Roch Kubatko

Noteworthy achievements from last night

April 17, 2012, 11:31am

Orioles

CHICAGO - Before we turn our focus to tonight's game, let's continue to linger around last night's 10-inning victory. I'm just not ready to let go. According to Elias, Matt Wieters' grand slam in the 10th inning was just the fifth in extra innings for the Orioles in the last 50 years, and the second against the White Sox. All of them came in the 10th. The others were produced by Brooks Robinson (July 7, 1970 versus New York), Tommy Davis (July 27, 1975 at Milwaukee), Joe Nolan (August...

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Orioles claim Luis Exposito, Josh Bell designated for assignment

April 17, 2012, 10:15am

Orioles

CHICAGO - The Orioles have claimed catcher Luis Exposito on waivers from Boston Red Sox. To make room on the 40-man roster, infielder Josh Bell has been designated for assignment. Bell's been on the 40-man bubble. It finally popped. Exposito, 25, is a career .268/.324/.420 hitter in seven minor league seasons, all of them spent in the Red Sox's farm system. He was a 31st-round pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft. Bell, 25, batted .200/.221/.264 in 79 games with the Orioles in 2010...

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Waiting for Chavez and Johnson to spring ahead

April 17, 2012, 8:31am

Orioles

Waiting for Chavez and Johnson to spring ahead

CHICAGO - Managers keep warning reporters not to fall in love with spring training or September stats. Small sample sizes, extenuating circumstances, whatever you want to call it. Jake Fox is a beast in February and March. He belongs in the Grapefruit League Hall of Fame. But he still can't stick in the majors, which makes him the unfortunate poster child for the above-stated theory. Endy Chavez and Nick Johnson are proven commodities, so they don't fall in that same category. Their shelf...

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Crunching a few numbers

April 17, 2012, 5:42am

Orioles

CHICAGO - For reasons that the Baltimore beat reporters never quite understood, last night's game at U.S. Cellular Field couldn't be aired on the press box televisions. At least not the ones within our view. However, we could pick up MASN's feed of the Nationals-Astros game. Too bad. We really wanted to catch a few replays, just to make sure the Orioles really did score nine runs over the last three innings. It was pretty frustrating, but then the White Sox brought cookies to the back of...

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Hearing from Reimold, Jones, Wieters and Davis

April 16, 2012, 8:53pm

Orioles

Hearing from Reimold, Jones, Wieters and Davis

CHICAGO - Nolan Reimold figured he would stay on the bench until Tuesday night's game at U.S. Cellular Field, but manager Buck Showalter used him as a pinch-hitter in the seventh and kept him in left field. Reimold responded with a home run and RBI single. Not bad for someone who began the night listed among the reserves, partly because of cramping in his left hamstring. "Yeah, I think it was just precautionary keeping me out," Reimold said. "I thought I was going to play the next day, so...

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Showalter and Arrieta speak after 10-4 10-inning win

April 16, 2012, 8:33pm

Orioles

Showalter and Arrieta speak after 10-4 10-inning win

CHICAGO - Orioles manager Buck Showalter was asked whether he felt like he watched two different games tonight. "How about four?" he replied. At least. Buck Showalter talks about the O's big 10-4 comeback win over the White Sox The Orioles were down 4-1 before batting back to tie the game in the ninth and win it easily in the 10th, 10-4. They made mistakes, they made the White Sox look sloppy. They failed in the clutch, they came up huge in the clutch. "We gave them some runs and we...

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The bats explode, even with RISP

April 16, 2012, 7:39pm

Orioles

CHICAGO - The Orioles just hung six runs on the board in the top of the 10th, the last four on Matt Wieters grand slam - his second home run of the night. Orioles 10, White Sox 4. Only one of the six runs was earned, and here's why: Center fielder Alejandro De Aza committed a three-base error on Mark Reynolds fly ball, failing to make the catch with his back to the fence, and Chris Davis followed with an RBI double off reliever Zach Stewart - his third hit of the night. Davis is hitting...

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Can't spell RISP without RIP (O's take lead in 10th)

April 16, 2012, 7:01pm

Orioles

Can't spell RISP without RIP (O's take lead in 10th)

CHICAGO - The Orioles are 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position tonight, which largely explains why they're losing, 4-2, in the top of the ninth inning. They stranded a runner on third base in three straight innings, and left two more on base in the eighth after Matt Wieters homered. Mark Reynolds walked and Chris Davis singled with two outs, but Robert Andino struck out. The Orioles have fanned 12 times tonight, which also is contributing to the outcome. Going back to their failure to...

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Reynolds delivers in clutch (O's trail 4-2)

April 16, 2012, 5:18pm

Orioles

Reynolds delivers in clutch (O's trail 4-2)

CHICAGO - The Orioles loaded the bases without scoring in the third inning, making them 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position tonight, 0-for-13 in their last three games and 12-for-69 for the season. Adam Jones and Matt Wieters singled to open the fourth, but Nick Johnson struck out. Another missed opportunity. However, Mark Reynolds followed with a double to right-center field that scored Jones and tied the game, 1-1. Chris Davis struck out, Robert Andino walked to load the bases and Endy...

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Pregame notes and quotes (O's down 1-0)

April 16, 2012, 4:05pm

Orioles

CHICAGO - Players wore hooded sweatshirts and stocking caps on the field for batting practice. This is football weather. The games should be moved to Soldier Field. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters during his pregame session in the dugout that Nolan Reimold will return to the lineup Tuesday night. Reimold homered in the ninth inning in back-to-back games in Toronto, but he didn't play yesterday because of cramping in his left leg. "Just want to be careful," Showalter said. "He'll be...

