Roch Kubatko

Ripken on the Orioles and Thursday's ceremony

September 05, 2012, 6:17am

Orioles

With the Orioles having at least a share of first place in September for the first time since 1997, it seems appropriate that Cal Ripken Jr. will be at Camden Yards twice in the next four days. Ripken will be on hand Thursday for the unveiling of his statue in the picnic area and for the on-field ceremony that follows. And he'll be in the TBS broadcast booth on Sunday, making his debut providing analysis with former Braves pitcher John Smoltz. They'll talk about the playoff race, and the...

Tags:

Only the smart fans saw it coming

September 04, 2012, 7:26pm

Orioles

Not only did the smart fans predict back in March that the Orioles would be tied for first place on Sept. 5, they also knew that Miguel Gonzalez would be on the mound tonight with a chance to give them sole possession. They followed his progress in the Mexican League and his recovery from injuries that robbed him of two full seasons of pro ball. Oh, they knew. They knew that Nate McLouth, released by the Pirates after batting .140 in 34 games, would be hitting .255 with the Orioles and...

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles2

Reynolds stays hot (O's win 12-0, move into first-place tie)

September 04, 2012, 4:30pm

Orioles

Reynolds stays hot (O's win 12-0, move into first-place tie)

Mark Reynolds must really, really want the Orioles to pick up that $11 million option for next season. Reynolds clubbed a three-run homer in the top of the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. If you're scoring at home, that's five homers in five days for Reynolds, and nine since Aug. 8. He's sizzling. Blue Jays starter Carlos Villanueva had allowed one hit in four innings before Adam Jones led off the fifth with a double. Chris Davis walked with...

Tags:

orioles mark reynolds zach britton frontstory_orioles2

Tillman's MRI doesn't show structural damage (minor leaguer suspended)

September 04, 2012, 2:00pm

Orioles

Tillman's MRI doesn't show structural damage (minor leaguer suspended)

The Orioles received some good news this afternoon regarding pitcher Chris Tillman. A team official confirmed that the MRI on Tillman's right elbow revealed some inflammation in a nerve, but no structural damage. Manager Buck Showalter passed along the news to reporters in Toronto, and the interview will air on "O's Xtra," which begins at 6:30 p.m. on MASN2 HD. Tillman will work out with Double-A Bowie, which begins the Eastern League playoffs Wednesday night. He could make his next...

Tags:

orioles chris tillman featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups and notes (updated)

September 04, 2012, 11:39am

Orioles

Nick Markakis remains in the Orioles' lineup tonight after being drilled in the left arm by a pitch yesterday. Adam Jones stays in center field despite appearing to twist his ankle in that same game. Robert Andino makes another start at second base. The Orioles haven't announced that they've recalled left-hander Zach Britton, but he's on the mound tonight. UPDATE: They just announced it. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Nate McLouth LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C...

Tags:

orioles adam jones chris tillman nick markakis zach britton frontstory_orioles2

On the brink of first place

September 04, 2012, 2:16am

Orioles

First place in September? The Orioles could claim a share of it tonight. A win over the Blue Jays, coupled with a Yankees loss at Tropicana Field, would create a first-place tie in the American League East. And it wouldn't involve the Rays or Red Sox. It would be the team widely predicted to lose 100 games this season. The Orioles have won eight of their last 10 games and 14 of 20. And they're no longer bullied in their own division. They improved yesterday to 29-21 against the AL...

Tags:

orioles chris tillman jason hammel zach britton featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Quick Tillman update and more on Phillips (O's win 4-0)

September 03, 2012, 8:54am

Orioles

Quick Tillman update and more on Phillips (O's win 4-0)

The Orioles are in the process of scheduling an MRI for Chris Tillman, who left yesterday's start at Yankee Stadium after three innings because of an "achy" and "dead" feeling in his right elbow. With today's holiday, it's more likely that Tillman will undergo the MRI on Tuesday morning at the earliest. Tillman retired the last four batters he faced yesterday and left with the Orioles trailing 2-0. He was 6-1 with a 3.67 ERA and five quality starts in his last eight outings. The...

