Roch Kubatko

Fox delivers off the bench (O's win 4-2)

September 13, 2011, 5:14pm

Orioles

Fox delivers off the bench (O's win 4-2)

Jake Fox doesn't get into many games, but he's making his rare appearances count. Fox's two-out, pinch-hit double scored Nolan Reimold in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game, 2-2, and force Rays manager Joe Maddon to go to his bullpen. Fox was batting for Kyle Hudson with two outs and Reimold at second. Reimold walked and stole second base with one out before Ryan Adams struck out. David Price threw Fox two sliders, a changeup and another slider before his 92 mph fastball was lined...

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Simon slips out of trouble in the second (Rays take 2-1 lead)

September 13, 2011, 3:50pm

Orioles

Simon slips out of trouble in the second (Rays take 2-1 lead)

The Orioles are holding a 1-0 lead that nearly slipped through their fingers in the second inning. Actually, it almost crashed to the floor and shattered into a million pieces. That's a lot of debris for a one-run lead. The Rays loaded the bases with no outs on a single, walk and single. That's when Alfredo Simon went to work, striking out John Jaso on four pitches and inducing a double-play grounder with one pitch to Sean Rodriguez. Simon started off Jaso with two 95 mph fastballs. He...

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Showalter talks about Jones

September 13, 2011, 1:14pm

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter says the results of the X-ray taken yesterday on Adam Jones' right thumb are "very similar to the last X-ray" taken in early July. Jones has some swelling in the thumb and stiffness in the knuckle, which makes it painful to grip a bat. It doesn't bother him to throw. The Orioles haven't scheduled any other tests for Jones, who remains day-to-day. "There are other more detailed X-rays you can get into, but I don't see right now where that's a need yet,"...

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Jones remains out of lineup (updated)

September 13, 2011, 11:46am

Orioles

Kyle Hudson is starting in center field tonight. Adam Jones is out of the lineup for the fourth straight game. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 3B J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Nolan Reimold LF Ryan Adams 2B Kyle Hudson CF Alfredo Simon RHP Update: The X-rays taken on Jones' right thumb came back negative. It's still painful to grip a bat because of the swelling and stiffness, so he remains day-to-day.

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Adam Jones nominated for Roberto Clemente Award

September 13, 2011, 11:16am

Orioles

Adam Jones nominated for Roberto Clemente Award

Major League Baseball announced today that center fielder Adam Jones is the Orioles' nominee for the 2011 Roberto Clemente Award. Jones is one of 30 finalists for the award, which recognizes a player who "best represents the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement," according to the press release. Here's more from the release. I'm in cut-and-paste mode: Jones has been very active in the Baltimore community...

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Cleaning out my notebook

September 12, 2011, 9:11pm

Orioles

The Orioles have been reduced to playing spoilers again, which has become an unfortunate and unwanted September tradition in Baltimore. They've got two more games with the Tampa Bay Rays, who have muscled their way back into the wild card race and are putting serious heat on the Boston Red Sox. The Orioles have three games against the Los Angeles Angels to complete this homestand, then three games against the Red Sox and four against the Detroit Tigers on their final road trip before...

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Britton on Britton

September 12, 2011, 7:14pm

Orioles

Rookie Zach Britton offered the following assessment of tonight's outing, when he allowed four runs and five hits in five innings while failing to win his 10th game of the season: Zach Britton talks about his outing in the Orioles' loss to Tampa Bay "I think I was just overthrowing today," he said. "The first couple innings weren't bad. They were OK. But right when I got out of the stretch, I started overthrowing, leaving balls up, out over the plate. That's a team I had success...

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Showalter speaks after 5-2 loss

September 12, 2011, 7:01pm

Orioles

Zach Britton said he was overthrowing tonight, which could at least partially explain the 100 pitches he threw in five innings, along with the four runs, five hits and four walks in the Orioles' 5-2 loss to the Rays. "We talk about it almost every night, whether a guy has a good outing or a bad outing. It starts and stops with fastball command," manager Buck Showalter said. "That's one of the reasons Tampa is doing a good job with their starters. They have guys with good command of the...

