Showalter speaks after 8-6 win

Showalter speaks after 8-6 win
Kevin Gregg made things interesting in the ninth inning after surrendering a two-run homer to Neil Walker, but Jim Johnson picked up his 19th save in 20 tries to preserve the Orioles' 8-6 victory over the Pirates before 15,618 at Camden Yards. Gregg had posted a 1.32 ERA in his last 12 appearances before tonight. The biggest story, of course, was Brian Roberts' three-hit, one-RBI return to the lineup. His last single came from the right side of the plate. "Oh, it was great," said manager...

Reynolds continues to torment the Pirates (Chavez strained hammy)

Reynolds continues to torment the Pirates (Chavez strained hammy)
I couldn't come up with a "walk the plank" joke, and nothing about an eye patch or a parrot or a hook hand struck me as particularly funny, so I played the headline straight. Mark Reynolds began tonight's game batting .348/.419/.661 in 112 career at-bats against the Pirates, with seven doubles, two triples, eight homers and 21 RBIs. You know what happened tonight. He hit a two-run homer off Brad Lincoln in the second inning to give the Orioles a 2-1 lead. Reynolds is 1-for-2 tonight...

Roberts back in the swing of things (Matusz X-rays negative, Reynolds HR)

Roberts back in the swing of things (Matusz X-rays negative, Reynolds HR)
Brian Roberts received a nice ovation tonight as he walked to the plate for his first Orioles at-bat since May 16, 2011. Many of the fans stood and applauded. It's far from a packed house, but they made a lot of noise. Roberts looks a little different wearing a specially designed batting helmet with ear flaps on both sides to provide extra protection, but the swing is the same. Roberts ran the count full against Pirates starter Brad Lincoln and lined a single into center field, bringing...

Showalter talks about Matusz, Roberts and more (Tolleson optioned)

Showalter talks about Matusz, Roberts and more (Tolleson optioned)
The Orioles received a dose of good news and a dose of bad news, so they're playing .500 today. The bad news is related to left-hander Brian Matusz, who fouled a bunted ball off his nose and might miss tomorrow night's start against the Pirates. Matusz was preparing for the next round of interleague games on the road, where the pitcher is required to hit. He was squaring up against a pitching machine, since batting practice was cancelled due to the rain. "It's off the machine," manager...

Matusz injured in bunting drill (updated)

Matusz injured in bunting drill (updated)
Brian Matusz was hit on the nose by a ball while performing a bunting drill, and he may not make tomorrow's start against the Pirates. The Orioles' corresponding 25-man roster move to accommodate Brian Roberts could hinge on Matusz's status. Also, Nolan Reimold likely will go on the 60-day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster. He's having another MRI tomorrow. Update: OK, sorry for the short blog entry, but I was racing from the press conference to manager Buck Showalter's...

Roberts in lineup, leading off against Pirates

Roberts in lineup, leading off against Pirates
The Orioles have posted their lineup for tonight's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates and, weather permitting, Brian Roberts will lead off and play second base. It will be Roberts' first appearance in a major league game since May 16, 2011 in Boston and the culmination of a long recovery from concussion symptoms. No official roster move has been made, so we'll have to wait for the Orioles to accommodate Roberts' return to the 25- and 40-man rosters. It's raining right now at Camden...

Britton talks about Roberts and Moyer

Britton talks about Roberts and Moyer
The last time Brian Roberts took the field with his Orioles teammates for something besides batting practice and infield drills was May 16, 2011 in Boston. I'm expecting to feel a bit nostalgic today when I walk into the clubhouse and glance at the magnetic board across from manager Buck Showalter's office. Roberts should be batting leadoff and starting at second base against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It would be quite a shocker if he's not activated from the 60-day disabled list. The...

Britton talks about Roberts and Moyer

Britton talks about Roberts and Moyer
The last time we saw Brian Roberts' name in an Orioles lineup was May 16, 2011 in Boston. I'm expecting to feel a bit nostalgic today when I walked into the clubhouse and glance at the magnetic board across from manager Buck Showalter's office. Roberts should be batting leadoff and starting at second base against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It would be quite a shocker if he's not activated from the 60-day disabled list. The trickle-down effect on the lineup should be minimal. If Robert...
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Wieters slips to third in All-Star voting (Eyre released)

Wieters slips to third in All-Star voting (Eyre released)
Major League Baseball released the latest All-Star Game vote totals in the American League, and Orioles catcher Matt Wieters has dropped to third behind the Rangers' Mike Napoli and the Twins' Joe Mauer. Wieters was second a week ago, but Mauer has passed him with 912,997 votes. Wieters has received 904,425 votes. J.J. Hardy ranks third among shortstops. Robert Andino is fourth among second basemen, Adam Jones ranks fifth among outfielders, and Nick Markakis slipped to 15th among...

