Roch Kubatko

Chris crossing

July 06, 2013, 1:57pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - I have postgame quotes from Chris Tillman and Chris Davis, and one clever title to my blog entry. Tillman on his start "I felt good physically. The stuff was there. I fell behind every now and then. These guys grind out at-bats and make you throw a lot of pitches early. Give them credit. It was a tough one for me today. These guys grind away the whole game. They put consistent, good at-bats throughout the game. It wears on you, but at the same time, you know you've got to make...

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Showalter speaks after 5-4 loss

July 06, 2013, 1:41pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - The Orioles have lost three straight games, all by one run. They're now 12-14 in one-run games this season, compared to 29-9 last year. The Yankees had 10 hits today off starter Chris Tillman, all of them singles, in a 5-4 win before 42,678. "But they're hits," said manager Buck Showalter. "They're getting them at the right time. The same has happened for us, too." Tillman gave up five runs and threw 111 pitches in 5 1/3 innings. "He made some good pitches," Showalter...

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Orioles acquire Liddi, DFA Canzler, lose 5-4

July 06, 2013, 12:21pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - The Orioles made another trade today, acquiring infielder Alex Liddi and International Signing Bonus Slot No. 3 from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for the Orioles' International Signing Bonus Slot No. 2. Liddi has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Liddi, 24, has appeared in 61 major league games for the Mariners since 2011, batting .208/.266/.370 with six home runs and 16 RBIs. This year, he's hitting .263/.322/.454 with 11 home runs and 43 RBIs in 59 games with Triple-A...

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Tillman singled out by Yankees

July 06, 2013, 11:25am

Orioles

NEW YORK - Chris Tillman's road magic disappeared today. Tillman was removed after 5 1/3 innings and 111 pitches. He allowed five runs - the most since May 29 in Washington - and 10 hits, with two walks and three strikeouts. Manager Buck Showalter went to his bullpen after Tillman walked No. 9 hitter Chris Stewart. Brian Matusz stranded two runners. Eduardo Nunez bounced an RBI single up the middle to break a 4-4 tie. Lyle Overbay led off with a single and took second on Luis Cruz's...

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Showalter not ready to change closers (we're tied)

July 06, 2013, 10:03am

Orioles

Showalter not ready to change closers (we're tied)

NEW YORK - Nolan Reimold reached on an infield hit in the second inning, took second base on a throwing error by Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte and scored on Alexi Casilla's double. Casilla has nine RBIs as he continues to chase Chris Davis. "I just want to get Casi back on the field," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said before the game. "He's been sitting a little bit." The Yankees scored twice in the bottom of the second to reduce the lead to 3-2. The first four batters reached on a...

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Davis homers, Jones singles and keeps his helmet intact

July 06, 2013, 9:24am

Orioles

Davis homers, Jones singles and keeps his helmet intact

NEW YORK - Orioles first baseman Chris Davis set career highs last season with 33 home runs and 85 RBIs. His shot to center field today in the top of the first inning, following Adam Jones' two-out single, gave him 33 home runs and 85 RBIs. Instant analysis: Davis is going to set new career highs in both categories. The ball hit the top of the center field fence and bounced over, giving the Orioles a 2-0 lead. Matt Wieters homered last night to give the Orioles a 2-0 lead in the second...

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Orioles-Yankees lineups

July 06, 2013, 7:21am

Orioles

NEW YORK - The Orioles turn to arguably their top starter this afternoon as they look to bounce back from last night's heartbreaking loss to the Yankees. Chris Tillman takes the mound having won seven straight decisions to push his record to 10-2. He has five quality starts in his last six outings and has allowed more than three runs just once in his last 14 starts. The Orioles go up against longtime nemesis Andy Pettitte, whose 27-6 career record and 3.52 ERA against Baltimore are his best...

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This, that and the other

July 05, 2013, 7:42pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - Manny Machado turns 21 today. No more jokes about not being able to legally order a beer. Machado's nine-game hitting streak ended last night. Has nothing to do with his age. Jim Johnson has walked 14 batters this season. He walked 15 in 2012. He's not getting the ball down, he's falling behind in the count and he's either walking batters or giving up hits. Anyone who's waiting for manager Buck Showalter to publicly criticize Johnson - say, during O's Xtra - knows nothing...

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More comments following Orioles' 3-2 loss

July 05, 2013, 7:09pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter was clearly agitated following tonight's 3-2 loss to the Yankees. Plate umpire Gary Darling's strike zone did nothing to improve his mood. It actually soured it. Asked to name a key play in the ninth inning, Showalter replied, "I'd look more at the other eight innings. I don't dwell on that. There were some things we could do to make it different. The umpires' calls are umpires' calls. What are you going to do? Strike zones are strike zones....

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Jim Johnson and Matt Wieters discuss blown save and loss

July 05, 2013, 6:49pm

Orioles

Jim Johnson and Matt Wieters discuss blown save and loss

NEW YORK - Orioles closer Jim Johnson had 51 saves in 54 chances last season. He's already blown six saves this year, doubling the amount from 2012, to go along with seven losses. Johnson still began the night leading the majors with 29 saves, but he hasn't been the same pitcher. And he's being asked the same questions while standing at his locker. Tonight, it was his error while attempting to field Brett Gardner's bunt that compounded his problems. A four-pitch bases-loaded walk to...

