Roch Kubatko

Thoughts on Pearce, Davis and a conversation between Dickerson and Schoop

April 21, 2014, 4:42pm

Orioles

Thoughts on Pearce, Davis and a conversation between Dickerson and Schoop

The Orioles may be too rested tonight as they begin their series in Toronto. A night game after a day game? Isn't it supposed to be the other way around? Left-hander T.J. McFarland has joined the club and will be in the visiting bullpen tonight at Rogers Centre. A corresponding move will be announced this afternoon. Eighteen games into the season and the Norfolk shuttle already is cranked up. I'm wondering about Steve Pearce's immediate future with the Orioles. As I noted yesterday,...

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Hearing from Jones, Hunter and Clevenger (O's will recall McFarland)

April 21, 2014, 12:02pm

Orioles

Hearing from Jones, Hunter and Clevenger (O's will recall McFarland)

BOSTON - The Orioles were working on short rest this morning after playing late into the night. Three of their relievers - Zach Britton, Brian Matusz and Darren O'Day - pitched in back-to-back games. A sellout crowd at Fenway Park was whipped into the usual frenzy as the Red Sox kept applying pressure, refusing to wilt after falling behind by six runs in the third. Convenient excuses if the Orioles lost. Not that anyone in the clubhouse was searching for one. "The game's a game. They say...

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Showalter speaks after 7-6 win

April 21, 2014, 11:26am

Orioles

BOSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters after today's 7-6 win over the Red Sox that the club may call up a pitcher from Triple-A Norfolk to aid the bullpen. Showalter said he wants to avoid using three relievers in Tuesday night's series opener against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Feel free to speculate. Ryan Webb, Zach Britton, Darren O'Day, Brian Matusz and Tommy Hunter followed starter Wei-Yin Chen to the mound this afternoon. "There were a lot of proud moments,"...

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Game update and more from Showalter (O's win 7-6)

April 21, 2014, 9:23am

Orioles

Game update and more from Showalter (O's win 7-6)

BOSTON - Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen didn't make it past the fifth inning today. However, he stands to get the win if the bullpen can cover the rest of the game. A three-run lead at Fenway Park? What could go wrong? Chen allowed three runs and four hits in five innings, with three walks and five strikeouts. He threw 93 pitches, 57 for strikes. In his last start, Chen retired 12 of the first 13 Rays batters and left after 6 1/3 innings with the Orioles leading 7-1. Today, he took a...

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Orioles have marathon inning on Patriots' Day (updated)

April 21, 2014, 8:04am

Orioles

BOSTON - Orioles first baseman Chris Davis walked in his first at-bat today. Continue to breathe normally. That's 11 walks for Davis in 18 games. He's now tied his record by reaching base in 17 consecutive games. But he didn't swipe a bag as promised. Maybe next time. Davis contributed an RBI single in the third to increase the Orioles' lead to 3-0. They went on to score three more runs, sending nine batters to the plate and bringing a chorus of boos from the Fenway Park faithful who are...

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Davis: "Hopefully, I can start hitting some more homers again"

April 21, 2014, 6:04am

Orioles

Davis: "Hopefully, I can start hitting some more homers again"

BOSTON - Chris Davis has reached base in 16 consecutive games, but it's not a cause to celebrate. His average is down to .241 and he's stuck on one home run after clubbing 53 last season. Cause for alarm? Not yet. Better to make light of it and keep grinding. "I turned over a new leaf this year. I'm trying not to hit any more home runs this year and just walk," Davis quipped. "Try to swing as few times as possible, take it easy on my body, try to get as many years out of it as...

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Hardy out of lineup

April 21, 2014, 5:35am

Orioles

BOSTON - The Orioles are playing their fifth Patriots Day game in Boston, having lost four of the first five. Their lone victory came in 1970, when they won 3-2. Most recently, they lost 12-1 in 2009. They also were beaten in 1956, 1989 and 1997. So yes, if they win today, they win the World Series. J.J. Hardy says his right hamstring feels better, but he's out of the lineup. Ryan Flaherty is at short, Jonathan Schoop is at third and Steve Lombardozzi is at second. Nick Markakis is serving...

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Looking back and ahead

April 20, 2014, 9:04pm

Orioles

BOSTON - The Orioles are leaving Boston after this morning's game, and they'd like to take the transfer rule with them. Maybe dump it in an empty field, grab a few baseball bats and destroy it like the copy machine in "Office Space." Ryan Flaherty held the ball long enough last night to record the out at second base in the seventh inning. Instead, he was charged with an error and the Red Sox went on to score twice and tie the game. Umpires seem just as confused by it. Just get rid of it...

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Hearing from Showalter, Schoop, Flaherty and Jimenez

April 20, 2014, 7:48pm

Orioles

Hearing from Showalter, Schoop, Flaherty and Jimenez

BOSTON - Tonight's game between the Orioles and Red Sox ended with a walk-off error and manager Buck Showalter huddled with the umpires in front of his dugout. Confusion and craziness were the key ingredients in the Orioles' 6-5 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park. David Lough caught pinch-hitter Mike Carp's sinking liner in left field and made a wide throw to the plate that allowed Dustin Pedroia to score. Showalter immediately came onto the field and players hesitated before walking to the...

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Hardy provides update on hamstring injury

April 20, 2014, 7:29pm

Orioles

Hardy provides update on hamstring injury

BOSTON - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy doesn't expect to be included in Monday morning's lineup after straining his right hamstring while running the bases in the fifth inning. Manager Buck Showalter told Hardy that he was getting the day off anyway, but the injury sealed the deal. Hardy isn't certain of its severity, since he has no previous experience with strained hamstrings. "I know trainers don't like to hear it, but tweaked something. I have no idea. I've never had a hamstring issue....

