Showalter and Tillman speak after 6-3 loss

Showalter and Tillman speak after 6-3 loss
Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters after tonight's 6-3 loss to the Red Sox that Steve Johnson was still "somewhat of an option" to start Saturday in Detroit. However, I doubt that it's going to happen after Johnson threw 28 pitches tonight. We'll see. "There's still that potential he can pitch there," Showalter said. "He hadn't pitched in seven days. We didn't want to pitch anyone else. We were down to our last guy. I was trying to stay away from Steve if I could. We're...

Jones is drilled, bringing cold stare from Showalter (O's lose 6-3)

Jones is drilled, bringing cold stare from Showalter (O's lose 6-3)
Manager Buck Showalter can count the number of times that Adam Jones has been hit by a pitch this season. He probably can name each body part that's been bruised. Now it's Showalter's face that's turning purple. Showalter didn't hide his displeasure with the Red Sox as he walked toward first base to check on Jones, who was drilled in the backside by a Clay Buchholz fastball in the third inning. He glared at them to such a degree, I'm pretty sure he melted the railing in front of their...

Orioles 'pen is still mightier, Hardy's defense looks golden (O's lead 3-1)

Orioles 'pen is still mightier, Hardy's defense looks golden (O's lead 3-1)
With a win tonight, the Orioles would move 12 games above .500 for the first time since June 17. They also would gain another game on the New York Yankees, closing to within five in the American League East. Over the last 12 games, the Orioles' bullpen has posted a 0.45 ERA by allowing two earned runs in 39 2/3 innings. During that span, the relievers have permitted 25 hits, walked eight, struck out 32 and held opponents to a .175 average. Four of the top 22 qualifiers in ERA among American...

Betemit has cartilage tear in wrist

Betemit has cartilage tear in wrist
The MRI taken on Wilson Betemit's right wrist this morning revealed a small cartilage tear and a bone bruise. Betemit will receive a cortisone injection later today and fly down to Sarasota tomorrow morning. The Orioles will shut him down for a week before he's cleared to begin baseball activities. Betemit hasn't played since Saturday, making him eligible to come off the disabled list on Aug. 27 - a realistic target date, according to manager Buck Showalter. Joe Mahoney flew into...

Orioles lineup against the Red Sox (Mahoney up, Betemit to DL)

Orioles lineup against the Red Sox (Mahoney up, Betemit to DL)
Mark Reynolds continues to start at first base, as the Orioles try to complete a three-game sweep of the Red Sox at Camden Yards. The reserves aren't listed on the magnetic board outside the clubhouse, leaving us to guess whether Wilson Betemit is headed to the disabled list. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Nate McLouth LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis DH Mark Reynolds 1B Manny Machado 3B Omar Quintanilla 2B Chris Tillman RHP Update: Joe Mahoney is now listed...

Is Mahoney headed to Baltimore?

Is Mahoney headed to Baltimore?
Joe Mahoney started at first base today for Triple-A Norfolk, but he was removed for a pinch hitter before his first at-bat. Jamie Hoffman batted for Mahoney and moved to right field, with Ryan Flaherty going to first base. Wilson Betemit underwent an MRI on his right wrist at 11 a.m., so it's possible that Mahoney is headed to Camden Yards in case the Orioles again need to use the disabled list. Mahoney plays first base, bats from the left side and is on the 40-man roster, which makes him...

Matusz says he's "excited" about switch to bullpen

Matusz says he's "excited" about switch to bullpen
Triple-A Norfolk manager Ron Johnson called Brian Matusz into his office on Monday and made official the left-hander's move to the bullpen. And so began the next phase of Matusz's professional life. Whether it's a passing phase has yet to be determined. The decision was born after numerous conversations involving Johnson, Orioles manager Buck Showalter, executive vice president Dan Duquette, director of pitching development Rick Peterson and Norfolk pitching coach Mike Griffin. "Buck...

Showalter speaks after 5-3 win

Showalter speaks after 5-3 win
The Orioles went from being no-hit tonight to taking a 5-3 lead in the sixth inning. What the heck happened? J.J. Hardy got the first hit off Boston starter Aaron Cook with a single into left field, and the Orioles sent 10 batters to the plate. "J.J. got a pretty good swing on a ball. That's about it," said manager Buck Showalter. "It's one of those things where you've got a pretty good idea of what he's going to do coming in. And he was able to do it because he had that sinker...

Hearing from Gonzalez and Jones

Hearing from Gonzalez and Jones
The Orioles have taken the lead in the wild card race with tonight's 5-3 victory over the Red Sox, and they're in sole possession of second place in the American League East. The Orioles are 4-0-1 in their last five series against the Yankees, Rays, Mariners, Royals and Red Sox. Miguel Gonzalez registered his third consecutive quality start and has allowed three runs in his last 21 innings. "I thought I threw the ball well," he said after permitting two runs and six hits in six innings....

Aaron Cook, Laz Diaz keep Orioles hitless (O's win 5-3)

Aaron Cook, Laz Diaz keep Orioles hitless (O's win 5-3)
Red Sox starter Aaron Cook has allowed one baserunner through four innings tonight, and it came on a leadoff walk to Nick Markakis in the bottom of the fourth. That's it. Cook and Miguel Gonzalez were working on dueling shutouts before Jacoby Ellsbury's ground-rule double scored Scott Podsednik in the fifth. Nick Punto, who followed Podsednik's single with one of his own, scored on Carl Crawford' sacrifice fly to give Boston a 2-0 lead. Ellsbury has a 38-game hitting streak against the...

