Roch Kubatko

Showalter not looking for excuses

May 20, 2012, 1:15pm

Orioles

WASHINGTON - Manager Buck Showalter deflected a theory that his club might have shown signs of fatigue today in a 9-3 loss to the Nationals. He made more solid contact than his hitters. The Orioles are playing a stretch of 20 consecutive games, their next off day not coming until Thursday. But Showalter isn't pointing a finger at the schedule. "We scored three runs and could have scored a lot more," he said. "I think it was more that we made a lot of mistakes with our breaking ball today....

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Offense disappears in 9-3 loss

May 20, 2012, 12:36pm

Orioles

WASHINGTON - The Orioles had four hits by the second inning. They still had four hits by the time the ninth inning rolled around. Adam Jones reached on an infield hit to open the ninth and Chris Davis singled with one out, but the damage was already done. The Nationals got out of a bases-loaded jam and avoided the sweep with a 9-3 win before 41,918 at Nationals Park. The offense shut down. Before Jones' single, the only baserunner after the second inning came on Luis Exposito's walk in the...

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Bullpen could be busy again (O'Day enters in fifth)

May 20, 2012, 10:58am

Orioles

Bullpen could be busy again (O'Day enters in fifth)

WASHINGTON - Wei-Yin Chen hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of his first seven major league starts. Chen gave up three earned runs in the third inning today at Nationals Park. The Nats almost hit for the cycle against Chen, getting a leadoff single by pitcher Stephen Strasburg, a double by slumping Danny Espinosa and a two-run triple by Bryce Harper on a ball that popped out of Nick Markakis' glove as he hit the ground on a diving attempt. Ian Desmond beat out a potential...

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Your daily Xavier Avery blog entry (Bundy update)

May 20, 2012, 9:52am

Orioles

Your daily Xavier Avery blog entry (Bundy update)

WASHINGTON - The Orioles haven't faced Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg before today. I'm sure they've heard lots about him, watched a few starts on television, studied the video tape. They just haven't stood at the plate against him. The Nationals probably didn't know much about Xavier Avery before this weekend, but he's left an impression. Avery led off the top of the first inning with a single up the middle. He hustled to second base on J.J. Hardy's long fly ball to center...

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Wieters: "I feel like it's more of a professional locker room"

May 20, 2012, 8:37am

Orioles

Wieters: "I feel like it's more of a professional locker room"

WASHINGTON - Matt Wieters doesn't have a hit in his last 18 at-bats. He has four hits in his last 40. He has no concerns about this slump. "It's just one of those stretches," said Wieters, who batted .342 during a nine-game hitting streak April 29-May 8. "I haven't really been hitting too many balls hard lately, but the good thing is we've still been winning games. I'm definitely going to put in some extra work to where I get back to feeling good like it was a week or so ago....

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Orioles lineup vs. Nationals

May 20, 2012, 8:10am

Orioles

WASHINGTON - As expected, Luis Exposito will catch today while Matt Wieters takes a break. Rookie Xavier Avery is leading off. Wilson Betemit is starting at third base and Chris Davis is starting at first. For the Orioles: Xavier Avery LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis 1B Robert Andino 2B Luis Exposito C Wei-Yin Chen LHP

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Tejada update and Nats' lineup (and Chen note)

May 20, 2012, 6:37am

Orioles

Tejada update and Nats' lineup (and Chen note)

WASHINGTON - Miguel Tejada is batting fourth and serving as the designated hitter today for Triple-A Norfolk. It's Tejada's first game outside of extended spring training. Brad Bergesen, who cleared waivers and was outrighted, will start for the Tides. The Orioles haven't posted their lineup. The Nats beat them to it. At least the Nats can brag about beating them once this weekend. Danny Espinosa 2B Bryce Harper CF Ryan Zimmerman 3B Adam LaRoche 1B Ian Desmond SS Xavier Nady RF Tyler...

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Hearing from Hammel and Jones

May 19, 2012, 7:18pm

Orioles

WASHINGTON - Jason Hammel couldn't extend the rotation's streak of quality starts to five, but he improved his record to 5-1. Hammel was charged with four runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He worked five innings in his last start. "It's same as last time, my leg," he said. "I get to a certain point now where it's almost like I'm pitching on one leg and transfer everything to the arm. I got one out further than last time, I guess, so that's good. We just have got to get the leg...

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Showalter speaks after 6-5 victory

May 19, 2012, 7:00pm

Orioles

WASHINGTON - Manager Buck Showalter talked about starter Jason Hammel, his bullpen, the Nationals' comeback attempt, his red-hot center fielder and his ice-cold catcher following tonight's 6-5 win. Hammel was making his second start since being pushed back because of swelling in his right knee. He was good for a while, but it's clear that he's not all the way back. "No more than what he's been dealing with his last start," Showalter said. "Something we're aware of and we're going to...

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Orioles hang on for 6-5 win

May 19, 2012, 6:19pm

Orioles

WASHINGTON - This one wasn't easy, but the Orioles made sure that they'll leave Nationals Park with a series victory. The Orioles won again tonight, 6-4, with Jim Johnson picking up his 15th save in 15 tries this season, and his 23rd in 23 chances since last August, though it got a little tense near the end. The Orioles have won 19 of their last 26 games. They're still two games ahead of Tampa Bay in the American League East. The bullpen came up big again, giving the Orioles 3 1/3...

