Roch Kubatko

Cruz gives Orioles lead, Britton gives them sinking feeling

March 31, 2014, 1:30pm

Orioles

Nelson Cruz just delivered his Welcome to Baltimore moment. Cruz homered on the first pitch from Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester leading off the bottom of the seventh, the ball easily clearing the left field fence to break a 1-1 tie. Cruz is 1-for-2 with a walk today and is 11-for-24 with three homers and five RBIs lifetime against Lester. Yes, he's Cruzing. Or he's on Cruz control. Take your pick. Zach Britton tossed two scoreless innings in relief of starter Chris Tillman, allowing one...

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Orioles take first lead of 2014 (we're tied and Tillman's done)

March 31, 2014, 12:09pm

Orioles

If you're ready to collect your money today after choosing Delmon Young in the "first Oriole to get an RBI" pool, I've got bad news for you. A double play doesn't produce an RBI. Just a run. Not that there's anything wrong with it. Young grounded into an unconventional 4-3-6 double play with runners on the corners and one out in the second inning to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead against Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester. Nelson Cruz walked after falling behind 0-2 in the count and Matt...

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The opening day festivities (game update)

March 31, 2014, 11:13am

Orioles

The opening day festivities (game update)

The mood at Camden Yards today has taken swings more intense than anything Chris Davis will deliver at home plate. MASN's Jim Hunter, serving as emcee for the opening day festivities, introduced tributes to former center fielder Paul Blair, public relations director Monica Pence Barlow and author and minority owner Tom Clancy. Blair is the only Oriole to start more consecutive opening days at one outfield position (12) than Nick Markakis (eight). The Orioles announced that Barlow's seat in...

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Markakis in today's lineup

March 31, 2014, 8:24am

Orioles

Nick Markakis will bat leadoff and play right field for today's Orioles opener against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. Markakis made it through batting practice without experiencing any discomfort in his neck. Nelson Cruz starts in left field and Delmon Young is the designated hitter For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz LF Matt Wieters C Delmon Young DH Ryan Flaherty 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Chris Tillman RHP

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Showalter says Markakis is "viable possibility today" (updated)

March 31, 2014, 7:34am

Orioles

Showalter says Markakis is "viable possibility today" (updated)

The Orioles won't post their opening day lineup until right fielder Nick Markakis takes batting practice. Markakis' neck is feeling better and he's already stopped by manager Buck Showalter's office twice to campaign for the start, which would be his eighth in a row on opening day. Markakis tried to take batting practice yesterday, "but we caught him," Showalter said. Nelson Cruz will start in left field if Markakis can play. Otherwise, Cruz will move to right and David Lough will...

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Opening day at Camden Yards

March 30, 2014, 7:42pm

Orioles

Happy opening day. And shame on Hallmark if it doesn't make a card for this occasion. The Orioles have won 11 of their last 13 openers and are 3-0 under manager Buck Showalter. The last time they played in March, they lost 6-2 to the Rays in 2008. Jeremy Guthrie, Matt Albers and Brian Burres pitched for the Orioles. Luis Hernandez, the team's last rookie to get the nod in an opener, started at shortstop and was replaced by Brandon Fahey after Jay Payton pinch-hit for him. Such...

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Hearing from Showalter, Schoop, Clevenger, Hunter, Meek and Davis (with update)

March 30, 2014, 12:44pm

Orioles

Hearing from Showalter, Schoop, Clevenger, Hunter, Meek and Davis (with update)

Nick Markakis has started in right field for the Orioles on seven consecutive opening days. Whether he makes it eight in a row is up in the air. That's also where Markakis developed neck stiffness, while on a flight yesterday from Sarasota to Norfolk. "Still a little sore," said manager Buck Showalter. "Hopefully, it will get better. I've got two lineups, one with him in it and one without him in it. There's some thought about letting him get the benefit of another day with it, but I...

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Belfiore designated for assignment, Escalona placed on 60-day DL

March 30, 2014, 11:43am

Orioles

Belfiore designated for assignment, Escalona placed on 60-day DL

The Orioles finalized their roster this afternoon and created two openings on the 40-man roster for reliever Evan Meek and outfielder Delmon Young. Left-hander Mike Belfiore was designated for assignment and pitcher Edgmer Escalona was placed on the 60-day disabled list. Belfiore allowed one run and five hits in two innings with the Orioles last season and went 2-1 with a 3.18 ERA in 37 games at Triple-A Norfolk. Escalona made one appearance in an exhibition game this spring before being...

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Markakis uncertain about opening day

March 30, 2014, 11:06am

Orioles

The Orioles are working out indoors today because of the rain. They haven't posted a lineup due to the uncertain status of right fielder Nick Markakis, who was scratched from yesterday's lineup in Norfolk with neck stiffness. Markakis received treatment again today and told me that his neck is "much better than yesterday." Asked about playing on opening day, he replied, "I don't know." Neither does manager Buck Showalter, who's written two lineups for Monday - one with Markakis and...

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Working out the 40-man roster

March 29, 2014, 10:05pm

Orioles

I'm heading to Camden Yards this morning for the workout that precedes opening day. Don't try to stop me. The weather may force the Orioles indoors for batting practice. As long as the clubhouse still has a roof over it, the media will be perfectly fine. I'll check on Nick Markakis, who was scratched from yesterday's lineup due to neck stiffness. I'll check on Nelson Cruz, who took an Alex Cobb curveball off his batting helmet during Thursday's game against the Rays. I'll check on...

