Roch Kubatko

Lots of activity in first inning, as O's take 3-1 lead (with Ripken quote)

June 29, 2012, 3:41pm

Orioles

Lots of activity in first inning, as O's take 3-1 lead (with Ripken quote)

Jake Arrieta threw 29 pitches in the top of the first inning, and the Indians pieced together three singles to take a 1-0 lead. It didn't last long, but more on that later. Michael Brantley recorded the RBI after Shin-Soo Choo and Jason Kipnis reached base. Brian Roberts reached on Casey Kotchman's error in the bottom of the first, but his slump grew to 4-for-35. Roberts moved up on a wild pitch, took third on Xavier Avery's grounder and scored on shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera's...

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Pregame notes on Arrieta, Chavez, Wieters, Roberts and more

June 29, 2012, 1:02pm

Orioles

Pregame notes on Arrieta, Chavez, Wieters, Roberts and more

The game time temperature is supposed to be 100 degrees. The Orioles are having an abbreviated batting practice and they're again allowed to wear shorts and T-shirts. Yes, they're also hydrating. "It's not like the air conditioner comes on for the other team," manager Buck Showalter said. "We're both playing in it. And the last time I looked, this game is played in the summer in hot weather, home and away." Jake Arrieta, who starts tonight for the Orioles, is 6-0 with a 2.59 ERA in...

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Andino starting at third, Betemit at first

June 29, 2012, 11:16am

Orioles

Andino starting at third, Betemit at first

Robert Andino and Wilson Betemit will handle the infield corners tonight for the Orioles. Betemit is moving to first base after committing his 12th error last night, and his 10th at third base. Andino will start at third tonight. Xavier Avery remains in the lineup in left field. Mark Reynolds is on the bench. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Xavier Avery LF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Wilson Betemit 1B Chris Davis DH Matt Wieters C Ryan Flaherty RF Robert Andino 3B Jake Arrieta RHP As...

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McDonald can see why Orioles want Gausman on farm

June 29, 2012, 5:23am

Orioles

During his conference call with reporters after becoming the fourth-overall pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, Kevin Gausman invoked the name of another former LSU pitcher selected by the Orioles in the first round. Ben McDonald was the first overall pick in 1989 and spent seven seasons with the Orioles. He's been watching Gausman closely while serving as an analyst on LSU broadcasts, dissecting both the kid's delivery and his character. He's invited Gausman to his Baton Rouge home....

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Reynolds wraps up another bad night

June 28, 2012, 8:46pm

Orioles

It took me more than an hour to get home from Camden Yards. Russell Street to 295 was reduced to one lane again. I got on 695 and the two left lanes were closed. I've tried 95 from the ballpark and it's always down to one lane. I'm running out of routes. The Orioles should be so lucky. They've been outscored 27-6 in their last three games. And as I noted earlier, they've scored three runs or fewer in 11 of their last 12 games and have totaled 23 runs since June 15. The Orioles are...

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Markakis update, postgame comments after 7-2 loss

June 28, 2012, 6:39pm

Orioles

Markakis update, postgame comments after 7-2 loss

Right fielder Nick Markakis won't accompany the Orioles on their West Coast trip to Seattle and Anahaim that begins Monday and leads into the All-Star break. The Orioles will send Markakis to short-season Single-A Aberdeen on July 2-3 and Double-A Bowie on July 4-6, but not for an injury-rehab assignment. They want Markakis to continue receiving treatment from the medical staffs at those two affiliates and to work with Terry Crowley and Mike Bordick. Manager Buck Showalter doesn't want...

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Damon does it to the Orioles again (O's down 7-2)

June 28, 2012, 3:54pm

Orioles

Johnny Damon loves facing the Orioles and he loves hitting at Camden Yards. The demonstration continued tonight with his three-run homer off Wei-Yin Chen in the second inning that gave Cleveland a 3-0 lead. Damon has 33 career homers against the Orioles, including 22 in this ballpark. Eighty of his 128 RBIs have been accumulated in Baltimore. Chen has thrown 51 pitches in three innings. Chen lasted only five innings in his last start against the Nationals, allowing two earned runs (three...

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Assorted pregame notes and quotes

June 28, 2012, 1:47pm

Orioles

The Orioles took batting practice in shorts and T-shirts today because of the heat. The temperature is supposed to climb to 106 degrees tomorrow in Baltimore and 104 on Saturday. Shirts vs. skins? Here's your latest update on the Orioles' futility with runners in scoring position: The Orioles are 2-for-47 in their last nine games and 5-for-58 in their last 11 games. For the year, they rank 12th in the American League with a .242 average with RISP. The Orioles are 12-13 in series openers...

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Eveland will start Saturday

June 28, 2012, 12:47pm

Orioles

Left-hander Dana Eveland will make Saturday's start against the Indians at Camden Yards. Eveland's name appeared among the starters on the magnetic board outside the clubhouse, and manager Buck Showalter confirmed the assignment while meeting with reporters. Eveland has posted a 3.00 ERA in 11 games, with 23 hits allowed, 11 walks and 13 strikeouts in 27 innings. In his only start on May 11, he allowed three runs and five hits, and walked six batters, in six innings against the...

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Avery is in Baltimore (and in the lineup)

June 28, 2012, 10:56am

Orioles

Avery is in Baltimore (and in the lineup)

The Orioles apparently have summoned outfielder Xavier Avery from Triple-A Norfolk because he's been spotted at Camden Yards. Since Avery can't be in two places at once, he's assumed that he's here in case first baseman Nick Johnson goes on the disabled list with a sore right wrist. Avery makes sense because the Orioles would be replacing one left-handed hitter with another, and Avery is on the 40-man roster. Also, Avery has hit .333 (14-for-42) with eight walks, five stolen bases and 11...