Britton's progress at Norfolk not measured in stats

Britton's progress at Norfolk not measured in stats
The most encouraging news on pitcher Zach Britton is he's in good health. As a bonus, he also says that his stuff is getting better. The results at Triple-A Norfolk might not reflect it, but he's looking beyond the statistics. First, here's what Britton says about his physical condition: "I'm feeling good. I definitely feel like I'm starting to get stronger. My arm is getting back in its natural slot, especially yesterday. I was definitely getting back to where I should be with my arm...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
LSU's baseball season ended last night with a shocking upset loss to Stony Brook in the Super Regionals. Let the Kevin Gausman negotiations begin. The Orioles made Gausman the fourth overall pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft and watched helplessly Saturday as he pitched the 12th inning of Game 1 and seven innings of Game 2 on the same day. Now that LSU has been bounced, the Orioles can work toward signing him and determining how that prized right arm is used. Were the Orioles a bit...

Showalter speaks after 5-4, 10-inning win

Showalter speaks after 5-4, 10-inning win
The Orioles are 9-2 in extra innings this season and have won nine in a row, the longest streak in franchise history. There have been different heroes, and today's roll call included Steve Tolleson, who tied the game with a three-run homer, Ronny Paulino, who had an RBI single, Jason Hammel, who gutted out six innings, Troy Patton, who gave the Orioles two scoreless innings in relief, and Matt Wieters, who doubled to score Adam Jones with the game-winner. "You try to present a lineup that...

More free baseball (and another walk-off win!)

More free baseball (and another walk-off win!)
Who needs nine innings when you can play 10? Or 11? Or... The Orioles will try for their ninth consecutive win in extras, which would set a franchise record. They also won eight in a row in 1997 and 2010. The current streak is the longest in the majors. They're 8-2 beyond regulation, including yesterday's 12-inning victory that was secured by Adam Jones' walk-off home run. The Phillies are 2-5. The Orioles have played 30 extra innings this season and have outscored their opponents,...

Hammel having hard time (Tolleson ties game, Hammel done)

Hammel having hard time (Tolleson ties game, Hammel done)
Jason Hammel hasn't walked more than three batters in his first 11 starts. He matched that total today after 1 2/3 innings. Hammel has allowed three runs and five hits, walked three, struck out one and hit a batter in two innings. He's already thrown 51 pitches, including 27 for strikes. The Phillies loaded the bases in the first inning without scoring. They loaded the bases twice in the second and received a two-run single by Hunter Pence on a ground ball that scooted up the middle. Jim...

Orioles expected to activate Roberts on Tuesday

Orioles expected to activate Roberts on Tuesday
The Orioles' brain trust will meet tomorrow during the off-day and decide whether to activate second baseman Brian Roberts from the 60-day disabled list before Tuesday night's game against the Pirates at Camden Yards. The club is expected to add Roberts to the 25- and 40-man rosters, but manager Buck Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette, among others, want to make sure he doesn't experience any setbacks during today's game with Triple-A Norfolk. "I don't know,"...

Orioles and Phillies lineups

Orioles and Phillies lineups
Matt Wieters is serving as the designated hitter today, with Ronny Paulino settling behind the plate. Paulino is batting fifth for the 18th time in his major league career. He's 2-for-5 lifetime against Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters DH Ronny Paulino C Mark Reynolds 1B Steve Pearce LF Steve Tolleson 3B Endy Chavez RF Jason Hammel RHP For the Phillies: Jimmy Rollins SS Juan Pierre LF Hunter Pence RF Jim...

Hardly a win without Hardy

Hardly a win without Hardy
If you check the box score from yesterday, you'll find that shortstop J.J. Hardy walked in six plate appearances and scored a run in the Orioles' 6-4, 12-inning victory over the Phillies. Here's what you won't find: A defensive play that made it possible for the Orioles to even this series. I mentioned it yesterday, but I want to revisit it this morning while waiting for both teams to post their lineups and for manager Buck Showalter to meet with reporters in the home dugout, which should...

Showalter speaks after walk-off win

Showalter speaks after walk-off win
Adam Jones stepped to the plate with Chris Davis on first base and nobody out in the bottom of the 12th. The score was tied. For many people, the situation screamed for a bunt, unless a manager chooses to cover his ears. Jones got the green light and hit his second career walk-off home run to give the Orioles a 6-4 victory at sold-out Camden Yards. "Obviously, you think about bunting, but I like Adam in that situation," Showalter said after his club improved to 8-2 in extra innings....

Homers hurting Hunter again (Jones with the walk-off!)

Homers hurting Hunter again (Jones with the walk-off!)
Tommy Hunter has served up three more home runs today, raising his total to 16 in 63 innings this season. Hunter keeps getting the ball up, and bad things keep happening. Hector Luna crushed one in the fifth to tie the game, 3-3, after Jimmy Rollins crushed one in the third and Jim Thome slugged his first of the season leading off the fourth. Showing that the glass can be half full, I'll point out that all three homers are solo shots and we're tied, 3-3. So, you know, it could be a lot...

Hunter bending but not breaking (O's trail 2-1)

Hunter bending but not breaking (O's trail 2-1)
Three of the first five Phillies singled off Tommy Hunter today, but he's turned in two scoreless innings in his first start with the Orioles since May 28. Jim Thome grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the first after Juan Pierre and Hunter Pence singled with out one. Shane Victorino singled leading off the second, but former Oriole Ty Wigginton grounded into a force, former Orioles' first-round draft pick Mike Fontenot flied out and Hector Luna struck out. Wigginton almost hit into a...