Roch Kubatko

Orioles want to go streaking

August 23, 2013, 7:49pm

Orioles

The Orioles won their second consecutive game last night, which raises the age-old question of whether two in a row constitutes a streak. What's the minimum length for acceptable use of the term? Does it have to be three or more? Four? The Orioles are 11 games above .500 at 69-58. They trail Oakland by two in the wild card race. They're in the thick of the chase, and yet, they haven't won more than five straight this season. And it happened only once, beginning July 14 and ending July 23...

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Showalter: "There are a lot of warriors out there"

August 23, 2013, 7:27pm

Orioles

Showalter: "There are a lot of warriors out there"

The Orioles fell behind by three runs tonight and took the lead. They fell behind by a run and reclaimed the lead. "There are a lot of warriors out there," said manager Buck Showalter. "They've been through some battles together and you're not going to see them give in." Jim Johnson retired the Athletics in order in the ninth inning for his 40th save after three straight blown chances, and the Orioles took the opener of this three-game series, 9-7, before 36,761 at Camden Yards. Brian...

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Roberts keeps delivering in clutch, Orioles take lead in 7th (O's win 9-7)

August 23, 2013, 5:17pm

Orioles

The Orioles have received lots of attention and criticism for their failures with runners in scoring position this season. None of the fingers can be pointed at second baseman Brian Roberts. Roberts' grand slam in the fourth inning tonight gave the Orioles a 6-3 lead. Bud Norris allowed two runs in the top of the fifth and was removed with the bases loaded and two outs. Troy Patton let two inherited runners score. More on that later. Roberts is 13-for-29 with 22 RBIs with runners in...

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Norris can't break patterns (Jones and Roberts homer in fourth)

August 23, 2013, 4:01pm

Orioles

Norris can't break patterns (Jones and Roberts homer in fourth)

Before tonight, left-handers were batting .302 this season against Orioles starter Bud Norris. Brandon Moss, a left-handed hitter, delivered an RBI single in the first inning and homered to right field in the third to give Oakland a 3-0 lead. Moss' home run came with two outs. Coco Crisp, a switch-hitter, led off the inning with a home run to right. Norris struck out the side in the third, but he won't remember the inning fondly. Crisp pulled a slider onto the flag court. Moss hit a...

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More notes before tonight's game against the A's

August 23, 2013, 1:35pm

Orioles

More notes before tonight's game against the A's

Scott Feldman is available in the bullpen tonight for the Orioles, and he will start Sunday's series finale against the A's if he isn't needed in relief. The A's changed their rotation for the series. Jarrod Parker will start Saturday instead of left-hander Tommy Milone, who was scratched, and Sonny Gray will start Sunday. The Red Sox tentatively are scheduled to start Felix Doubront, John Lackey and Jon Lester in the three-game series against the Orioles that begins Tuesday at Fenway...

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Hammel encouraged after mound session

August 23, 2013, 12:54pm

Orioles

Jason Hammel threw off a mound today for the first time since going on the disabled list with a strained right flexor mass. He used all of his pitches, including a slider that had brought the most discomfort to his arm, and is moving closer to an injury-rehab assignment. "It went real well," Hammel said. "It felt great. I felt the extension that I was looking for that I didn't have before, so outstanding. "We'll go again on Sunday. I'm not trying to stay on the DL, I'm trying to get...

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O's lineup vs. A's

August 23, 2013, 11:16am

Orioles

The Orioles are three games behind the Athletics for the final wild card spot, and the teams are starting a three-game series tonight at Camden Yards. You can do the math. Ryan Flaherty is serving as the designated hitter and Brian Roberts is starting at second base. Nick Markakis is batting sixth. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty DH Brian Roberts 2B Bud Norris RHP A light raining is...

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Garcia traded to Braves, A's lineup

August 23, 2013, 11:10am

Orioles

The Orioles have traded veteran pitcher Freddy Garcia to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations. Garcia had been pitching at Triple-A Norfolk. Garcia was 8-3 with a 2.84 ERA in 13 starts with the Tides, with 15 walks and 61 strikeouts. He went 3-5 with a 5.77 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) with the Orioles. Catcher Luis Exposito has been activated from the minor league disabled list and will take Garcia's roster spot at Norfolk. For the Athletics Coco Crisp CF Jed Lowrie SS Josh Donaldson...

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It's Norris vs. Straily tonight at Camden Yards

August 22, 2013, 6:29pm

Orioles

It's Norris vs. Straily tonight at Camden Yards

It's back to baseball tonight, as the Orioles begin a three-game series against the Athletics at Camden Yards. One of the most important tasks of the day will be performed by Jason Hammel, who's scheduled to throw off a mound for the first time since going on the disabled list retroactive to July 29 with a right flexor mass strain. He's been playing catch and long tossing. Hammel is nearing an injury-rehab assignment. He's expected to make at least two starts before the Orioles add him to...

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Patton on fans' expectations

August 22, 2013, 9:55am

Orioles

It's leftovers for lunch. Dig in. As I was wrapping up my conversation yesterday with left-hander Troy Patton about the mood inside the clubhouse, the topic shifted to the reaction of fans who seemingly had given up on the 2013 season after the Orioles dropped six of their last eight games. The Orioles had lost only one more game than last season at the same point in the schedule, but the perception was so much different. One theory centered on how more teams are in contention this summer,...

