Roch Kubatko

Matusz down early (O's rally to tie)

September 25, 2011, 9:32am

Orioles

Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer off Brian Matusz in the bottom of the first inning to give Detroit a 2-0 lead. It happened so fast, I was still driving back from Hunt Valley. Cabrera jumped on Matusz's first pitch, a curveball. The inning included a throwing error by third baseman Chris Davis, but Jake Fox threw out Austin Jackson at the plate. Matusz has allowed 17 homers in 45 2/3 innings, and at least one in every start except his first. Update: The Orioles scored three runs in the...

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Multiple changes in today's lineup

September 25, 2011, 7:03am

Orioles

Here's a lineup you won't recognize. It doesn't include Adam Jones, Nick Markakis, J.J. Hardy, Mark Reynolds or Matt Wieters. For the Orioles: Matt Angle CF Robert Andino 2B Chris Davis 3B Vladimir Guerrero DH Jake Fox 1B Nolan Reimold RF Kyle Hudson LF Pedro Florimon SS Craig Tatum C Brian Matusz LHP

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Matusz on the mound one more time (with notes)

September 25, 2011, 5:39am

Orioles

Matusz on the mound one more time (with notes)

Just when it appeared that Brian Matusz had thrown his last pitch in 2011, he's back on the hill for one more start. There's no way for Matusz to salvage this season, but manager Buck Showalter wants him to go out on a high note. Showalter appreciates how Matusz has worked overtime to achieve better results, even if they haven't come to him. Matusz is 1-8 with a 10.68 ERA and a 2.13 WHIP in 11 starts. He's totaled three innings in his last two appearances, allowing 11 runs and 11 hits,...

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Manufacturing a run and a win

September 24, 2011, 6:00pm

Orioles

The Orioles used the suicide squeeze to take a 6-5 lead in the top of the ninth, and Kevin Gregg stranded the tying run to pick up his 22nd save and his second in three nights. Pretty routine stuff, right? Pedro Strop allowed his first run as an Oriole, tying the game in the eighth inning. Chris Davis singled to lead off the top of the ninth, and pinch-runner Kyle Hudson went from first to third on a strikeout. Kyle Hudson talks to reporters about scoring the game-winning run in...

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Taking the right Angle (updated)

September 24, 2011, 4:42pm

Orioles

I haven't changed my opinion that Matt Angle doesn't hit for enough power to be the regular left fielder next season, but I'll tip my cap to him after his leadoff home run tonight. I don't wear caps, but I'll purchase one for the sole purpose of tipping it. Angle had four homers in 424 at-bats at Triple-A Norfolk this summer. He hadn't hit one in the majors in his first 69 at-bats. And he chose 24-game winner Justin Verlander to be his first victim. Don't try to make sense of...

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Orioles lineup against Tigers

September 24, 2011, 12:15pm

Orioles

Matt Angle is starting in left field and batting first tonight for the Orioles. Robert Andino drops to ninth in the order. For the Orioles: Matt Angle LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 1B Chris Davis 3B Robert Andino 2B Jeremy Guthrie RHP Left-hander Brian Matusz will start tomorrow afternoon against the Tigers, according to MLB.com.

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Orioles will try to solve Verlander

September 23, 2011, 7:15pm

Orioles

If Justin Verlander doesn't win the American League's Cy Young Award, I'll attempt to catch his next fastball between my teeth. The only question is whether he'll also be named Most Valuable Player. And whether the Orioles can do anything against him tonight. Verlander is 6-0 with a 2.64 ERA in eight career starts vs. the Orioles, with 44 hits, 17 walks and 51 strikeouts in 58 innings. They're batting .209 against him. But at least they don't pretend to get lost on their way to the...

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Free baseball (O's lose 4-3 in 11th)

September 23, 2011, 5:53pm

Orioles

Nine innings aren't enough tonight. The Orioles and Tigers are headed for extras. Jim Johnson really is the closer. He's not as effective in non-save situations. Johnson recorded saves in seven of his last eight appearances before tonight. The exception came on Saturday, when he allowed a run in a 6-2 victory over the Angels. That was the only run off Johnson in his last eight outings. He ran into trouble tonight with the score tied, 3-3, in the ninth. Miguel Cabera singled with one out...

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Wieters wields big bat again in clutch (update)

September 23, 2011, 4:19pm

Orioles

Wieters wields big bat again in clutch (update)

The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on Vladimir Guerrero's RBI double, quickly fell behind, 2-1, and reclaimed the lead, 3-2, in the third. The second rally started with an infield hit by Robert Andino, the spark plug atop the order. Andino eventually scored on Nick Markakis' sacrifice fly, and J.J. Hardy crossed the plate as the go-ahead run on a single by Matt Wieters. Wieters is a monster with runners in scoring position. If Luke Scott lost MVO votes last year...

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This and that about Reynolds

September 23, 2011, 2:37pm

Orioles

Cincinnati's Drew Stubbs joined the 200-strikeout club last night. It's a very exclusive club. Total membership is two players. The meetings are really short. The "minutes" are actually seconds. Stubbs and Mark Reynolds are the only players in major league history to strike out 200 times in a single season. Reynolds has done it three straight years. Reynolds would have to strike out 15 times over the last six games to keep his streak alive. He'd rather avoid it if at all...