Duquette says Matusz's move to bullpen is only "for now"

Duquette says Matusz's move to bullpen is only "for now"
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter still view left-hander Brian Matusz as a starter down the road. It's the current path that has led Matusz into the bullpen. As I wrote earlier, Matusz is available to pitch in relief tonight at Triple-A Norfolk. It's conceivable that he could rejoin the Orioles in that same role as they attempt to end their lengthy playoff drought. "It's for now. It's to address a need we have in the big leagues that we've been...

Betemit to undergo MRI on wrist (updated)

Betemit to undergo MRI on wrist (updated)
Wilson Betemit is out of the lineup again tonight because of a sore right wrist, and the Orioles have scheduled an MRI for tomorrow at 11 a.m. Betemit hasn't started the last two games against Boston right-handers Josh Beckett and Aaron Cook. He was expected to platoon at first base with Mark Reynolds after Manny Machado became the regular third baseman. Betemit is hitting .306 with 11 home runs against right-handers, compared to .143 with one home run vs. left-handers. The MRI should...

Matusz moves to Norfolk's bullpen (with O's lineup)

Matusz moves to Norfolk's bullpen (with O's lineup)
The Orioles' experiment of making Brian Matusz a reliever begins tonight. Matusz no longer will start Thursday night at Triple-A Norfolk. He's available to pitch out of the bullpen for tonight's game against Gwinnett. Tides manager Ron Johnson summoned Matusz into his office yesterday and discussed the role change, which the Orioles believe could create a shorter path to getting the left-hander back into the majors. Left-handed hitters are batting .223/.281/.384 against Matusz during his...

This and that

This and that
The Orioles have a chance tonight to move 11 games above .500 for the first time since June 18, when they were 39-28 after the first of three straight losses to the Mets at Citi Field. They're 10 games above .500 for the first time since June 24, right before they lost six of their next seven games. Brian Matusz and Jason Hammel each lost twice during that span. Matusz is currently at Triple-A Norfolk and on the verge of moving to the bullpen. Hammel is on the disabled list and on the verge...

Reynolds: "I know what I'm capable of"

Reynolds: "I know what I'm capable of"
Mark Reynolds has been in an offensive funk for most of the 2012 season. Now, he's catching fire. How does he explain it? "It's just baseball," he said. "That's all I can say." That's not enough. Reporters need more. Must dissect his game like a frog in science lab. How well is he seeing the ball? "I don't know if it's that," he said. "I've been putting a lot of work in, and it's starting to show in the games. Tonight was just one of those nights. I got the pitches I was...

Postgame chatter following 7-1 victory

Postgame chatter following 7-1 victory
The Orioles have won seven of 10 games against the Red Sox this season, 11 of their last 15 and 13 of 17. Mark Reynolds is 8-for-22 with three doubles, three homers, seven RBIs and six runs scored on the homestand. Is Reynolds heating up and looking like a guy who could make a big impact down the stretch? "I hope so," manager Buck Showalter said after tonight's 7-1 win over the Red Sox. "He's had a couple good games for us. Mark has kind of settled down first base. We've had some...

Quintanilla keeps muscling up (O's win 7-1)

Quintanilla keeps muscling up (O's win 7-1)
The Orioles traded for Omar Quintanilla this summer because they regarded him as a defensive upgrade in the middle infield. As a guy who could add speed to the lineup. As a guy who might improve the team's on-base percentage. He wasn't supposed to hit home runs. Quintanilla belted his third homer with the Orioles tonight, a solo shot leading off the bottom of the third inning that broke a scoreless tie. The ball appeared to land on Eutaw St., though we never got an announcement from the...

Orioles DFA Socolovich (Gausman moving up to Frederick)

Orioles DFA Socolovich (Gausman moving up to Frederick)
The Orioles made room for left-hander J.C. Romero on their 40-man roster today by designating reliever Miguel Socolovich for assignment. Socolovich posted a 1.90 ERA in 28 games at Triple-A Norfolk and was named to the International League All-Star team. However, he registered a 6.97 ERA in six appearances and 10 1/3 innings with the Orioles during two stints with the club. The Orioles will outright Socolovich to Norfolk if he clears waivers. The Orioles also made Steve Johnson's promotion...

Showalter talks about Matusz

Showalter talks about Matusz
Manager Buck Showalter casually mentioned the Orioles' plans to convert left-hander Brian Matusz to a reliever. He was asked whether he was disappointed that Matusz and Jake Arrieta hadn't dominated at the Triple-A level. He noted that Arrieta usually is bitten by one bad inning. Then, he surprised reporters with news about Matusz's changing role. Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette have discussed the move with Norfolk manager Ron Johnson and pitching coach Mike Griffin,...

Orioles prepared to move Matusz to bullpen (with rotation update)

Orioles prepared to move Matusz to bullpen (with rotation update)
The Orioles have discussed placing left-hander Brian Matusz in Triple-A Norfolk's bullpen, a move that is expected to happen in the near future and could lead to a role change in the majors. Matusz is still scheduled to make another start for the Tides, but he most likely will be pulled from the rotation. Manager Buck Showalter said the club has discussed this move for a few weeks, and the lefty is open to the idea. Anything to get back in the majors. Left-handers are batting .223/.281/.384...