Roch Kubatko

Orioles give fans three options for purchasing playoff tickets

September 17, 2012, 10:51am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced three options for fans to purchase postseason tickets, which will be available exclusively online. Fans may visit www.orioles.com/postseason for a seating chart, schedule and additional ticket information. All three options are for the purchase of wild card and American League Division Series tickets. American League Championship Series and World Series tickets will become available for sale at a later date, if necessary. Option 1: Fans will receive the...

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When will the Strop slump stop?

September 17, 2012, 5:00am

Orioles

The Orioles are assured of posting a winning record for the first time since 1997, and it feels anti-climatic. It's been assumed for so long, the attention has shifted to whether the Orioles can win the division or a wild card berth. Finishing above .500? Ho-hum. Matt Wieters homered twice yesterday, Endy Chavez collected four hits for the first time as an Oriole, Robert Andino had two hits and Brian Matusz picked up his first relief win with two scoreless innings. Almost lost in the...

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Chavez contributing to Orioles' lead (O's win 9-5)

September 16, 2012, 3:11pm

Orioles

For all the Endy Chavez haters out there, well, he's been pretty good today. Chavez is 3-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs, as the Orioles have taken a 7-2 lead over the Athletics. He contributed a two-run single in the seventh inning. Chavez wasn't initially added to the expanded 40-man roster on Sept. 1, but he was told to stay close. Chavez was in New York when the Orioles contacted him after Nick Markakis suffered a broken left thumb that ended his season. The plus-defense in the...

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Wieters homers twice, O's leading A's

September 16, 2012, 9:47am

Orioles

Chris Davis is batting third today as the Orioles' designated hitter. Mark Reynolds remains at first base after experiencing some numbness in his left biceps last night. Robert Andino remains at second base. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Manny Machado 3B Endy Chavez RF Robert Andino 2B Randy Wolf LHP For the Athletics: Coco Crisp CF Jonny Gomes DH Josh Reddick RF Yoenis Cespedes LF Chris Carter 1B Josh...

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The Orioles' house of pain

September 16, 2012, 7:38am

Orioles

The Orioles will try to avoid being swept by the Athletics today and remain one game behind the Yankees in the American League East. It's a tall order, given their surroundings. The Orioles have lost 16 of their last 18 games at Oakland Coliseum dating back to 2008, and they have been outscored, 90-55. Not all of these Oakland teams have been Grade A's, but the dominance continues. Orioles pitchers have posted a 4.93 ERA during that stretch, and the A's are batting .276. Meanwhile,...

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The mysterious disappearance of Omar Quintanilla

September 16, 2012, 5:14am

Orioles

The mysterious disappearance of Omar Quintanilla

Is there a pecking order developing as the final month of the regular season plays out? Are the Orioles better than the Rays, and are the Athletics better than the Orioles? Only if you put a lot of stock in their most recent games against each other. The Orioles swept Tampa Bay at Camden Yards, flew to Oakland and promptly dropped the first two games of their series. Now they need Randy Wolf, who won one of his last 20 starts with the Brewers, to play the role of stopper. Wolf has made two...

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The Britton mystery continues (O's lose 5-2)

September 15, 2012, 7:20pm

Orioles

The Britton mystery continues (O's lose 5-2)

For four starts, Zach Britton was a dominant left-hander with a fresh arm and the ability to anchor the Orioles' rotation. So what happened in his last two starts? Britton has surrendered 10 runs and nine hits in 7 1/3 innings in those two outings, with nine walks and six strikeouts. The Athletics jumped Britton in the third inning tonight, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring five runs to take a 5-2 lead. He was gone after the fourth with his pitch count at 86. Britton had won...

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Orioles and Athletics lineups

September 15, 2012, 2:11pm

Orioles

Endy Chavez will start in right field tonight for the Orioles, with Chris Davis serving as the designated hitter. Matt Wieters is batting third, and Adam Jones is hitting cleanup. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy SS Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Chris Davis DH Mark Reynolds 1B Manny Machado 3B Endy Chavez RF Robert Andino 2B Zach Britton LHP For the Athletics: Coco Crisp CF Jonny Gomes DH Josh Reddick RF Yoenis Cespedes LF Chris Carter 1B Jason Donaldson 3B Derek Norris...

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Orioles double their pain again

September 15, 2012, 11:21am

Orioles

The Orioles grounded into four double plays last night, a huge factor in their 3-2 loss to the Athletics and their inability to take over sole possession of first place in the American League East. The double plays came in successive innings. Mark Reynolds ended the fourth, Robert Andino produced two outs in the fifth following Chris Davis' home run and Manny Machado's single, Lew Ford ended a two-on, one-out threat in the sixth and Andino ended a two-on, one-out rally in the...

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This and that

September 15, 2012, 5:18am

Orioles

I still like the Orioles' chances of making the playoffs if they can find 25 healthy players in October. Another game brought another injury, this one to Wilson Betemit, whose wrist pain most likely has ended his season. Manager Buck Showalter delivered the news on MASN following the Orioles' 3-2 loss in Oakland. Meet the new injury, same as the old injury. It's not a huge blow. It doesn't rival the losses of Nick Markakis and Jason Hammel. But Betemit was hitting .302 against...

