Roch Kubatko

Hearing from Matusz and Tolleson

May 22, 2012, 7:06pm

Orioles

Brian Matusz says he's getting his confidence back. It showed again tonight. "I'm going out there and having a game plan, being able to attack the zone," he said after allowing one run and two hits, walking one and striking out nine over 6 1/3 innings. "Like I've said, I forgot all about last year. I look at that just as a fluke. For me, it's about being able to keep getting better each time out. I haven't forgotten what it feels like to lose, so these wins are special, to go out...

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Showalter speaks after 4-1 win

May 22, 2012, 6:57pm

Orioles

Brian Matusz was the main topic of conversation in manager Buck Showalter's postgame session with the media, and for good reason. Matusz turned in his second quality start in a row, holding Boston to one run and two hits and striking out nine over 6 1/3 innings in a 4-1 victory before 25,171 at Camden Yards. "I've seen Brian really good here. Not just tonight," Showalter said. "I thought he and Matt (Wieters) did a great job of using all his pitches. He had command of two breaking balls,...

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Matusz masterful tonight; Showalter on J. Johnson (O's win 4-1)

May 22, 2012, 5:14pm

Orioles

Matusz masterful tonight; Showalter on J. Johnson (O's win 4-1)

Brian Matusz walked off the mound to a huge ovation after striking out Adrian Gonzalez for the first out in the top of the seventh inning. Matusz is done after allowing one run - on Kevin Youkilis' homer in the fourth - and two hits in 6 1/3 innings. He walked one and tied his career high with nine strikeouts. Matusz's off-speed stuff was off the hook tonight. That's two straight quality starts for Matusz, who made the most of the little bit of run support that the Orioles gave...

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Tolleson hits first Orioles homer; more from Roberts

May 22, 2012, 4:37pm

Orioles

Steve Tolleson now has two major league home runs. Tolleson, starting at third base tonight, hit a two-run shot off Boston left-hander Felix Doubront in the second inning to give the Orioles a 2-0 lead. His other homer came on Sept. 26, 2010. Kevin Youkilis, who rejoined the Red Sox today after a stint at Triple-A Pawtucket, homered to center field off Brian Matusz in the fourth to reduce the lead to 2-1. A typical night for Youkilis against the Orioles. He has 22 homers and 84 RBIs in 374...

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Roberts talks about his rehab assignment

May 22, 2012, 3:40pm

Orioles

Roberts talks about his rehab assignment

Brian Roberts said he'll play second base and bat two or three times in his first few games at Double-A Bowie. He isn't sure how many games he'll play in a row or how often he'll be used as the designated hitter. "It's essentially spring training, so it could be two days, it could be four days in a row. I don't really know yet," he said. "As my doctor likes to say, it's a fluid situation, so we're just going to play it by ear each day." Roberts indicated yesterday that he could...

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Roberts to begin rehab assignment Wednesday

May 22, 2012, 2:13pm

Orioles

Roberts to begin rehab assignment Wednesday

Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts, who hasn't played in a game since May 16, 2011, will begin a minor league rehab assignment tomorrow night at Double-A Bowie. Manager Buck Showalter made the announcement on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Report on MASN, and the Orioles confirmed it in a tweet. Showalter said he expects Roberts to take the full 20 days, the maximum that a position player can spend on a rehab assignment. Pitchers get 30 days. Roberts has amped up his workout routine, taking...

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Reimold expected to get second epidural on Friday

May 22, 2012, 12:52pm

Orioles

Reimold expected to get second epidural on Friday

Orioles outfielder Nolan Reimold has a second epidural injection scheduled for Friday, and he told me earlier this afternoon that he'll probably get it done. Reimold had his first injection on May 11. He underwent a follow-up exam yesterday from specialist Dr. Lee Riley, which led to Friday's appointment. Reimold, who hasn't played since April 30 because of a herniated disk in his cervical spine, believes that the shot will only alleviate the pain. He isn't sure that it will eliminate the...

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Orioles lineup against Red Sox

May 22, 2012, 11:28am

Orioles

Robert Andino has moved back up to the leadoff spot tonight. Steve Tolleson gets another start at third base for the Orioles. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 1B Chris Davis DH Steve Tolleson 3B Xavier Avery LF Brian Matusz LHP Down on the farm, Jason Berken allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings for Triple-A Norfolk, with one walk, six strikeouts, one wild pitch and one hit batter. He threw 93...

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What happens to Andino?

May 21, 2012, 9:15pm

Orioles

I'm ready to create another "Because You Asked" just for this one question. If I needed to pad it, I'm sure that I could insert a Dylan Bundy question, too, but let's stick to Robert Andino this morning. It's natural to wonder how Brian Roberts' return to the 25-man roster, assuming it happens, will impact Andino. Roberts could go on an injury-rehab assignment in a few weeks. This is the closest we've gotten to having any sort of timetable on him. I'm more curious about how...

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Hearing from Hunter, Gregg and Davis

May 21, 2012, 7:30pm

Orioles

Tommy Hunter didn't argue the balk call in the sixth inning that allowed the tying run to score. As he said afterward, "I got got." "A famous Little League play and it worked," he said. Apparently, Hunter heard one of the Red Sox yell and became distracted. "I didn't even see the runner," he said. "I had no idea what the runner (Will Middlebrooks) was doing. There was a little bit of commotion. I thought he was going, stepped off and did some stupid (stuff) and there it was. "Tip...