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Orioles option Gausman, McFarland and Weeks

March 29, 2014, 1:18pm

Orioles

The Orioles reduced their roster to 32 players following today's rain-shortened 4-3 win at Harbor Park by optioning pitchers Kevin Gausman and T.J. McFarland and infielder Jemile Weeks to Triple-A Norfolk. They will get down to the required 25 by putting Manny Machado, Edgmer Escalona, Francisco Peguero, Nolan Reimold, Michael Almanzar and Johan Santana on the disabled list, and by having Troy Patton on the restricted list while he serves a 25-game suspension. Barring a late addition,...

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Still waiting on 25-man roster (and note)

March 29, 2014, 10:57am

Orioles

Still waiting on 25-man roster (and note)

The Orioles continue to check the waiver wire and explore any possible deals before announcing their 25-man roster. They aren't going to commit to a player and suddenly break the news that he's actually headed to the minors because someone better became available. The Orioles need to remove 10 players by 3 p.m. Sunday, and the moves are obvious at this point. The only holdup is the possibility of an outside addition. Manny Machado, Edgmer Escalona, Francisco Peguero, Nolan Reimold, Michael...

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What's going on today?

March 28, 2014, 7:27pm

Orioles

Look at me. Writing a blog entry without a dateline. It feels ... weird. The Orioles are scheduled to play an exhibition game against Triple-A Norfolk this afternoon, but the weather needs to cooperate. A rainout would be a major irritant to the Orioles, who lost four Grapefruit League games for weather-related reasons and don't want to go consecutive days without working out. They had an off day on Friday. They're not looking for another one today. They're going to gather at Camden...

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Quick Cruz update (Monell clears waivers, Yankees sign Aceves)

March 28, 2014, 9:15am

Orioles

Quick Cruz update (Monell clears waivers, Yankees sign Aceves)

TAMPA - Nelson Cruz is fine. Quick enough? Cruz will attend Sunday's workout at Camden Yards and remains available for opening day. He's expected to start in left field against Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester. He probably will serve as the designated hitter in the second game against right-hander John Lackey, with David Lough playing left field. Cruz was hit on the batting helmet last night by an Alex Cobb curveball and exited the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. He underwent a...

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Last day to camp out

March 28, 2014, 2:39am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are off today. The complex is closed and players are told to stay away from it. Half of the remaining beat writers are flying home, with the other half vacating on Saturday. Spring training is drawing to a close. If you blinked, you missed ... nothing. It didn't go by that quickly. I should probably start packing my bags while wondering why I bought all those bags of frozen vegetables. It's a spring tradition. I stock up the freezer and never empty it before my...

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Updating Cruz CT scan and other notes

March 27, 2014, 6:36pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles went 13-9-4 in the Grapefruit League following tonight's 4-3 loss to the Rays before the seventh sellout crowd this spring at Ed Smith Stadium. Outfielder Nelson Cruz's CT scan came back negative and he's not expected to miss opening day. The Orioles will naturally check him again Friday morning and in subsequent days. "Hopefully, everything's all right," said manager Buck Showalter. "He feels pretty good." Alex Cobb's curveball hit the corner of the...

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Jimenez on Jimenez, Cobb on hitting Cruz (Rays win 4-3)

March 27, 2014, 5:35pm

Orioles

Jimenez on Jimenez, Cobb on hitting Cruz (Rays win 4-3)

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Rays 4, Orioles 3 Recap: Former Oriole Wilson Betemit lifted a sacrifice fly off Troy Patton in the ninth to break a 3-3 tie. Ubaldo Jimenez allowed three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. Evan Longoria tied the game 1-1 with a home run in the fourth and the Rays took the lead in the fifth on Yunel Escobar's sacrifice fly. The Orioles scored in the first on Nick Markakis' single, David Lough's double and Adam Jones' RBI grounder. Markakis scored the tying run...

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Aceves opting out of contract

March 27, 2014, 5:00pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Alfredo Aceves was informed tonight that he won't make the Orioles' 25-man roster coming out of spring training. As a result, Aceves will opt out of his contract, according to an industry source. Aceves, 31, allowed five earned runs and 11 hits in 10 innings, with two walks and six strikeouts. The Orioles signed Aceves to a minor league deal on Jan. 15 after he spent the last three seasons with the Red Sox, saving 25 games in 2012. Evan Meek appears to have...

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Cruz fine after being hit in helmet, removed from game

March 27, 2014, 4:30pm

Orioles

Cruz fine after being hit in helmet, removed from game

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles designated hitter Nelson Cruz came out of tonight's game in the bottom of the fourth inning after being hit on the left side of the batting helmet by a pitch from Rays starter Alex Cobb. Cruz dropped to his knees but quickly stood up as head athletic trainer Richie Bancells and manager Buck Showalter ran out of the dugout. Cruz walked to the clubhouse with Bancells as fans gave him an ovation. Bancells kept a hand on Cruz to steady him, but he appeared to be...

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Game update and more Showalter

March 27, 2014, 3:56pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez has thrown three scoreless innings tonight against the Rays, escaping jams in the first and third. Jimenez, closing the Grapefruit League portion of the Orioles' schedule, gave up a leadoff double to Matt Joyce in the first inning before retiring the next three batters, striking out Evan Longoria to end the frame. He got three groundball outs in the second on only eight pitches, but threw 28 in the third. Joyce reached on a two-out, two-strike bunt single...