Roch Kubatko

Arrieta was grand until grand slam (deficit grows)

June 18, 2012, 4:44pm

Orioles

Arrieta was grand until grand slam (deficit grows)

Jake Arrieta had allowed one run in his last 12 2/3 innings when the Mets' Ike Davis stepped to the plate tonight with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the sixth. With one swing, a scoreless tie was shattered and Arrieta's run of success had been destroyed. Davis' first career grand slam gave New York a 4-0 lead against the Orioles, who have managed only one hit off knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. The Orioles hadn't allowed a run in 25 consecutive innings before the Mets batted...

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Davis stays in right field (and Mets lineup)

June 18, 2012, 12:05pm

Orioles

Davis stays in right field (and Mets lineup)

Orioles manager Buck Showalter is giving Chris Davis another start in right field tonight as the Orioles make their first trip to Citi Field to play the Mets. The Orioles last played the Mets in New York in 2006, winning two of three games. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Wilson Betemit 3B Steve Pearce LF Jake Arrieta RHP The Orioles haven't allowed a run in the last 20 innings and haven't surrendered an...

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Jones moves up to fourth in All-Star voting (and notes)

June 18, 2012, 11:35am

Orioles

Jones moves up to fourth in All-Star voting (and notes)

Adam Jones is pushing to become the first Oriole elected to the All-Star Game in seven years. Jones has moved up to fourth among American League outfielders in the latest balloting figures. Jones has received 1,959,207 votes, leaving him behind the Blue Jays' Jose Bautista (1,996,940) for the third spot. Jones was fifth last week, a spot now occupied by the Rangers' Nelson Cruz. Nick Markakis actually moved up from 15th to 13th despite being sidelined with a broken hamate bone. J.J....

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Which Orioles will be seeing (all) stars?

June 17, 2012, 5:55pm

Orioles

With only a few exceptions in recent years, the Orioles' involvement in the All-Star Game has pretty much been reduced to the obligatory one representative. Someone has to be chosen, no matter how poorly the team is performing. It's baseball law. Matt Wieters last summer. Ty Wigginton in 2010. Adam Jones in 2009. George Sherrill in 2008. Brian Roberts in 2007. Miguel Tejada in 2006. Yes, I'm referring back to 2005 again while noting that Roberts, Tejada, Melvin Mora and B.J. Ryan...

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orioles adam jones jason hammel jim johnson matt wieters wei-yin chen featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Back-to-back blankings of the Braves

June 17, 2012, 1:15pm

Orioles

I left Ocean Pines at 1:30 p.m. with the idea of catching the end of today's game on MASN2 after I arrived home. I barely made it across the Bay Bridge when Jim Johnson recorded his 20th save to preserve the Orioles' 2-0 victory over the Braves. The starting pitchers were getting quick outs and the traffic was moving at a snail's pace. Did anyone guess back in March that Jason Hammel and Wei-Yin Chen would each win seven of their first nine decisions? What about the back-to-back shutouts,...

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Roberts gets day off

June 17, 2012, 7:15am

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter is giving Brian Roberts the day off today unless the second baseman is needed later in the game. Nothing to worry about. Roberts is fine. It's just a scheduled rest. Matt Wieters also is on the bench today. Robert Andino returns to second base. Chris Davis remains in right field. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Wilson Betemit 3B Mark Reynolds 1B Ronny Paulino C Steve Pearce LF Wei-Yin Chen LHP

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orioles brian roberts

Showalter excelled at rotating his starters (and notes)

June 17, 2012, 5:24am

Orioles

Showalter excelled at rotating his starters (and notes)

Yesterday, I praised manager Buck Showalter's handling of the bullpen, which continues to own the lowest ERA in the majors. Today, I'm offering the blog equivalent of a fist-bump for the adjustments he made to the rotation. Showalter pushed back Brian Matusz's start from Wednesday to Friday, giving the left-hander a few more days to recover after a bunted ball smacked him in the nose. Matusz felt good enough to take his scheduled turn, but Showalter had a plan. Besides making sure that...

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Hammel time (Hammel finishes with one-hit shutout)

June 16, 2012, 4:47pm

Orioles

Hammel time (Hammel finishes with one-hit shutout)

Jason Hammel allowed four earned runs in four of his last six starts before tonight. He also won four of his last six starts, though not each time he permitted four runs. It just worked out that way. Hammel is on top of his game tonight, permitting one baserunner in his first five innings - on a walk to Dan Uggla. He's retired 12 in a row heading into the sixth. Hammel has thrown 57 pitches, 33 for strikes, and fanned four Braves. His right knee isn't keeping him out of the rotation or...

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Britton scuffling again tonight (O's take the lead)

June 16, 2012, 4:00pm

Orioles

Britton scuffling again tonight (O's take the lead)

Left-hander Zach Britton has allowed three runs and five hits in two innings against Triple-A Toledo. Britton posted a 0.75 ERA in two rehab starts at Double-A Bowie, but he's gone 1-1 with a 5.91 ERA in his first two starts at Norfolk covering 10 2/3 innings. He's allowed seven runs and 14 hits, walked four and struck out four. In his most recent outing, he gave up three runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings in Buffalo after the Orioles removed him from the 60-day disabled list and...

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Davis back in right field tonight

June 16, 2012, 11:50am

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't shaking up the lineup tonight. Chris Davis is starting in right field again, with Steve Pearce in left, Mark Reyolds at first base and Wilson Betemit at third. He'd love to sneak in a designated hitter, but no chance. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Wilson Betemit 3B Steve Pearce LF Jason Hammel RHP For the Braves: Michael Bourn CF Martin Prado LF Brian McCann C Dan...