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Showalter talks about Hunter and missed opportunities

May 21, 2012, 7:16pm

Orioles

Showalter talks about Hunter and missed opportunities

Tommy Hunter retired the first six batters he faced tonight, striking out two. He just couldn't sustain that momentum. Hunter allowed five runs and nine hits over six innings and left with the score tied, 5-5. "He was driving the ball down and away to right-handed hitters, but then he just started elevating the ball," manager Buck Showalter said following the Orioles' 8-6 loss to the Red Sox. "Made some mistakes and paid for it. Gets him behind in the count, too. "Tommy was pitching...

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Reimold undecided about second epidural

May 21, 2012, 7:04pm

Orioles

Orioles outfielder Nolan Reimold has an appointment to receive a second epidural injection in his spine from Dr. Lee Riley, a neck specialist, but he isn't sure whether he'll keep it. Reimold is leaning in that direction, but he's been told that the shot will only ease the pain he's experiencing from a herniated disk in his cervical spine, not the numbness and weakness in his left thumb, arm and shoulder. "The pain I can tolerate," he said. "The doctor said we can do another one, but...

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Wieters breaks out of slump (O's lose second in row)

May 21, 2012, 6:08pm

Orioles

Wieters breaks out of slump (O's lose second in row)

Well, at least for now. Matt Wieters was one more failed at-bat from being 0-for-21, the longest hitless stretch of his career. He fouled off six straight pitches from former Orioles left-hander Rich Hill before lining an RBI single into left field to reduce Boston's lead to 8-6. Everybody rejoice. Wieters won a nine-pitch battle with Hill, who began the inning by giving up singles to Nick Markakis and Adam Jones. Jones extended his hitting streak to 13 games, tying his career long. Now we...

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Hunter can't hold the lead (O's down 8-5)

May 21, 2012, 5:02pm

Orioles

Hunter can't hold the lead (O's down 8-5)

Tommy Hunter held the Royals to two runs over seven innings in his last start, but he's not as sharp tonight. Hunter has allowed five runs and nine hits in six innings, with no walks and three strikeouts. He's thrown 96 pitches, 65 for strikes. This will be the third time in four outings that Hunter has failed to register a quality start. The Orioles gave him a 5-2 lead, but Boston scored three runs in the sixth, beginning with David Ortiz's home run onto Eutaw St. Ortiz took a big swing,...

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Wieters still looking to break out of slump (O's lead 5-2)

May 21, 2012, 3:28pm

Orioles

Wieters still looking to break out of slump (O's lead 5-2)

Matt Wieters grounded out to Boston third baseman Will Middlebrooks in the second inning. The funk continues. Wieters is 0-for-19 and 4-for-41. Is he banged up from that violent collision at home plate? "No more than usual," manager Buck Showalter said. "We gave him a full day off yesterday. I didn't want to even pinch hit unless we had a chance to win the game. As you've seen, we've tried to back off him as much as possible. Sometimes to a fault. "I think it's part of something we...

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Showalter talks about Roberts

May 21, 2012, 1:56pm

Orioles

Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts hasn't played in a game since May 16, 2011, but he's nearing an injury-rehab assignment in the minors. Roberts and manager Buck Showalter won't reveal an exact date that Roberts would report to an affiliate, but they've got a pretty good idea. "We talk every day," Showalter said. "Probably a little more informed than what Brian is going to talk about publicly. Like I said earlier, it's more a matter of when and not if. "Hopefully, that's...

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Notes on Roberts, Britton, Reynolds, Teagarden and more

May 21, 2012, 12:45pm

Orioles

Notes on Roberts, Britton, Reynolds, Teagarden and more

Manager Buck Showalter basically confirmed that second baseman Brian Roberts will join a minor league affiliate on an injury-rehab assignment, perhaps within the next few weeks, rather than report to extended spring training in Sarasota. Showalter is careful not to reveal too much information, but he didn't dispute Roberts' assertion that Sarasota will be bypassed. Roberts most likely would join Double-A Bowie or Single-A Frederick so he can stay close to Baltimore. Showalter shot down a...

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Orioles lineup against Red Sox (with Britton update)

May 21, 2012, 11:42am

Orioles

Rookie Xavier Avery gets another start in left field for the Orioles. Nick Johnson will serve as the designated hitter. For the Orioles: Xavier Avery LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis 1B Wilson Betemit 3B Nick Johnson DH Robert Andino 2B Tommy Hunter RHP Nolan Reimold is being examined by a team physician and will know later whether he needs a second epidural injection. Matt Lindstrom says his right middle finger remains pain-free and he'll...

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Leftovers for breakfast (and one more)

May 20, 2012, 7:49pm

Orioles

The Orioles have another game scheduled tonight as they begin another series, this one against the Boston Red Sox at Camden Yards. Their first day off since May 3 arrives on Thursday, but they won't admit that they're fatigued and could use a physical and mental break from the grind. "I'm not tired," Adam Jones said. "I don't think anybody else is tired. I had a good night's sleep (Saturday) night. I'm not going to make excuses. We all know it's 162, so you have to pace yourself....

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A little Chen music

May 20, 2012, 1:27pm

Orioles

WASHINGTON - Wei-Yin Chen wrote off today's start as "this is baseball." "Sometimes you have a good day, sometimes you have a bad day," he said through his interpreter. "Definitely, I had a terrible start today." Chen shied away from his fastball and got burned repeatedly with his breaking stuff. "My fastball was not as good as the last couple of outings," he said. "I couldn't command all my pitches here. And today I was like, do my job. But I couldn't do it and I hope I can...