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An amazing catch and a classic prank

June 28, 2012, 8:51am

Orioles

Or, reeling in a home run and a reliever. Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy was robbed of a home run last night on an incredible leaping catch by Angels center fielder Mike Trout, who scaled the fence - again, I went there - and made one of the finest plays ever witnessed at Camden Yards. Maybe it's No. 1. I'll leave that debate to everyone else. "For sure, that's probably the best play I've seen against me," Hardy said. "Maybe the best I've seen against anyone else, too. Pretty good." ...

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Looking ahead and back - way back

June 27, 2012, 8:30pm

Orioles

Could the Orioles be poised to make another roster move today? Nick Johnson exited last night's game after one at-bat with soreness and weakness in his right wrist, the same one that's undergone multiple surgeries. We'll know more after the Orioles receive the results of his MRI. If it's a DL situation, the Orioles could choose to bring back Steve Tolleson after optioning him yesterday. He might still be in Baltimore. Tolleson was going to spend a few days at his South Carolina home...

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Hearing from Showalter and Hammel after blowout loss

June 27, 2012, 6:48pm

Orioles

Hearing from Showalter and Hammel after blowout loss

Jason Hammel has spoiled us with his dominance this season. He brought a streak of 19 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run into tonight's game, and left after giving up eight runs and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings for his shortest outing of the season. The eight runs tied his career high set on July 23, 2011 against the Diamondbacks. "There haven't been many people pitching better than Hamm and he gets a mulligan," said manager Buck Showalter. "Obviously, you've got to give...

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Update on Nick Johnson wrist injury

June 27, 2012, 6:36pm

Orioles

Nick Johnson will undergo an MRI on his right wrist tomorrow to learn the source of the soreness and weakness that forced him out of tonight's game. Johnson struck out in the second inning and Ryan Flaherty pinch-hit for him in the fourth. The Orioles have scheduled an MRI amid concerns that it's the same wrist which has undergone multiple surgeries over the years. "Just had some weakness there and some soreness," manager Buck Showalter said. "He said he was good for one swing and after...

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Hammel streak ends, Davis and Hardy with opposite results (O's down 13-1)

June 27, 2012, 3:33pm

Orioles

Hammel streak ends, Davis and Hardy with opposite results (O's down 13-1)

Jason Hammel's streak of consecutive scoreless innings ended at 19 tonight when the Angels' Torii Hunter belted a home run in the top of the first inning. Hammel struck out Mike Trout on a 94 mph fastball and Kendrys Morales on a 93 mph fastball, but Hunter jumped on a hanging curveball. Trout got his revenge in the bottom of the first with an incredible leaping catch at the center field fence to rob J.J. Hardy of a home run. Hardy is in a 3-for-41 slump, but he lined out to shortstop last...

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Tolleson, Lindstrom, Hammel and other assorted pregame notes (updated)

June 27, 2012, 1:12pm

Orioles

Tolleson, Lindstrom, Hammel and other assorted pregame notes (updated)

Steve Tolleson, optioned earlier today to make room for reliever Matt Lindstrom, will report to Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday. Manager Buck Showalter explained to reporters that the club wants Tolleson to get consistent at-bats in the minors. "He's done a good job for us against left-handed pitching," Showalter said. "If they stay on schedule, that'll be seven to nine straight right-handed pitchers against us. But that's a moving target. "We obviously had to make room for Lindstrom...

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Tolleson optioned, Orioles lineup

June 27, 2012, 11:30am

Orioles

The Orioles have optioned Steve Tolleson to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for reliever Matt Lindstrom, who's coming off the disabled list. Dana Eveland also has rejoined the team after flying to California for the birth of his son, Asher Perry. Tolleson was called into manager Buck Showalter's office shortly before the lineup was posted. He's not listed among the reserves, and he later confirmed the roster move, which leaves the team with a three-man bench. "It was a lot shorter meeting...

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Berken and Socolovich honored (corrected)

June 27, 2012, 8:44am

Orioles

Berken and Socolovich honored (corrected)

Norfolk pitchers Jason Berken and Miguel Socolovich have been chosen to participate in the 2012 Triple-A All-Star Game in Buffalo. Berken, 28, is 1-1 with a 2.32 ERA in 14 starts. I'm not sure how he's managed only two decisions in 14 games, but I digress. Berken's ERA ranks third in the league. He's allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his starts while holding opponents to a .248 average. Berken had a shot at breaking camp with the Orioles as a long reliever, but a hamstring...

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Leftovers for breakfast

June 26, 2012, 9:05pm

Orioles

You won't find many Orioles swinging hot bats right now, and shortstop J.J. Hardy definitely needs to knock the frost off the ol' lumber. Hardy is in a 3-for-40 slump that's lowered his average to .239. He went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts last night. The Orioles have played 73 games and Hardy has started 71 of them. The obvious move is to rest him for a night, perhaps giving the start to Robert Andino. Hardy is 0-for-9 lifetime against Jered Weaver, who starts tonight for the Angels. A...

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Matusz on his outing, Jones and Pearce on all the outs with RISP

June 26, 2012, 6:55pm

Orioles

Matusz on his outing, Jones and Pearce on all the outs with RISP

Brian Matusz hasn't gone more than 5 2/3 innings in his last four starts, and tonight he failed to retire a batter in the sixth before exiting. "It's a great hitting team, one through nine," he said. "I made some good pitches to get out of some innings, but when it came down to it, I left some fastballs over the plate." Matusz was allowed to come back out for the sixth, but Peter Bourjos' two-run homer ended his night. "I was fighting all the way through to stay in that game, and...