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The atmosphere inside the Orioles clubhouse

August 21, 2013, 9:02pm

Orioles

The Orioles are off again today, leaving them with two more open dates on their schedule. Manager Buck Showalter, resisting the urge to take in a minor league game, is having a barbeque at his home. "The players don't want to see me anymore," Showalter said. Actually, the players enjoy their interactions with Showalter, but they'll gladly take a break today and recharge their batteries as the pressure mounts over these final six weeks. I'm often asked about the mood or the vibe...

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Showalter speaks after 4-2 win

August 21, 2013, 7:00pm

Orioles

Jim Johnson didn't warm up in the eighth inning tonight. He stood up, stretched, took a drink of water and sat back down, removing the glove from his left hand and the towel from his shoulder. The Orioles had a save situation, protecting a 4-2 lead, and manager Buck Showalter sent Darren O'Day back out for the ninth. After one batter, Brian Matusz came into the game. After one batter, Tommy Hunter came into the game and earned his fourth career save - all of them coming this season - in a...

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Davis ties Gentile on single-season home run list (O's win 4-2)

August 21, 2013, 4:57pm

Orioles

Davis ties Gentile on single-season home run list (O's win 4-2)

Chris Davis led off the bottom of the fifth inning with his 46th home run, the ball disappearing over the flag court in right field to give the Orioles a 4-2 lead. Davis tied Jim Gentile for third place on the Orioles' single-season home run list. Frank Robinson his 49 in 1966 and Brady Anderson hit 50 in 1996. There's more. Davis has 25 homers at Camden Yards this season, tying Rafael Palmeiro's record set in 1998. Robinson has the most home runs in one season in Baltimore. He hit 27 at...

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McLouth and slump go their separate ways (Jones homers)

August 21, 2013, 3:37pm

Orioles

McLouth and slump go their separate ways (Jones homers)

Orioles left fielder Nate McLouth is a big fan of '80s pop music, and he's continued to use Mr. Mister's "Kyrie" as his walk-up song all season. Not your typical choice among major league players. I doubt if many of his teammates are borrowing his iPod. Mired in an 0-for-17 slump, McLouth decided to make a change tonight, going with Journey's "Separate Ways." Maybe it sounds silly to think that a new tune will influence an at-bat, but McLouth lined a single into left field leading off...

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More pregame notes on Wieters and Johnson

August 21, 2013, 2:04pm

Orioles

More pregame notes on Wieters and Johnson

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters is doing his usual damage against the Rays, going 4-for-8 with a double, two home runs, four RBIs, a walk and four runs scored in the first two games of this series. He's batting .337 against the Rays since breaking into the majors in 2009, the highest average for any player. His 50 RBIs also rank first, and his 15 homers are tied for second. Wieters is heating up again as the regular season winds down. Despite the physical strain of catching, Wieters is a career...

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Orioles sending out postseason invoices, and other notes

August 21, 2013, 1:10pm

Orioles

While the Orioles fight to stay in playoff contention, the organization is mailing out postseason invoices to its season plan holders on Friday. The invoices will be delivered to fans with full-season, 29-game and 13-game packages. Full-season plan holders are entitled to purchase tickets for every postseason home game - a maximum of 11 possible - including four World Series and four American League Championship Series games. Fans with a 29-game plan are entitled to six games, and fans with...

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Orioles lineup vs. Rays

August 21, 2013, 11:17am

Orioles

Nate McLouth will try to snap an 0-for-17 streak tonight while the Orioles attempt to avoid being swept by the Rays at Camden Yards. Nick Markakis is batting sixth tonight between Matt Wieters and J.J. Hardy. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Brian Roberts 2B Steve Pearce DH Wei-Yin Chen LHP

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This and that

August 20, 2013, 8:49pm

Orioles

Three days ago, Jim Johnson began to warm in the Orioles' bullpen in a possible save situation. Chris Davis hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, Johnson sat down and Josh Stinson worked the ninth. The following night, Johnson began to warm as the Orioles attempted to overcome a one-run deficit in the eighth. They couldn't do it, and Johnson sat down again. It would seem that Johnson remains the Orioles closer despite appearing in a non-save situation last night. He needed the...

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Hearing from Gonzalez and McLouth

August 20, 2013, 7:30pm

Orioles

Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez failed to complete six innings tonight for the third time in his last five outings. He's mixed in two quality starts. Tonight, Gonzalez allowed three runs (two earned) and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings, with four walks and four strikeouts, in a 7-4 loss to the Rays. He threw 112 pitches before coming out of the game, including eight in the first inning. "That was a tough one," he said. "First inning was great, and then I just had to battle the other...

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Showalter speaks after 7-4 loss

August 20, 2013, 7:15pm

Orioles

The Orioles have now lost six of their last eight games and trail the Rays by five in the wild card race. Manager Buck Showalter offered the following comments tonight after his team's 7-4 loss to the Rays at Camden Yards. On Miguel Gonzalez: "He was up. Really elevated a lot of pitches. Had a lot of counts in his favor. He just couldn't make a pitch to put anybody away. A little tip of the hat to them, but Miggy wasn't as crisp as he can be. Kept trying to get the ball down. A lot of...