Roch Kubatko

Orioles and Phillies lineup (Gonzalez optioned)

June 09, 2012, 8:31am

Orioles

Nick Johnson is starting at first base today, as the Orioles try to even the series with the Phillies following last night's loss. We still haven't been told which player is being optioned to make room for Tommy Hunter. Jake Arrieta is here and seems to be in a much better mood than last night. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez LF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Nick Johnson 1B Wilson Betemit 3B Ryan Flaherty RF Robert Andino 2B Tommy Hunter RHP For the...

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Hunter getting another chance

June 08, 2012, 9:01pm

Orioles

Look who's back. Tommy Hunter is being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk today, and he'll try to nail down his first victory since April 24. Yes, it's been that long. Hunter was optioned after allowing six runs (five earned) and nine hits in three innings May 28 at Toronto. He's surrendered five earned runs in three of his last five starts. In the last two, he's given up 11 runs (10 earned)and 18 hits in nine innings. Hunter's main issue has been fastball command, but that's probably...

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Arrieta: "I'm just kind of lost right now"

June 08, 2012, 7:06pm

Orioles

Arrieta: "I'm just kind of lost right now"

Orioles pitcher Jake Arrieta has exuded confidence from the first day that he stepped inside a major league clubhouse in spring training. Not anymore. Arrieta was despondent after tonight's 9-6 loss to the Phillies, reaching a low we haven't seen from him. "It's pretty difficult," he said. "Just frustration seems to continue to build and just having a hard time getting out of it. It's wearing on me a little bit. Searching for answers and not being able to find them is tough." The...

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Showalter speaks after 9-6 loss

June 08, 2012, 6:54pm

Orioles

The Orioles lost for the 12th time in 17 games, and they may have lost whatever patience remained with starter Jake Arrieta, who allowed a career-high nine runs and 11 hits in four innings. "He never seemed to get in a real rhythm," Showalter said. "Philadephia had a lot to do with that. They came out swinging the bats real aggressive, like we knew they would and have been all year. It's kind of tough to figure because he was in stride a little bit there and strikes out three or four and...

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Hunter confirmed for tomorrow

June 08, 2012, 6:27pm

Orioles

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...

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

June 08, 2012, 4:41pm

Orioles

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...

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

June 08, 2012, 3:24pm

Orioles

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...

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A few pregame notes

June 08, 2012, 12:49pm

Orioles

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...

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Orioles and Phillies lineups

June 08, 2012, 11:43am

Orioles

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...

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More rotation speculation

June 08, 2012, 10:42am

Orioles

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...

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This, that and the other

June 07, 2012, 7:52pm

Orioles

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...

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

June 07, 2012, 6:55pm

Orioles

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...

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Hearing from Matusz and Davis

June 07, 2012, 6:41pm

Orioles

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,...

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

June 07, 2012, 3:49pm

Orioles

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...

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Berken breaks nose, and other notes (with quotes)

June 07, 2012, 2:09pm

Orioles

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...

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Orioles sign Rundles from independent league

June 07, 2012, 12:42pm

Orioles

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

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Orioles and Red Sox lineups

June 07, 2012, 11:43am

Orioles

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...

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Hunter expected to start on Saturday (and notes)

June 07, 2012, 7:49am

Orioles

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...

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For the Orioles, is youth really king?

June 06, 2012, 7:26pm

Orioles

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...

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Hearing from Wieters and Chen

June 06, 2012, 6:46pm

Orioles

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...