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orioles chris davis frontfeatured_orioles

Orioles not pitching in at the plate

June 16, 2012, 8:40am

Orioles

Orioles pitchers are 0-for-9 at the plate with eight strikeouts in interleague games this year, which might seem like an obvious failing except that they were 9-for-22 (.409) last season, setting American League single-season records for most hits and highest batting average by pitchers in interleague competition. Wei-Yin Chen has struck out in both of his at-bats this season, and that's an obvious failing. He'll be the first to admit, through his interpreter, that he's a bad hitter. He had...

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orioles chris davis jason hammel mark reynolds frontstory_orioles2

Orioles trying to get it right in right

June 16, 2012, 5:37am

Orioles

Before the Orioles took the field on Thursday for the final game of their homestand, manager Buck Showalter responded to a reporter's question by confirming that Chris Davis could play first base again this season. He also noted that Davis might play third or left field as part of a double-switch, one of those moves commonly made in National League ballparks. Showalter's point was that Davis shouldn't be regarded exclusively as a designated hitter despite making 17 starts in that role, one...

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orioles chris davis nick markakis nolan reimold featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Matusz left with 1-0 deficit (Matusz done after 5 2/3)

June 15, 2012, 4:06pm

Orioles

Matusz left with 1-0 deficit (Matusz done after 5 2/3)

Before tonight, only one left-handed batter had homered off Orioles starter Brian Matusz. Move over, Curtis Granderson. Atlanta catcher Brian McCann homered with two outs in the first inning tonight to give the Braves a 1-0 lead. Lefties were batting .138 against Matusz before tonight, with four walks and 22 strikeouts. In his career, Matusz was holding lefties to a .219 average and 11 home runs. Right-handed hitters had 40 homers. McCann was a logical candidate to buck the trend. He's...

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Davis in right field tonight

June 15, 2012, 12:28pm

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter is keeping Chris Davis in the lineup tonight by starting him in right field. Davis has never played the outfield in the majors. He's been a corner infielder and emergency reliever (once). Davis played two games in right field with Single-A Spokane in 2006. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Wilson Betemit 3B Steve Pearce LF Brian Matusz LHP For the Braves: Michael Bourn CF Martin Prado 1B Brian...

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orioles chris davis jai miller frontstory_orioles3

Matusz looking to end interleague streak

June 15, 2012, 9:50am

Orioles

Matusz looking to end interleague streak

Left-hander Brian Matusz is starting tonight for the Orioles after being pushed back two days following his bunting mishap, and he's got a score to settle with the National League. Matusz has never faced the Braves, but he's 0-5 with a 7.49 ERA in six career interleague starts, with 28 earned runs allowed in 33 2/3 innings. He's also hitless in four major league at-bats. It's probably safe to assume that Matusz isn't a huge fan of interleague baseball. That's most definitely true of...

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orioles brian matusz featured_sidebar

Bullpen's production has been a huge relief

June 14, 2012, 9:01pm

Orioles

Bullpen's production has been a huge relief

The Orioles began last night's game against the Pirates with the lowest bullpen ERA in the majors at 2.40. Darren O'Day gave them a scoreless seventh inning, retiring the side in order. Dana Eveland allowed a run in two innings, which the Orioles didn't mind conceding in a 12-6 victory. Tommy Hunter collected his first win since April 24 because the Orioles showered him with runs and the 'pen protected his lead. The unit hasn't fallen out of step without Matt Lindstrom, who posted a 1.29...

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orioles buck showalter dana eveland darren o'day luis ayala pedro strop troy patton featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Hearing from Pearce, Wieters and Hunter

June 14, 2012, 7:19pm

Orioles

Steve Pearce is batting .320 with eight RBIs in seven games with the Orioles. He'd probably like a few more against the Pirates, who watched him homer and drive in five runs tonight after he went 2-for-3 with an RBI last night. "It's nice playing against the Pirates. It just feels good having a great game and helping contribute to this win," he said. "I'm just looking for the opportunity. The biggest thing with me over the years was I just wasn't able to stay healthy, I earned playing...

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orioles matt wieters steve pearce tommy hunter featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Showalter speaks after 12-6 win

June 14, 2012, 7:01pm

Orioles

The Orioles have won five games in a row for the third time this season. They've won seven of their last nine games and have taken their last three series. The Orioles scored a season-high 12 runs tonight, giving them 27 in this series, and Steve Pearce delivered a career-high five against his former team. What kind of impression is Pearce making on manager Buck Showalter? "Good one," Showalter said. "Taking advantage of the opportunity, providing some versatility, putting some good...

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orioles buck showalter steve pearce tommy hunter featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Confusing start by Hunter (O's win 12-6)

June 14, 2012, 5:22pm

Orioles

Confusing start by Hunter (O's win 12-6)

Tommy Hunter retired the first 12 batters he faced tonight, which almost went unnoticed while the Orioles picked apart former Oriole Erik Bedard. Hunter was strong, striking out three of the first six Pirates, but he won't turn in a quality start. Not after allowing five runs and seven hits over six innings. Rod Barajas hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning and the Pirates scored twice in the sixth on Casey McGehee's RBI grounder and Pedro Alvarez's single. Seven of 12 batters reached...

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Orioles give Bedard a rude welcome back (O's up 10-3)

June 14, 2012, 3:45pm

Orioles

If Erik Bedard has fond memories of Camden Yards, they won't include tonight's first inning. Better to erase it from his mind. The Orioles sent eight batters to the plate and scored four runs, all of them with two outs. Bedard threw 36 pitches, including nine to Chris Davis before walking him. Brian Roberts led off with a single, his fourth hit in three games. Matt Wieters singled after the Davis walk to give the Orioles their first run, Mark Reynolds delivered an RBI double and Steve...