Roch Kubatko

Gonzalez has his finest day (Teagarden produces winning run)

August 05, 2012, 12:10pm

Orioles

Gonzalez has his finest day (Teagarden produces winning run)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Miguel Gonzalez did everything within his power to give the Orioles a victory today. He just couldn't score runs for them. Gonzalez turned in the best start of his brief major league career, shutting out the Rays on two hits over seven innings. He walked four and struck out four. Darren O'Day pitched the eighth inning after Gonzalez threw 103 pitches, 59 for strikes. He retired the side in order, keeping the game tied as we head to the top of the...

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Reynolds stays in lineup (game scoreless through fifth)

August 05, 2012, 10:00am

Orioles

Reynolds stays in lineup (game scoreless through fifth)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Mark Reynolds is getting another start at first base today, as manager Buck Showalter looks to insert extra right-handed bats in the lineup against Rays left-hander David Price. He's not exactly going with the hot hand. Reynolds has hit only eight home runs this season, and none since July 16 in Minnesota. He's totaled five RBIs in his last 17 games, and only one since July 20. He's also batting .177 with six walks and 27 strikeouts in those 17 games. "Mark's...

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Orioles lineup vs. Rays (Tolleson on DL)

August 05, 2012, 7:02am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Robert Andino moves up to second in the lineup today against Rays left-hander David Price, with J.J. Hardy dropping to third. This is the second time in 2012 that Andino has batted second, and the sixth time that Hardy has batted third. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF Robert Andino 3B J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters DH Lew Ford LF Mark Reynolds 1B Omar Quintanilla 2B Taylor Teagarden C Miguel Gonzalez RHP For the Rays: Jennings LF Upton CF Joyce...

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Davis' bat heats up again

August 04, 2012, 8:38pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.- It isn't exactly breaking news that Chris Davis is a streaky hitter. We've been down that road before. Just when it appears that Davis won't get another hit, he gets them in bunches. Davis went 2-for-5 last night to extend his career-long hitting streak to nine games. He's batting .342 (13-for-38) with 12 RBIs during that span. The Orioles were 5-for-9 with runners in scoring position last night, obliterating their 0-for-22 streak, and Davis contributed with a...

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Wieters shows off his wheels, Chen simply deals

August 04, 2012, 7:18pm

Orioles

Wieters shows off his wheels, Chen simply deals

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Apparently, anyone on this team is free to run on the basepaths if he spots an opportunity. And that includes the catcher who doesn't include "speed" on his list of tools. Matt Wieters stole two bases tonight, giving him three on the season and four in his major league career. The last Orioles catcher to steal two in the same game was Johnny Oates on June 10, 1972 at Texas. "Buck gives all of us the green light pretty much, that if we feel like we can get it, go...

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Adair, Showalter and Wieters talk about Chen

August 04, 2012, 7:00pm

Orioles

Adair, Showalter and Wieters talk about Chen

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - By manager Buck Showalter's count, left-hander Wei-Yin Chen has gone to a three-ball count only five times in his last two starts. Chen is only the second pitcher from Taiwan to win 10 games in a season, joining Chien-Ming Wang in 2006 and 2007. Has he exceeded expectations in his first year in the U.S.? "It's hard to say because we didn't know that much about him coming in," said pitching coach Rick Adair. "All the challenges he has to face daily and throughout...

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Weighing in on Wei-Yin (O's win 4-0)

August 04, 2012, 5:47pm

Orioles

ST. PETERBURG, Fla. - Wei-Yin Chen continued his dominance in the second half, shutting out the Rays on five hits over seven innings and leaving his ERA at 1.95 ERA in five starts since the All-Star break. Chen walked one batter and struck out four. He threw 100 pitches, 73 for strikes. The guy also fields his position. What's not to like? Chen has been a beast on the road. In his last six starts away from home, he's allowed only 11 earned runs in 39 1/3 innings and has gone seven innings...

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RISP streak can RIP (Machado hits for cycle)

August 04, 2012, 3:42pm

Orioles

RISP streak can RIP (Machado hits for cycle)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - No need to check with Elias. The Orioles' streak of going hitless with runners in scoring position came to a peaceful end tonight. Matt Wieters lined a single into right field with two outs in the top of the first inning to score Nick Markakis and give the Orioles a 1-0 lead. The Orioles had been 0-for-22 with RISP heading into the game, and it didn't take long for the next opportunity to come along. Markakis led off with a walk and took second on Adam Jones' two-out...

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Showalter talks about today's transaction and updates injuries

August 04, 2012, 2:20pm

Orioles

Showalter talks about today's transaction and updates injuries

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette is trying to trade outfielder Endy Chavez, who was designated for assignment today to make room for outfielder Nate McLouth on the 25- and 40-man rosters. "Endy will end up on his feet shortly. I know Dan's going to explore some things with him and we'll go from there," said manager Buck Showalter. "There are still some things that could happen for Endy that would benefit both of us. We'll see." McLouth would have...

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Chavez designated for assignment, McLouth here (updated)

August 04, 2012, 11:54am

Orioles

Chavez designated for assignment, McLouth here (updated)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles have designated outfielder Endy Chavez for assignment and selected the contract of Nate McLouth from Triple-A Norfolk. McLouth, the Pirates' All-Star representative and a Gold Glove winner in 2008, is starting in left field. The 30-year-old was batting .244/.325/.461 with 10 homers and 33 RBIs in 47 games with the Tides. Chavez batted .190 in 47 games with the Orioles. McLouth, who's wearing No. 48, found out yesterday that the Orioles were selecting his...

