth. He carried a shutout into the seventh. Now, he stands to be the loser. Once again, the Orioles aren't on the same page. They aren't firing on all cylinders. Pick your favorite metaphor. Gonzalez gave up three doubles in the seventh, including back-to-back two-baggers from Robbie Grossman and Jonathan Villar that...

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Hardy comes through again with RISP (Gonzalez gives up first hit)

May 30, 2014, 5:09pm

Orioles

Hardy comes through again with RISP (Gonzalez gives up first hit)

HOUSTON - Sometimes, all it takes is a foul ball to the groin to wake up an offense. The Orioles have scored one run or fewer in eight games this season, including last night. They took a 1-0 lead in the second inning tonight after Adam Jones found himself in a world of hurt. Jones took a hard cut at a pitch from Astros starter Brett Oberholtzer and nailed himself in an extremely sensitive area, causing a stoppage in play as assistant athletic trainer Brian Ebel came out of the dugout and...

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A few words from Showalter

May 30, 2014, 3:46pm

Orioles

HOUSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter was satisfied with catcher Matt Wieters' brief throwing session earlier today. For the first day, the Orioles just wanted to make sure that Wieters could complete all 25 throws without experiencing pain in his right elbow. "Trying to decide what is discomfort like he was feeling or just some crankiness from inactivity," Showalter said. "First time out, everybody who throws after that much time off, it's not going to be perfect. I know the area...

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Wieters on today's throwing session

May 30, 2014, 1:15pm

Orioles

HOUSTON - Orioles catcher Matt Wieters estimated that he made 25 throws today in the outfield at Minute Maid Park and came away encouraged by the condition of his right elbow. Wieters hadn't picked up a ball since going on the disabled list May 11. "It felt better," he said. "It's kind of just progress each day and see how it feels throwing, and then the next day, and we'll just keep progressing and see how it goes. "It definitely felt like I had some life back in it and it felt a...

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Wieters note and O's-Astros lineups

May 30, 2014, 12:15pm

Orioles

HOUSTON - Matt Wieters played catch in the outfield with Orioles bench coach John Russell before batting practice today at Minute Maid Park, the first time he's thrown since going on the disabled list with a strained right elbow. Wieters was on the field for only a few minutes before heading back to the clubhouse with Russell and assistant athletic trainer Brian Ebel. Manager Buck Showalter said he won't really evaluate Wieters' progress until the catcher has thrown multiple times. Today...

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Gonzalez takes his turn tonight

May 30, 2014, 10:34am

Orioles

HOUSTON - Former heavyweight boxing champion and Houston native George Foreman will throw out the ceremonial first pitch for tonight's Civil Rights Game between the Orioles and Astros. Then it's up to Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez to stay on his feet through the later rounds. Gonzalez has registered three straight quality starts, allowing six earned runs in 19 innings. The streak began on May 10 at Camden Yards, when he held the Astros to two runs over seven innings in a 5-4...

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Current concerns about the Orioles

May 29, 2014, 9:38pm

Orioles

HOUSTON - With a loss tonight, the Orioles would fall below .500 for the first time since they were 9-10 on April 22. They also would have their third four-game losing streak of the season. The Orioles are 6-12 in their last 18 games, beginning with a loss to the Astros on May 11 at Camden Yards that denied them a sweep of the series. The offense bogs down or the starters can't get through the middle innings or the bullpen buckles under the weight of constant use. "I think we've seen flashes...

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Davis: "We'll right the ship"

May 29, 2014, 8:04pm

Orioles

HOUSTON - For the first time since April 27, the Orioles are a .500 team. Losing three straight games and eight of 12 will remove you from the positive side of the ledger. "I think if there was an easy fix we would have found it by now," said first baseman Chris Davis. "It's kind of the nature of the beast. Sometimes, you're playing well and you're not clicking on all cylinders, but you're able to get away with it. Right now we're obviously not able to get away with it." Is the...