Tags:

orioles chris tillman jake arrieta zach phillips frontstory_orioles2

Machado moves up to sixth today (Berken designated for assignment)

September 03, 2012, 6:49am

Orioles

Machado moves up to sixth today (Berken designated for assignment)

Manny Machado is batting sixth today for the first time in his major league career. Machado has hit seventh, eighth and ninth, but he's moving up against Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ. He went 6-for-12 in the Yankees series. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Manny Machado 3B Nate McLouth LF Lew Ford DH Robert Andino 2B Joe Saunders LHP For the Blue Jays: Rajai Davis LF Colby Rasmus CF Edwin Encarnacion 1B Adam Lind...

Tags:

orioles jake arrieta manny machado frontstory_orioles3

Orioles pass another test (Gonzalez starting Wednesday)

September 02, 2012, 8:03pm

Orioles

I really wish that I had kept track of my road record this season, because it's got to be impressive. I'd go back and count up the games, but that would require doing math and, well, I was told there wouldn't be any math. Yesterday was gut-check time in the Bronx. It also was a game that measures a team's heart, its resiliency, its bounce-back ability. The Orioles had coughed up a two-run lead in the seventh inning Saturday, knocking the wind out of them while simultaneously breathing...

Tags:

orioles featured_sidebar luis ayala mark reynolds frontstory_orioles3

Reynolds continues to leave his mark

September 02, 2012, 1:53pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - Just another multi-homer game for Mark Reynolds today. Nothing to see here. Actually, there's been plenty. As I wrote earlier, he's batting .320 with five doubles, eight homers and 17 RBIs in his last 23 games. Reynolds homered off Phil Hughes in the fifth and sixth innings, his second shot driving in three runs and giving the Orioles a 5-3 lead. "The first one, I think it was a 2-2 fastball," he said. "He was trying to go away with it like he did in my first at-bat and...

Tags:

orioles mark reynolds frontstory_orioles3

Hearing from Showalter and Wolf after 8-3 win

September 02, 2012, 1:35pm

Orioles

Hearing from Showalter and Wolf after 8-3 win

NEW YORK - Let's first get the fun facts out of the way. The Orioles improved to 37-29 on the road, 28-21 vs. the American League East, 25-13 in day games and 11-5 in the rubber game of a series. The six road wins in the Bronx are the most since they went 8-1 at the original Yankee Stadium in 1976. Mark Reynolds became only the second Orioles player with more than one multi-homer game in a series against the Yankees, joining Doug DeCinces, who hit two on May 25 and 27, 1981 at Memorial...

Tags:

orioles buck showalter chris tillman mark reynolds randy wolf featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Tillman to undergo MRI on elbow

September 02, 2012, 12:58pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - Instead of accompanying his teammates to Toronto later today, Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman will fly back to Baltimore and undergo an MRI on his right elbow. The MRI most likely will take place on Monday while the Orioles open a three-game series against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Tillman lasted only three innings today before manager Buck Showalter, concerned by a drop in his starter's velocity, summoned left-hander Randy Wolf from the bullpen. Tillman said the elbow felt...

Tags:

orioles chris tillman frontfeatured_orioles

The rotation and Reynolds (Wolf with solid debut, O's win 8-3)

September 02, 2012, 10:34am

Orioles

The rotation and Reynolds (Wolf with solid debut, O's win 8-3)

NEW YORK - So much for the Orioles having too many starters for their rotation. Manager Buck Showalter has mentioned the need for depth in case a pitcher is knocked out of a game with an injury. He usually talks about a line drive up the middle, not stiffness in an elbow, but his point is made. We won't know the severity of Chris Tillman's injury until later today or after the team arrives in Toronto, but the timing is both good and bad. The good: The roster has expanded this month, with...