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Yesterday and today

August 03, 2012, 9:21pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles have been held hitless with runners in scoring position in 10 of their last 24 games. They've been limited to one hit in six other games. That's not easy to do, even if you're trying. The current streak is 0-for-22. I don't know if records have been kept, though I'm guessing Elias has them. It will be worth checking if the Orioles take another 0-fer tonight against the Rays. Matt Wieters went 2-for-4 last night and is batting .335 lifetime against the...

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Reynolds: "I was overthinking a little too much"

August 03, 2012, 6:55pm

Orioles

Reynolds: "I was overthinking a little too much"

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles first baseman Mark Reynolds played a guessing game tonight with Rays catcher Jose Lobaton and didn't get the desired results. Reynolds struck out three times and stranded six runners as part of an 0-for-4 night on his 29th birthday that lowered his average to .207. "I know we've got to get better. I've got to get better in those situations," said Reynolds, referring to the Orioles going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. "I think tonight I was...

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Hearing from Showalter and Hunter

August 03, 2012, 6:43pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter suffered his 1,000th career loss tonight on the two-year anniversary of his first game with the Orioles. The result might have been different if the Orioles hadn't gone 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10. And if Tommy Hunter hadn't allowed two more home runs, though the lack of offensive support didn't leave any margin for error. "We did a lot of good things to get people out there, but there's two sides to that coin....

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Hunter takes over homer lead (Reynolds having unhappy birthday)

August 03, 2012, 5:19pm

Orioles

Hunter takes over homer lead (Reynolds having unhappy birthday)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Tommy Hunter outlasted Tampa Bay left-hander Matt Moore tonight, but he allowed two homers and received no run support. In some ways, it's been a typical night for Hunter. Solo shots by B.J. Upton leading off the fourth inning and Desmond Jennings leading off the sixth have given the Rays a 2-0 lead at Tropicana Field. Hunter has surrendered 26 homers this season, most in the majors. Carlos Pena thought he tagged Hunter with No. 27 in the sixth, but Adam Jones made a...

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Andino could platoon at third base (Hunter allows another HR)

August 03, 2012, 2:28pm

Orioles

Andino could platoon at third base (Hunter allows another HR)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Robert Andino is starting at third base against a left-hander tonight, and he could return to the hot corner under similar circumstances in future games. Wilson Betemit is batting .146 against left-handers, compared to .307 against right-handers. That's one reason. Omar Quintanila is swinging a pretty hot bat these days and manager Buck Showalter would like to keep him at second base. That's another reason. It looks like the Orioles could platoon at third...

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Andino starting at third base, Thome receives epidural (Roberts update)

August 03, 2012, 12:27pm

Orioles

Andino starting at third base, Thome receives epidural (Roberts update)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles haven't announced any roster moves today. Nate McLouth isn't here, and I'm told the club won't find out today whether he exercised the opt-out clause in his contract. Lew Ford is starting in left field. Robert Andino has returned to the lineup. He's starting at third base against Rays left-hander Matt Moore. The Orioles did make one deal yesterday that flew under the radar. They sent Triple-A reliever Pat Neshek to the Athletics. I don't have any...

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Showalter showing the way again (with notes)

August 03, 2012, 5:18am

Orioles

Showalter showing the way again (with notes)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Buck Showalter officially took the helm of the Orioles on Aug. 2, 2010, two years and one day ago today. We couldn't celebrate his anniversary on an off-day. He's got the Orioles five games above .500 and only 1 1/2 back in the wild card chase, which may come as a surprise to the folks who predicted his club would lose 100 this year. And there were lots and lots of them, both locally and nationally. The clock was supposed to be turned back to 1988. I've fielded the...

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Checking on Arrieta

August 02, 2012, 5:58pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Jake Arrieta allowed one run tonight for Triple-A Norfolk. That's a good thing. Arrieta failed to complete six innings again because of his high pitch count. That's a bad thing. Greg Burke replaced Arrieta with the bases loaded and two outs, and he walked Columbus' Matt Pagnozzi to force in a run. Arrieta is charged with two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings, with four walks, five strikeouts, a wild pitch and a hit batter. He threw 116 pitches, 64 for strikes. The...

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The playoff chase moves to another city

August 02, 2012, 11:53am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - It's time for the next leg of this two-city road trip. I'm grateful to have made it out of LaGuardia Airport. I had reached a point where I intended to find a comfortable place in the security line to blog and tweet for the next four days. Outfielder Nate McLouth isn't in Triple-A Norfolk's lineup tonight. He can opt out of his contract tomorrow and the Orioles want to keep him. Could he be joining them in St. Pete? While we've been kicking around ideas for...

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What's next for the Orioles?

August 01, 2012, 7:45pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - Just when it appears that the Orioles' rotation and roster are settled, at least for the short term, more rumblings can be heard from miles away. Sort of like Sidney Ponson with an empty stomach. We don't know whether left-hander Zach Britton will make his next start. We don't know whether Tommy Hunter will start on Friday, though he's scheduled to open the three-game series against the Rays. The entire rotation will be working on an extra days rest because of today's open...