Hunter confirmed for tomorrow

Hunter confirmed for tomorrow
Orioles manager Buck Showalter just confirmed that Tommy Hunter will start tomorrow afternoon's game against the Phillies at Camden Yards. Dana Eveland tossed three perfect innings tonight in relief of Jake Arrieta. Miguel Gonzalez threw four innings last night in Boston. The choice became an obvious one. Hunter will be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk, and a corresponding 25-man roster move will be made by 1 p.m. tomorrow. Showalter didn't want to speculate about Arrieta's immediate...

Is this Arrieta's last start with Orioles? (O's lose 9-6)

Is this Arrieta's last start with Orioles? (O's lose 9-6)
It's not a comfortable question to pose, but it's a fair one. I hate to speculate about a player's future, though it's a common practice in the media, but Jake Arrieta is a serious candidate to be optioned tomorrow when Tommy Hunter is recalled and makes the start against Philadelphia. Arrieta turned in his second-shortest outing of the season, allowing a season-high nine runs and 11 hits in four innings. He walked none, struck out five, gave up two home runs and hit a batter. Manager...

Arrieta falls behind early (O's trail 9-4)

Arrieta falls behind early (O's trail 9-4)
Jake Arrieta retired the first two Phillies batters tonight on a fly ball and grounder, but three straight singles by Hunter Pence, Jim Thome and Shane Victorino produced a run. Thome's ball never left the infield. Arrieta was late chasing it and couldn't make a play. Carlos Ruiz struck out on Arrieta's 21st pitch to end the inning. The Orioles have scored one run while Arrieta's been in the game in six of his 12 starts, and they've scored two runs in three other outings. In his last 10...

A few pregame notes

A few pregame notes
The news content was light in manager Buck Showalter's pregame session with the media. Still no word on tomorrow afternoon's starter. "We've got our options that we're prepared to use," Showalter said. "Obviously, Miguel (Gonzalez) isn't one of them now. We'll see how we do tonight. But we have options for tomorrow." The Orioles will have to make room on the 25-man roster if Tommy Hunter is recalled. Gonzalez is a candidate to be optioned despite two solid relief outings with the...

Orioles and Phillies lineups

Orioles and Phillies lineups
Ryan Flaherty is starting in right field tonight for the Orioles, with Endy Chavez in the other outfield corner. Adam Jones remains in center field despite being removed for a pinch hitter again last night in the ninth inning. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez LF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis DH Wilson Betemit 3B Mark Reynolds 1B Ryan Flaherty RF Robert Andino 2B Jake Arrieta RHP For the Phillies: Jimmy Rollins SS Juan Pierre LF Hunter Pence RF Jim Thome...

More rotation speculation

More rotation speculation
The Triple-A Norfolk Tides have starters listed for their next five games, and Tommy Hunter isn't among them. The Orioles pulled Hunter from the Tides' rotation in case he's needed to start tomorrow afternoon against the Phillies at Camden Yards. They wanted to keep that option alive if Miguel Gonzalez was needed in long relief. Well, Gonzalez threw four innings last night in Boston after replacing left-hander Brian Matusz, which eliminated him from consideration. Dana Eveland remains a...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
BOSTON - I left my hotel room yesterday confident that Tommy Hunter would start Saturday for the Orioles. I walked out of manager Buck Showalter's office later that afternoon thinking Miguel Gonzalez might have taken the lead. Now I'm back to believing it will be Hunter. Stick with your first instinct. Gonzalez pitched last night, relieving left-hander Brian Matusz and working four innings. It's down to Gonzalez and left-hander Dana Eveland unless Showalter veers in an unexpected...

Showalter speaks after 7-0 loss (Marin says he signed)

Showalter speaks after 7-0 loss (Marin says he signed)
BOSTON - The Orioles fell behind, 2-0, in the first inning, 4-0 in the second and 6-0 in the third. Going against Clay Buchholz, they had no shot. Buchholz tossed his third career shutout, all coming against the Orioles. Meanwhile, Brian Matusz went two innings plus a batter and was charged with five runs, four of them earned. "Command of the fastball," manager Buck Showalter said when asked to explain why Matusz struggled. "We sit here and talk about it a lot. You can have a couple good...

Hearing from Matusz and Davis

Hearing from Matusz and Davis
BOSTON - Manager Buck Showalter thought the biggest issue for left-hander Brian Matusz tonight was a lack of fastball command. Matusz said he couldn't command anything, fastball included. Matusz was charged with five runs (four earned) and four hits in two-plus innings in the Orioles' 7-0 loss to the Red Sox. He walked five batters. "Yeah, it was just everything today, just out of my rhythm," Matusz said after turning in his shortest outing of the year. "I couldn't find my rhythm,...

Matusz runs up pitch count in first (O's lose 7-0)

Matusz runs up pitch count in first (O's lose 7-0)
BOSTON - Brian Matusz threw 97 pitches in 7 1/3 innings against Tampa Bay on Saturday, one of the keys to a 2-1 victory. He was able to go deeper in the game, and the bullpen wasn't needed until later. Tonight, Matusz threw 37 pitches in the bottom of the first and fell behind, 2-0, on Adrian Gonzalez's bases-loaded double down the right field line. Matusz walked Dustin Pedroia and Will Middlebrooks and gave up a single to Kevin Youkilis. The Red Sox kept fouling off pitches and getting...