Tags:

orioles chris tillman mark reynolds

Tillman off to slow start, leaves game with elbow stiffness

September 02, 2012, 9:52am

Orioles

Tillman off to slow start, leaves game with elbow stiffness

NEW YORK - Chris Tillman is struggling with his command in the early innings, having thrown only 18 of his 34 pitches for strikes through the second. Tillman has walked two batters and thrown two wild pitches. Worse, he's also served up a two-run homer to Chris Dickerson that's given the Yankees a 2-0 lead. Dickerson is starting in center field because Curtis Granderson injured his right hamstring during yesterday's game. Dickerson didn't have a major league at-bat this season before...

Tags:

orioles chris tillman

Andino starting at second base today (updated)

September 02, 2012, 6:33am

Orioles

Andino starting at second base today (updated)

NEW YORK - Robert Andino is starting at second base in today's series finale against the Yankees. So much for a platoon at second base. Andino is 2-for-5 lifetime against Yankees right-hander Phil Hughes. Omar Quintanilla is 1-for-4 with a home run, but he's mired in an 0-for-24 slump. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Nate McLouth LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Chris Davis DH Manny Machado 3B Robert Andino 2B Chris Tillman RHP Robinson Cano is 8-for-14...

Tags:

orioles robert andino frontstory_orioles2

Giving the rotation another spin (updated)

September 02, 2012, 4:53am

Orioles

Giving the rotation another spin (updated)

NEW YORK - I'm heading to Yankee Stadium for the finale of this three-game series, with Chris Tillman looking to exorcise his Bronx demons. Or exercise them, if that's an easier task. Tillman has an 8.42 ERA in six career starts against the Yankees, and it jumps to 10.69 in four starts in New York. He surrendered five runs (four earned) and eight hits in five innings back on July 31. Tillman is 4-1 with a 2.96 ERA in five road starts this season. Maybe he can lean on that statistic for...

Tags:

orioles chris tillman jason hammel featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Tolleson makes another trip to the majors (Hammel and Hunter updates)

September 01, 2012, 2:23pm

Orioles

Tolleson makes another trip to the majors (Hammel and Hunter updates)

NEW YORK - Jason Hammel gave up an infield hit and walked a batter in his first inning tonight at Single-A Frederick. The Orioles want him to go five innings and to get his pitch count to 70-75 before they decide whether to activate him. If Hammel stays on the disabled list, he'll be assigned to Double-A Bowie and pitch in the Eastern League playoffs. Otherwise, he could make a Sept. 6 start for the Orioles at Camden Yards. UPDATE: Hammel shut out the Carolina Mudcats on three hits over five...

Tags:

orioles steve tolleson featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Strop talks about his outing

September 01, 2012, 1:31pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - Pedro Strop faced three batters today and didn't retire any of them. A walk, another walk and an error on shortstop J.J. Hardy turned a 3-2 lead into a 4-3 deficit. Strop wasn't charged with a run, but he was saddled with his fifth blown save. Before today, he had allowed three runs and five hits in his last two appearances, covering 1 1/3 innings. He can add two walks to that line. "I didn't bring the stuff I usually bring command-wise," he said. "I felt like my command was...

Tags:

orioles pedro strop

Showalter and Chen speak after 4-3 loss

September 01, 2012, 1:19pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - The first inclination is to dwell on the seventh inning of today's 4-3 loss to the Yankees, when the Orioles couldn't find the plate and a two-run lead disappeared. However, they couldn't build a bigger lead against a pitcher, David Phelps, who was willing to walk the ballpark. Opportunities were lost, and so was a game. "A lot of people bend but don't break," said manager Buck Showalter. "Our guys have done that in the last couple of games, too. They've had some...

Tags:

orioles buck showalter frontfeatured_orioles wei-yin chen

Orioles can't find plate, lose lead in 7th (lose game, 4-3)

September 01, 2012, 11:54am

Orioles

NEW YORK - The Orioles are 8-54 when they trail after the seventh inning. That's the task facing them today after a 3-1 lead went up in smoke. The Orioles walked three batters in the bottom of the seventh, with Pedro Strop losing Derek Jeter to force in the tying run with two outs. Shortstop J.J. Hardy committed an error on Nick Swisher's bouncer with the count full, allowing Eduardo Nunez to score and give the Yankees a 4-3 lead. Hardy committed his sixth error on a ball that appeared to...