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Showalter and Jimenez speak after 3-1 loss

May 29, 2014, 7:49pm

Orioles

Showalter and Jimenez speak after 3-1 loss

HOUSTON - There may come a point during the 2014 season when the Orioles are clicking on all cylinders. Quality starts, an abundance of runs and a string of easy victories. For now, it seems to be one or the other. Ubaldo Jimenez escaped enough jams tonight to hold the Astros to one run over six innings, but the Orioles were unable to do much at the plate in a 3-1 loss at Minute Maid Park. The Astros have won six in a row. "He deserved a better fate, but we knew coming in here that they...

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Both starters done after six innings (O's lose 3-1)

May 29, 2014, 6:30pm

Orioles

Both starters done after six innings (O's lose 3-1)

HOUSTON - Ubaldo Jimenez had two clean innings for the Orioles tonight at Minute Maid Park - the first and the sixth. He finished the way he started, leaving the game with the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh. Jimenez didn't work past the fifth in his last two starts, but he retired the Astros in order in the sixth and left with his pitch count at 112 - six short of his season high. Jimenez allowed one run and three hits in six innings, with three walks eight strikeouts, a wild...

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Showalter on Pearce and Machado in the batting order (we're tied)

May 29, 2014, 4:35pm

Orioles

Showalter on Pearce and Machado in the batting order (we're tied)

HOUSTON - Nick Markakis led off tonight's game with a single into center field, making him 21-for-51 (.412) in the first inning this season. Steve Pearce followed Markakis to the plate and flied to left field. Pearce is batting second to start a game for only the fourth time in his major league career. Manny Machado is hitting seventh for the 14th time in his career. Machado hadn't batted seventh or lower since the end of the 2012 season. "I'm trying to take advantage of Steve right...

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Updates on Hunter, Peguero, Escalona and more

May 29, 2014, 3:15pm

Orioles

Updates on Hunter, Peguero, Escalona and more

HOUSTON - Orioles reliever Tommy Hunter has been throwing on flat ground for the past four days and could be ready to come off the disabled list when eligible on June 5. Assistant athletic trainer Brian Ebel is flying back to Baltimore for his son's graduation, "and he's going to pick up Tommy's rehab a little bit there," said manager Buck Showalter. "Tommy's been on flat ground for four days. He feels good. I'm going to let Brian kind of handle that once he gets there about when he...

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Wieters on elbow: "It's gotten a lot better over the last few days"

May 29, 2014, 2:02pm

Orioles

Wieters on elbow: "It's gotten a lot better over the last few days"

HOUSTON - Matt Wieters is set to begin a throwing progression on Friday, when he's scheduled to pick up a ball and do some light tossing for the first time since going on the disabled list. Wieters hasn't caught since May 4 and hasn't played since May 10 due to a right elbow strain. "We've got a whole throwing program, but the trainers know it better than I can. If everything goes well, we're going to pick up a ball tomorrow," Wieters said. "Every movement that gets me back toward...

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Orioles and Astros lineups

May 29, 2014, 12:28pm

Orioles

HOUSTON - Steve Pearce gets the start in left field tonight, as the Orioles begin a four-game series against the Astros at Minute Maid Park. He'll bat second, while Manny Machado slides down to the seventh spot. Nelson Cruz is serving as the designated hitter, and Ryan Flaherty is starting at second base. David Lough is the only current Oriole who has faced Astros starter Brad Peacock, going 1-for-2 against him, but he's on the bench. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Steve Pearce LF Adam...

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Bundy update and other notes

May 29, 2014, 11:06am

Orioles

HOUSTON - Dylan Bundy threw three innings today at extended spring training. He will throw a bullpen session on Saturday and graduate to four innings next week. Bundy didn't allow a hit in his start against the Twins in Fort Myers. He walked three batters and struck out four. "I wasn't getting ahead in the count," he said. "I walked the first guy in each inning. That's not good at all. I've got to get my command and go after hitters. Get ahead in the count and get better...