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Orioles and Tigers lineups

September 23, 2011, 12:09pm

Orioles

For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 1B Chris Davis 3B Nolan Reimold LF Alfredo Simon RHP For the Tigers: Jackson CF Kelly 3B Young LF Cabrera 1B Martinez DH Avila C Peralta SS Dirks RF Santiago 2B Porcello RHP

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Getting your kicks by rooting for 66

September 22, 2011, 6:42pm

Orioles

The Orioles have won 66 games this season and they've got six more to play. They also won 66 games last season. I'm trying to appreciate the "progress" that they've made in 2011. I'm also trying to forget that last year's team was 2-16 and went through three managers. The Orioles will avoid 100 losses. They could win more games than last season. They won't have the worst record in baseball. They no longer have the worst record in the American League after winning eight of their last...

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Britton falters in fifth (O's win 6-5)

September 22, 2011, 4:44pm

Orioles

So much for that 5-0 lead. The Tigers scored once in the fourth inning and four times in the fifth to tie the game, 5-5. Delmon Young's three-run shot, off a 94 mph fastball from left-hander Zach Britton, erased the rest of the Orioles' lead. Well, it was fun while it lasted. Britton has won four of his last five decisions since coming off the disabled list. He had allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of his last six starts, and four earned runs or fewer in his last seven. In his...

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Guerrero gives Orioles early lead (Hardy and Jones build on it)

September 22, 2011, 3:26pm

Orioles

Vladimir Guerrero drove in the Orioles' final two runs last night, and he's produced their first run tonight. Guerrero's sacrifice fly off Tigers starter Jacob Turner scored J.J. Hardy in the top of the first inning and gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead. Hardy and Nick Markakis singled with one out and Guerrero flied to center field to provide an early lead for rookie left-hander Zach Britton. Guerrero has driven in seven runs in his last six games - including two in the eighth inning last...

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Orioles lineup against the Tigers

September 22, 2011, 12:32pm

Orioles

The Orioles finally posted their lineup. You can decide whether it was worth the wait. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 1B Chris Davis 3B Nolan Reimold LF Zach Britton LHP Second baseman Brian Roberts will be featured on "Outside the Lines" at 10 a.m. Sunday on ESPN2 as part of a segment on athletes and concussions. You can check out a clip

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This, that and the other

September 21, 2011, 6:04pm

Orioles

The Orioles have taken their act to Detroit for the last four road games of the season. No mo' after Motown. Only three Orioles starters are listed for the series - Zach Britton tonight, Alfredo Simon tomorrow night and Jeremy Guthrie on Saturday night. Sunday's starter is TBA. Brian Matusz and Rick VandenHurk are available for the assignment. Jo-Jo Reyes tossed three scoreless innings in relief Tuesday night, which might sway manager Buck Showalter. Any preferences? The Tigers will...

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Reynolds' second homer ties game (O's win 6-4)

September 21, 2011, 5:20pm

Orioles

Reynolds' second homer ties game (O's win 6-4)

Mark Reynolds wasn't satisfied with hitting his 35th homer tonight. He also wasn't willing to let the Orioles trail by two runs. Reynolds homered again off Josh Beckett, his two-run shot in the seventh inning tying the game, 4-4. Matt Wieters singled and was forced at second on Adam Jones' fielder's choice grounder. Reynolds took a 93 mph fastball for a ball, fouled off another one and launched a curveball. Reynolds has 14 career multi-homer games, the most recent before tonight coming...

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Reynolds hits No. 35 (Boston leads 4-2)

September 21, 2011, 3:46pm

Orioles

Mark Reynolds homered off Josh Beckett with two outs in the top of the second inning to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead. Reynolds pulled a 91 mph cutter to left field, easily clearing the Green Monster after Beckett got ahead, 0-2, in the count. Reynolds sat out two games after being drilled in the helmet by an Ervin Santana pitch Saturday night, but he's 6-for-11 in his last four. He's homered in three of those games and driven in seven runs. He won't get much love in the Most Valuable...

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Did you know ...?

September 21, 2011, 12:21pm

Orioles

The Orioles are looking to win their first four-game series at Fenway Park since Aug. 8-10, 2003, when they took three of four. Their last series win in Boston was Sept. 20-22, 2010, when they took two of three. The Orioles are going for their fifth road series win of the season. A win tonight would give the Orioles their third consecutive series win, a feat they haven't accomplished since Sept. 3-15, 2010, when they won four straight series (vs. Tampa Bay, at New York, at Detroit and vs....

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Jones and Reynolds remain in lineup

September 21, 2011, 11:47am

Orioles

Adam Jones and Mark Reynolds are making back-to-back starts after returning to the Orioles' lineup last night. Matt Angle gets the start in left field. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 1B Chris Davis 3B Matt Angle LF Tommy Hunter RHP For the Red Sox: Ellsbury CF Aviles 3B Gonzalez 1B Ortiz DH Pedroia 2B Reddick RF Crawford LF Scutaro SS Varitek C Beckett RHP