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Game update and injury note on Steve Johnson (O's lead 6-4)

May 19, 2012, 5:04pm

Orioles

Game update and injury note on Steve Johnson (O's lead 6-4)

WASHINGTON - Jason Hammel gave up his first run tonight when the Nationals strung together three consecutive two-out singles in the bottom of the fifth, the last one by Steve Lombardozzi. Orioles 6, Nationals 1. Four of the last five Nationals have hits against Hammel, including Ryan Zimmerman, who led off the sixth with a double. Five of the last six have reached base after Adam LaRoche followed with a walk. Hammel is trying to produce the rotation's fifth consecutive quality start, but...

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And then along came Jones (and Markakis)

May 19, 2012, 4:07pm

Orioles

And then along came Jones (and Markakis)

WASHINGTON - It's become a tradition of sorts. The Orioles play a game, and Adam Jones hits a home run. And he hits them a long, long way. Jones crushed a Ross Detwiler pitch in the third inning for his 14th home run of the season, a two-run shot that extended the Orioles' lead to 4-0. Detwiler tried to blow a 93-mph fastball past him. Cha-ching! The Orioles are 12-1 when Jones homers. Coincidence? Jones has homered in four of his last five games. He didn't hit No. 14 last year until...

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Pregame notes on Lindstrom, Reynolds, Tejada and more (O's lead 2-0)

May 19, 2012, 2:53pm

Orioles

Pregame notes on Lindstrom, Reynolds, Tejada and more (O's lead 2-0)

WASHINGTON - Reliever Matt Lindstrom said he'll probably throw during the next homestand that begins Monday against the Boston Red Sox. Lindstrom, on the disabled list with a partial tear of a ligament in his right middle finger, will have a better idea of when he'll report to extended spring training once he picks up a ball. Lindstrom is eligible to come off the DL on May 26. "It won't take long," he said. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters that Mark Reynolds (oblique) is "just...

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Orioles and Nationals lineups

May 19, 2012, 11:51am

Orioles

WASHINGTON - Robert Andino moves up to the leadoff spot tonight, with rookie Xavier Avery dropping down to eighth. Steve Tolleson gets the start at third base, and Wilson Betemit starts at first. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 1B Steve Tolleson 3B Xavier Avery LF Jason Hammel RHP For the Nationals: Steve Lombardozzi 2B Bryce Harper RF Ryan Zimmerman 3B Adam LaRoche 1B Ian Desmond SS Rick Ankiel CF Carlos Maldonado...

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Tejada reporting to Norfolk

May 19, 2012, 9:45am

Orioles

The Orioles just tweeted that Miguel Tejada is reporting to Triple-A Norfolk tonight and will be available to play for the Tides tomorrow. Tejada has been working out and playing in games at extended spring training. It's been two weeks since the Orioles reached agreement with Tejada on a minor league deal. Executive vice president Dan Duquette told me Thursday that the club was nearing a decision on whether to keep Tejada. The Orioles signed Tejada because of concerns over their defense...

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Rotation turns in right direction again

May 19, 2012, 4:30am

Orioles

Because the hour-long drive home from Washington D.C. seemed too short for me late last night, I decided to miss my exit for the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and stay on Suitland Parkway for a good 15-20 minutes before turning around and heading back toward Nationals Park. If there's a more directionally challenged person on this planet than me, I'd like to meet you. Of course, I'd never be able to find you. I had to turn on my GPS when I woke up just to locate the bathroom. And yes, I...

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Markakis talks about his home run and more

May 18, 2012, 7:33pm

Orioles

Markakis talks about his home run and more

WASHINGTON - Nick Markakis broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the 11th inning with his seventh home run, a shot to right field off Nationals reliever Ryan Mattheus that was gone the second it left his bat. "Slider down in, I'm pretty sure that's what it was," Markakis said. "I wasn't looking for too too much there. I wasn't expecting that. I was just trying to have a good at-bat and put a good swing on it. It went out of the park and we end up winning the game." Just another extra-inning...

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Arrieta on Arrieta; Davey Johnson's one complaint

May 18, 2012, 7:28pm

Orioles

Arrieta on Arrieta; Davey Johnson's one complaint

WASHINGTON - Orioles starter Jake Arrieta said that a key tonight after two rough outings in a row was being able to relax. "Took some of the pressure off myself," he said. "Just from the get-go wanted to establish my fastball on both sides of the plate, mix in a breaking ball, especially to a pretty heavy left-handed hitting lineup. I think there was five in a row there at one point in the lineup, so there's a lot of guys there. You've got to make quality pitches down in the zone,...

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Showalter: "They have a lot of confidence in close ballgames"

May 18, 2012, 7:12pm

Orioles

Showalter: "They have a lot of confidence in close ballgames"

WASHINGTON - Another extra-inning game, another extra-inning win. And on the road, of course. The Orioles defeated the Nationals 2-1 in 11 innings. They're 6-2 in extras, with all six wins coming in succession away from Camden Yards. They're also in first place in the American League East, two games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays. How does manager Buck Showalter explain all those road wins? "Pitching in general," he replied. "You'd like to do some things and not have that happen. I think...

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Extra innings - again (Markakis breaks tie, O's win in 11th)

May 18, 2012, 5:56pm

Orioles

Extra innings - again (Markakis breaks tie, O's win in 11th)

WASHINGTON - Oh sure, why not? It's really happening. The Orioles are playing their major league-leading eighth extra-inning game of the season. They've won their last five, all on the road, after losing their first two at home. The Nationals are 4-2. Manager Buck Showalter lifted Darren O'Day after the sidearmer retired all four batters he faced. I questioned the move in the press box, with O'Day cruising and extras looming, but Troy Patton retired left-handed hitting Adam LaRoche and...