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Gonzalez escapes jam in fifth to hold lead (O's lose 3-2)

July 05, 2013, 4:56pm

Orioles

Gonzalez escapes jam in fifth to hold lead (O's lose 3-2)

NEW YORK - Miguel Gonzalez threw 92 pitches in the first five innings tonight at Yankee Stadium. Not the most efficient outing, but he continues to hold a 2-1 lead. Gonzalez walked the No. 9 hitter, David Adams, leading off the bottom of the fifth. Ichiro Suzuki doubled with one out, and the Orioles walked Robinson Cano intentionally with first base open. Cano was 0-for-2 tonight and 2-for-17 lifetime against Gonzalez, but the walk is pretty much an automatic move. It also proved to be the...

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Showalter on Markakis, Wieters homers (O's lead 2-1)

July 05, 2013, 3:38pm

Orioles

Showalter on Markakis, Wieters homers (O's lead 2-1)

NEW YORK - The roll call from the bleacher creatures at Yankee Stadium has lost its appeal with this lineup. Instead of the fans in the center field bleachers chanting "De-rek Je-ter" until the future Hall of Famer turns and waves his glove - something I always looked forward to on my visits here - we're subjected to "Cruz, Cruz, Cruz." No offense to Luis Cruz, but it's a poor substitution. Same with "Da-vid Ad-ams." Might be time to shelve that tradition until the bigger names...

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Showalter on Chen, the rotation and more

July 05, 2013, 2:02pm

Orioles

Showalter on Chen, the rotation and more

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter, sitting in the visiting dugout at Yankee Stadium while his club took batting practice, told reporters that he will make a decision on Wei-Yin Chen after the left-hander throws in the bullpen. "If he's physically ready, we'll activate him on the fifth or sixth day," Showalter said. "We've got some different options that present themselves now. We'll take it day to day. The big thing is I want him to get through his work day first and see how he...

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Chen provides update

July 05, 2013, 1:04pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen is in the visiting clubhouse at Yankee Stadium today, though he remains on the 15-day disabled list. Chen tossed seven scoreless innings yesterday in his final injury-rehab start at Double-A Bowie. In two games, he allowed four runs and nine hits in 12 innings, with two walks and eight strikeouts. Chen said he will throw a bullpen session on Saturday while waiting for the Orioles to decide when he's going to be activated. "I'm not quite sure right now...

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Orioles-Yankees lineups

July 05, 2013, 11:26am

Orioles

NEW YORK - Matt Wieters, Ryan Flaherty and Alexi Casilla took early batting practice this afternoon. Wieters is 6-for-42 with three RBIs in his last 13 games. He's batting .225/.282/.393 this season. But he's 9-for-21 with three doubles and three homers against Yankees starter Ivan Nova. Brian Roberts will serve as the designated hitter tonight and hit ninth, while Ryan Flaherty will get the start at second base for the Orioles. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick...

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A few notes before tonight's game

July 05, 2013, 7:57am

Orioles

NEW YORK - Since July 29, 2012, the Orioles have the best winning percentage in baseball at .605 and are tied with the Athletics for the most wins with 89. The Orioles are 15-8 in their last 23 games against the Yankees after going 12-41 in the previous 53. They're 6-3 against them this season, but they lost two of three in the Bronx April 12-14. Since the start of 2012, the Orioles are 2-4 in extra innings against New York, including the playoffs, and 20-2 against the rest of baseball. The...

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What's next for the rotation?

July 04, 2013, 6:59pm

Orioles

The Orioles are listing Miguel Gonzalez, Chris Tillman and Jason Hammel as their three starters for the Yankees series that starts tonight in the Bronx. Zach Britton allowed only two runs over seven innings yesterday in Chicago. Wei-Yin Chen tossed seven scoreless innings yesterday and retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced in his second and last injury-rehab start with Double-A Bowie. Scott Feldman made his Orioles debut Wednesday night after being acquired from the Cubs and held the...

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Jones takes a walk (Dunn hits walk-off HR)

July 04, 2013, 10:55am

Orioles

Jones takes a walk (Dunn hits walk-off HR)

It finally happened. The ground beneath our feet didn't freeze over. Dogs and cats aren't best friends. But Orioles center fielder Adam Jones did, indeed, draw a walk in the first inning. Jones' two-out free pass off White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana was his first since May 18. That's 43 games and 184 plate appearances - the longest stretch in baseball. He left Eric Hinske in the dust. The Orioles lost to the Rays that day, 10-6, at Camden Yards despite Jones going 2-for-4 with a home...

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Hardy and Roberts move up in order (with White Sox lineup)

July 04, 2013, 7:53am

Orioles

Hardy and Roberts move up in order (with White Sox lineup)

Orioles manager Buck Showalter is batting shortstop J.J. Hardy fifth and second baseman Brian Roberts sixth for today's series finale against the Chicago White Sox. Hardy has batted fifth in 31 career games, posting a .231/.274/.346 line. Roberts has appeared in the sixth slot in four previous games during his career, going 2-for-2. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Manny Machado 3B Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy SS Brian Roberts 2B Nate McLouth LF Nolan Reimold DH Taylor...

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Orioles seek one more win in Windy City

July 03, 2013, 6:33pm

Orioles

The Orioles will go for another series win this afternoon as they play their final game at US Celluar Field in 2013. They also will try again to move a season-high 12 games above .500. The Orioles have the most road wins in the majors (69) since the start of the 2012 season. They'd like to register an even 70 before heading to the Bronx for their weekend series against the Yankees. Zach Britton remains in the rotation, but for how much longer with Wei-Yin Chen coming off the disabled list...