Berken breaks nose, and other notes (with quotes)

Berken breaks nose, and other notes (with quotes)
BOSTON - Pitcher Jason Berken broke his nose during today's start with Triple-A Norfolk when he slammed into first baseman Joe Mahoney while chasing a foul ball in Rochester. Berken could make his next start. It depends on the amount of swelling around his eyes. "He's not going to do anything as far as resetting it," manager Buck Showalter said. "Right now, he's scheduled to start again. Of course, it depends on what goes on with (Jamie) Moyer. Tommy (Hunter) might be pitching Saturday...

Orioles sign Rundles from independent league

Orioles sign Rundles from independent league
BOSTON - The Triple-A Norfolk roster is getting another pitcher. The independent Lancaster Barnstormers announced on their website that the Orioles have purchased the contract of left-hander

Orioles and Red Sox lineups

Orioles and Red Sox lineups
BOSTON - Endy Chavez is batting leadoff tonight for the Orioles, and Mark Reynolds gets another start at first base. Nick Johnson remains out of the lineup against a right-hander, as manager Buck Showalter again chooses Chris Davis as his designated hitter. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez RF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis DH Mark Reynolds 1B Wilson Betemit 3B Ryan Flaherty LF Robert Andino 2B Brian Matusz LHP For the Red Sox: Daniel Nava LF Dustin Pedroia 2B Kevin...

Hunter expected to start on Saturday (and notes)

Hunter expected to start on Saturday (and notes)
BOSTON - Manager Buck Showalter hasn't named a starter for Saturday's game against the Phillies, but all signs point to Tommy Hunter. Well, one sign certainly does: He's not starting today for Triple-A Norfolk and he isn't listed among the Tides' probables through the weekend. Hunter was scheduled to start today, but Jason Berken moved up a day and is taking the mound at Rochester. The only other confirmed starter is Jamie Moyer on Saturday. Executive vice president Dan Duquette...

For the Orioles, is youth really king?

For the Orioles, is youth really king?
BOSTON - Chris Tillman had another solid outing last night for Triple-A Norfolk, and manager Buck Showalter knew about it before meeting with reporters after the Orioles' 2-1 win over the Red Sox. He immediately checks the box scores and the reports on all of the affiliates. I'm trying to figure out which direction the Orioles are going in regard to their handling of Norfolk's roster. I've decided that it's more than one way. Grow the arms is still a huge part of their philosophy, but...

Hearing from Wieters and Chen

Hearing from Wieters and Chen
BOSTON - It appears as though Wei-Yin Chen doesn't need to be pampered. He worked on regular rest tonight and turned in arguably his best start of the year. "He was good," said catcher Matt Wieters. "He pitched out of two jams where he really was able to keep them to one run (or less) and the rest of the inning he knew what he wanted to do. He used all of his pitches today. He was able to put guys away with his off-speed and his fastball today." Chen stranded two runners in scoring...

Showalter speaks after 2-1 win

Showalter speaks after 2-1 win
BOSTON - The Orioles are back in first place in the American League East, and they finally won a series after four straight failed attempts. Most of the credit goes to Wei-Yin Chen, who held the Red Sox to one run over seven innings. Manager Buck Showalter thinks Chen might actually benefit from working on normal rest. "We've been trying to be careful with him rest-wise, but he was crisp from the get-go," Showalter said. "You come in this ballpark, left-handers, command of the fastball,...

Duquette says drafting Ripken "the right thing to do" (O's win 2-1)

Duquette says drafting Ripken "the right thing to do" (O's win 2-1)
BOSTON - The Orioles managed one hit off Josh Beckett in five innings, but consecutive singles by Wilson Betemit, Ryan Flaherty and Robert Andino to open the sixth allowed them to tie the game, 1-1. Endy Chavez hit into a force, bringing in the go-ahead run. Chavez had three hits last night, and he's singled and driven in a run tonight. Boston's Mike Aviles lifted a sacrifice fly to right field in the third after former Oriole Darnell McDonald led off with a double and Marlon Byrd...

Injury updates and more

Injury updates and more
BOSTON - It's been another slow day covering the Orioles. They draft Cal Ripken's son and John Russell's son - who just happens to be sitting in their clubhouse - and Brian Graham's nephew. They activate Zach Britton from the 60-day disabled list and option him to Triple-A Norfolk. They transfer Stu Pomeranz to the 60-day DL. They sign 49-year-old Jamie Moyer to a minor league contract and announce that he's starting Saturday for the Tides. They put Double-A Bowie pitcher Mike Wright,...

O's sign Jamie Moyer to minor league deal (Ryan Ripken statement)

O's sign Jamie Moyer to minor league deal (Ryan Ripken statement)
BOSTON - The Orioles added to their ever-growing veteran pitching depth today, signing 49-year-old left-hander Jamie Moyer to a minor league deal. Moyer has been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk and is scheduled to start for the Tides Saturday in Buffalo. Moyer began the season with the Colorado Rockies and went 2-5 with a 5.70 ERA in 10 starts before being designated for assignment. In 25 major league seasons, he's 269-209 with a 4.25 ERA and at least nine lives. This will be Moyer's second...