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Hardy injures hamstring (O's lose 6-5)

April 20, 2014, 5:32pm

Orioles

BOSTON - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy left tonight's game after the sixth inning with a strained right hamstring. He's listed as day to day. Hardy apparently suffered the injury while running the bases in the top of the fifth. He singled with two outs and tried to score from first on David Lough's ground rule double. Hardy had to go back to third base. Steve Lombardozzi pinch-hit for Hardy in the top of the seventh and is playing second base. Jonathan Schoop moved to third base and Ryan...

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Jimenez and Peavy out of tonight's game

April 20, 2014, 5:16pm

Orioles

BOSTON - Before tonight, Red Sox starter Jake Peavy had allowed four earned runs in 18 2/3 innings this season. The Orioles scored five against him tonight in only 5 2/3 innings. Peavy issued an intentional walk to Chris Davis with Ryan Flaherty at third base and two outs in the sixth. Adam Jones followed with an RBI single to left field to increase the Orioles' lead to 5-0 and end Peavy's night. Jones already had two hits. Now he's produced his first three-hit game of the season. I'm...

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Orioles get off to fast start (O's lead 4-0)

April 20, 2014, 3:30pm

Orioles

BOSTON - Nelson Cruz continued his assault on Red Sox pitching this season, and the Orioles jumped out to a 3-0 lead tonight against Jake Peavy in the top of the first inning. Cruz hit his third home run of the season, a solo shot that produced his 12th RBI and his eighth against the Red Sox. The Orioles had gone four straight games without a home run. Cruz delivered their 10th of the season. Did I jinx them earlier by mentioning the streak? Chris Davis followed with a walk, extending his...

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Pregame notes on Machado, Patton, Schoop and more

April 20, 2014, 2:04pm

Orioles

Pregame notes on Machado, Patton, Schoop and more

BOSTON - Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has normal soreness today "in the right places," according to manager Buck Showalter, following yesterday's extended spring training game in Sarasota. Machado will play seven innings at third base on Monday and serve as the designated hitter on Tuesday. He could begin his minor league injury rehab assignment later in the week, with the affiliate still undetermined. "I think when he gets that nine-inning game under his belt in extended spring,...

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Hardy on his health, his slow start and his contract status

April 20, 2014, 12:59pm

Orioles

Hardy on his health, his slow start and his contract status

BOSTON - The temperature in Boston is supposed to climb into the mid-60s on Monday. And as the weather heats up, Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy hopes to do the same. Hardy is 10-for-41 with no home runs and three RBIs heading into tonight's game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. A career .219 hitter in March/April, he's grown somewhat accustomed to slow starts. The spasms in Hardy's lower back have subsided, but he's still not completely healed. "It sucks because this spring was probably...

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Orioles and Red Sox lineups

April 20, 2014, 11:16am

Orioles

BOSTON - Jonathan Schoop is starting at second base tonight for the Orioles, and Ryan Flaherty gets the nod at third base. Nelson Cruz is batting second as the designated hitter. David Lough is in left field. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Nelson Cruz DH Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS David Lough LF Jonathan Schoop 2B Ryan Flaherty 3B Ubaldo Jimenez RHP For the Red Sox Grady Sizemore CF Dustin Pedroia 2B David Ortiz DH Mike Napoli 1B Jonny Gomes LF Daniel Nava...

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Orioles having a power outage

April 20, 2014, 9:10am

Orioles

BOSTON - The Orioles led the majors in home runs last season with 212, and they signed Nelson Cruz during spring training. Power didn't figure to be in short supply. Go figure. The Orioles rank 29th in home runs with nine in their first 16 games. Only the Royals (five) have hit fewer in the majors. The Angels rank first with 29, followed by the Braves and Pirates with 23. Matt Wieters leads the Orioles with three homers, followed by Cruz with two and Chris Davis, Adam Jones, Jonathan Schoop...

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A few odds and ends (Tigers released Gonzalez)

April 19, 2014, 7:33pm

Orioles

A few odds and ends (Tigers released Gonzalez)

BOSTON - If the benches empty tonight at Fenway Park, it's only because both teams realize they have an 11 a.m. game the following morning and are in a rush to get out of there. Seriously, who made up this schedule? What's next, a night game at Camden Yards followed by breakfast at Wimbledon? It's probably too soon to put heavy emphasis on a start, but Ubaldo Jimenez could use a quality one. He's 0-3 with a 7.31 ERA in his first three outings, with 13 runs and 23 hits in 16 innings....

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Sweeping out the clubhouse following 4-2 loss

April 19, 2014, 2:00pm

Orioles

Sweeping out the clubhouse following 4-2 loss

BOSTON - There was more to talk about today other than the dugouts emptying in the seventh inning and Orioles starter Bud Norris wondering why Red Sox catcher David Ross took exception to an inside pitch. Norris took the loss after being charged with four runs in 6 1/3 innings. The last two scored in the turbulent seventh. "I think their gun's a little high here, but still he was crisp," said manager Buck Showalter. "He was good. He deserved a better fate. We just weren't able to do a...

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Davis: "If somebody wants to run their mouths, we'll stand up to them"

April 19, 2014, 1:26pm

Orioles

Davis: "If somebody wants to run their mouths, we'll stand up to them"

BOSTON - David Ross wanted to lay down a sacrifice bunt today with a runner on first base and nobody out in the seventh inning of a tie game. Orioles pitcher Bud Norris says he wanted to take the out. So exactly what happened to make Ross yell at Norris? And to make Orioles catcher Matt Wieters get in Ross' face? Ross apparently didn't like a pitch that rode up and in, and he let Norris know about it. "He yelled, 'Make an adjustment,' " Norris said following the Orioles' 4-2 loss at...