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Reimold says he's able to play

April 16, 2012, 2:52pm

Orioles

CHICAGO - Outfielder Nolan Reimold is out of the lineup again tonight, but he's available to pinch-hit. Manager Buck Showalter indicated that the cramping in Reimold's left leg is part of the reason why Endy Chavez is starting in left field. Also, Showalter said he wants to get Chavez "going," which requires a little more playing time. Reimold, who homered in the ninth inning in back-to-back games in Toronto, said his leg feels "a lot better." "We did treatment on it. I'm able to...

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Orioles lineup vs. White Sox

April 16, 2012, 12:44pm

Orioles

CHICAGO - J.J. Hardy and Mark Reynolds return to the lineup for tonight's game against the White Sox. For the Orioles: LF Endy Chavez SS J.J. Hardy RF Nick Markakis CF Adam Jones C Matt Wieters DH Nick Johnson 3B Mark Reynolds 1B Chris Davis 2B Robert Andino P Jake Arrieta

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Answering the Chen question, White Sox lineup

April 16, 2012, 10:48am

Orioles

Answering the Chen question, White Sox lineup

CHICAGO - There seems to be some concern and confusion among fans regarding manager Buck Showalter's decision to push back Wei-Yin Chen's scheduled start to Tuesday at U.S. Cellular Field. Chen isn't hurt. That's the most important point. Showalter indicated before the Orioles broke camp that the first off day could allow him to adjust the rotation, and that's exactly what he did by delaying Chen's next start. Jake Arrieta is working on normal rest tonight. Chen will have gone exactly...

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Blowing into the Windy City

April 15, 2012, 7:00pm

Orioles

I'm heading to the airport to catch my flight to Chicago, where the Orioles begin a four-game series tonight. It's not a coincidence. That's why I'm going to Chicago. The Orioles took two of three games from the Blue Jays, but it felt like a losing series after yesterday's meltdown. Maybe the bar's actually been raised. The Orioles led 2-1 before giving up seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. But on the plus side, manager Buck Showalter didn't burn up his bullpen. It should...

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From bad to worse

April 15, 2012, 11:55am

Orioles

Kevin Gregg needed to get one out to complete the sixth inning today after replacing starter Brian Matusz. It eventually happened - after two inherited runners scored. And after three more scored that were charged to Gregg. And after Gregg had thrown 27 pitches. The inning began with the Orioles leading, 2-1. It ended with the Blue Jays ahead, 8-2. Fans that booed Gregg when he entered the game - and I'm talking about the ones at Rogers Centre - were cheering as he departed. They were...

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Davis stays hot (so does Jones)

April 15, 2012, 9:41am

Orioles

Has anyone noticed that Chris Davis is batting .333? Davis doubled in the second inning today, moving Wilson Betemit to third base and setting up the Orioles' first run on Ronny Paulino's ground ball. Davis had three hits yesterday, including a two-run homer. He's collected hits in five of his seven starts this season. It makes sense to keep running him out there and figuring out whether he's more than a guy who crushes Triple-A pitching. The Orioles need to find out. So does...

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Reynolds out of lineup, Flaherty makes first major league start

April 15, 2012, 7:10am

Orioles

Reynolds out of lineup, Flaherty makes first major league start

The Orioles' lineup has a different look today. Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty is making his first major league start, replacing Robert Andino at second base. Andino has shifted to shortstop. Ronny Paulino is behind the plate J.J. Hardy, Matt Wieters and Mark Reynolds are on the bench. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez LF Nick Johnson DH Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis 1B Ronny Paulino C Ryan Flaherty 2B Robert Andino SS Brian Matusz LHP

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Matusz's challenge, Blue Jays lineup

April 15, 2012, 6:23am

Orioles

The Orioles are 7-29 in their last 36 games against the Blue Jays, but they've won five of the last nine. One of the keys: Making sure Nolan Reimold bats in the ninth inning. The Orioles are hitting .196 with runners in scoring position, but they're 5-3 and looking for their second sweep of the season. Brian Matusz is making his fourth career start against the Blue Jays. In the first three, he's gone 0-2 with an 18.56 ERA in only 5 1/3 innings, with 14 hits allowed, four walks, five...

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Reimold with more ninth-inning heroics

April 14, 2012, 3:40pm

Orioles

Francisco Cordero could have signed with the Orioles over the winter. He narrowed his choices to two teams. He chose the Blue Jays. The Orioles are trying to give him regret. Nolan Reimold hit a two-run homer off Cordero in the top of the ninth to break a 4-4 tie. The ball landed in the second deck. Chris Davis reached on an infield hit, the ball slamming off Cordero. Pinch-runner Ryan Flaherty kept drawing throws from Cordero. Maybe Cordero lost focus. The Orioles want him to lose the...

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Jays do Hammel a favor (Lindstrom loses lead, Betemit atones for error)

April 14, 2012, 1:10pm

Orioles

Jays do Hammel a favor (Lindstrom loses lead, Betemit atones for error)

Jason Hammel was on the ropes in the second inning, and the Blue Jays decided to ring the bell for him before the round ended. How nice. Brett Lawrie tried unsuccessfully to steal home with the bases loaded, two outs and an 0-2 count on Jose Bautista, who's led the American League in home runs the last two seasons. Hammel stepped off the rubber and fired the ball home, where Matt Wieters applied the tag after blocking the plate. Hammel's throw was high, but Wieters provided the usual...