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Scoring change and a score (O's lose 3-2)

September 14, 2012, 6:56pm

Orioles

Scoring change and a score (O's lose 3-2)

If you keep a scorebook at home, remove the error charged to first baseman Mark Reynolds on Sept. 9 against the Yankees. Give Robinson Cano a double. I hope you used a pencil. The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on an error by Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson that scored Manny Machado, who singled, advanced to second on Robert Andino's fly ball to center field and took third on Nate McLouth's fly ball to right. Machado must have heard about Coco Crisp's weak arm in...

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Orioles and Athletics lineups and assorted notes

September 14, 2012, 2:37pm

Orioles

Lew Ford is starting in right field tonight, as manager Buck Showalters breaks out his right-handed lineup. However, left-handed hitting Chris Davis is the designated hitter. Matt Wieters is behind the plate and batting fourth. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Lew Ford RF Mark Reynolds 1B Chris Davis DH Manny Machado 3B Robert Andino 2B Joe Saunders LHP For the Athletics: Coco Crisp CF Jonny Gomes DH Josh Reddick RF Yoenis Cespedes LF Chris...

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Gregg released, Adams outrighted

September 14, 2012, 10:45am

Orioles

The Orioles announced today that they released veteran reliever Kevin Gregg and outrighted minor league second baseman Ryan Adams to Triple-A Norfolk after he cleared waivers. No surprises here. Gregg is hoping to catch on with another team and the Orioles couldn't come up with a trade partner over the winter or during the season. He figured to be cut loose after they designated him for assignment Tuesday. Gregg went 3-2 with a 4.74 ERA in 40 appearances for the Orioles this season. He...

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New contract not a hot topic for Showalter or Orioles (Bundy note)

September 14, 2012, 2:46am

Orioles

The Orioles have ended their streak of 14 consecutive losing seasons. When do they begin talks with manager Buck Showalter on a new contract? Showalter has one year remaining on a deal he signed in August 2010. At this point, neither side has broached the subject. It's a back-burner issue, just as Showalter wants to keep it. Showalter has no interest in going down that road with his team tied with the Yankees for first place in the American League East in the middle of September. He'll...

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Orioles end a long game and a longer streak

September 13, 2012, 2:59pm

Orioles

Today's attendance: 25,130 The Orioles completed a three-game sweep of the Rays with a 3-2, 14-inning victory. They have sole possession of first place in the American League East, with the Yankees playing the Red Sox later tonight. The Rays fall four games back in the division. The Orioles can do no worse than .500, ending their streak of consecutive losing seasons at 14. Just don't listen for the sound of champagne corks popping in the home clubhouse. "I don't think our guys take...

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Good news on Hammel's MRI (with quote)

September 13, 2012, 2:17pm

Orioles

The MRI on Jason Hammel's right knee didn't reveal a new injury, according to Orioles manager Buck Showalter. Hammel will accompany the team to the West Coast. He may seek a second opinion on the results, but the Orioles are confident that he's going to be fine. The next step, of course, is getting Hammel back on a mound and into the rotation. There's no timetable for his return. "We got good news, that there's no new injury that we can see on the MRI," Showalter said. "They're...

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Orioles lacking runs, not chances (O's win in 14th)

September 13, 2012, 12:53pm

Orioles

The Orioles have put at least one runner on base in the last 10 innings. We're still tied, 2-2, but it isn't for lack of opportunities. The Orioles have stranded 11 runners, the Rays eight. The teams are a combined 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position. Luis Ayala shut out the Rays on one hit, with three strikeouts, over 2 1/3 innings. His season high was 2 2/3 on July 17 in Minnesota. The Rays gave up their designated hitter by putting Evan Longoria at third base. Manager Joe Maddon...

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McLouth continues to sizzle from leadoff spot (we're tied)

September 13, 2012, 9:50am

Orioles

McLouth continues to sizzle from leadoff spot (we're tied)

Nate McLouth is doing a nice impression of Nick Markakis. Put anyone atop the order and they seem to heat up. Markakis batted .335 with 15 doubles, two triples, five homers, 28 RBIs, 34 runs scored and an .879 OPS as the leadoff hitter. McLouth has five hits in this series and is 10-for-23 on the homestand, raising his average to .279 with the Orioles. McLouth doubled with two outs in the third inning, again pulling the ball into the right field corner, but J.J. Hardy grounded out. McLouth...

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Britton starting Saturday

September 13, 2012, 7:59am

Orioles

The Orioles' rotation gained another confirmed starter today. Left-hander Zach Britton will start Saturday in Oakland, leaving Sunday's starter as the only mystery in the three-game series. Left-hander Joe Saunders will take the mound on Friday. Chris Tillman said he hasn't been told when he'll get back into the rotation. It could be Sunday in Oakland or Monday or Tuesday in Seattle. Jason Hammel is undergoing his MRI this morning, and the Orioles hope to have the results before they...

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Wieters gets the day off

September 13, 2012, 6:52am

Orioles

Taylor Teagarden is catching today. Matt Wieters found out he was getting the day off as bench coach John Russell began posting the lineup on the magnetic board outside the clubhouse. Manny Machado moves up to sixth for the second time in his major league career. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy SS Wilson Betemit DH Adam Jones CF Chris Davis RF Manny Machado 3B Mark Reynolds 1B Robert Andino 2B Taylor Teagarden C Wei-Yin Chen LHP For the Rays: Desmond Jennings LF B.J. Upton...