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Britton's outing could be brief (Wieters homers)

September 12, 2011, 4:04pm

Orioles

Britton's outing could be brief (Wieters homers)

Zach Britton has thrown 69 pitches in three innings tonight. He'll need to become a little more economical with them. And real fast. Britton walked a batter in the first inning. He walked a batter in the second. He walked two more in the third, when the Rays scored three times to take a 3-0 lead. Britton also allowed three hits in the third - doubles by Brandon Guyer and Ben Zobrist, and a single to Sean Rodriguez. Guyer was leading off the inning as the Rays' No. 9 hitter. Zobrist's...

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A few more pregame notes

September 12, 2011, 1:27pm

Orioles

Reliever Jason Berken came off the disabled list today after throwing a bullpen session Saturday at the minor league complex in Sarasota. Nick Delmonico, the Orioles' sixth-round draft pick out of Farragut High School in Tennessee, stopped by Camden Yards today and took early batting practice. He'll head to Sarasota tomorrow for the fall instructional league. Manager Buck Showalter was impressed with Delmonico, saying, "That's the way they're supposed to look." Brian Graham, the...

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Jones out of lineup again (updated)

September 12, 2011, 11:31am

Orioles

This time, Adam Jones hasn't been scratched from the lineup. He never got into it. Matt Angle is starting in center field while Jones continues to deal with a sore left ankle. For the Orioles: Matt Angle CF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Chris Davis 3B Mark Reynolds 1B Kyle Hudson LF Robert Andino 2B Zach Britton LHP Update: Jones is out of the lineup because of a sore right thumb. That's why he was scratched from the lineup yesterday. His ankle...

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First things first

September 11, 2011, 8:37pm

Orioles

The Orioles are returning to Camden Yards for a six-game homestand that begins tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays, who just swept the Boston Red Sox to claw back into the wild card race. Probably not the best time to be catching these guys. Zach Britton is seeking his 10th victory. He's faced the Rays three times this season, going 2-1 with a 3.12 ERA in 17 1/3 innings. They're batting .186 against him. The Orioles have plenty of holes to fill and decisions to make during the winter, and...

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New Orioles lineup (Blue Jays win, 6-5)

September 11, 2011, 9:02am

Orioles

With Adam Jones scratched again, I get to file a second lineup today. Too bad I don't get paid per-lineup entry. For the Orioles: Matt Angle CF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Chris Davis 3B Nolan Reimold LF Robert Andino 2B Tommy Hunter RHP Game update: Nick Markakis' two-out, two-run single off Blue Jays reliever Carlos Villanueva in the fourth inning gave the Orioles a 4-3 lead. Only one run off Tommy Hunter is earned. Mark...

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Jones returns to lineup (and now he's scratched)

September 11, 2011, 6:42am

Orioles

Jones returns to lineup (and now he's scratched)

Adam Jones was scratched from yesterday's lineup with a swollen ankle, but he's starting in center field today. Matt Angle is starting in left field ahead of Nolan Reimold, who remains on the bench. For the Orioles: Matt Angle LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Chris Davis 3B Robert Andino 2B Tommy Hunter RHP For the Blue Jays: Mike McCoy SS Eric Thames LF Jose Bautista RF Adam Lind DH Brett Lawrie 3B Kelly Johnson...

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Something special about the left-handers

September 10, 2011, 2:54pm

Orioles

Something special about the left-handers

Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't a big fan of the expanded roster, feeling as though it drastically - and unfairly - changes games and strategies in the late innings. You play under the same rules for five months and then switch in September. However, he took full advantage of his extra bullpen options yesterday, using six relievers and playing matchups in the late innings. He kept Troy Patton in the game to face a left-handed hitter, brought in Willie Eyre to face a right-hander, and...

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Guerrero and bullpen coming up big (Gregg does not)

September 10, 2011, 11:21am

Orioles

Guerrero and bullpen coming up big (Gregg does not)

Vladimir Guerrero's third hit of the day, a double to center field, scored Robert Andino with one out in the top of the eighth inning and gave the Orioles a 4-3 lead. Andino doubled off reliever Jesse Litsch to start the inning and the rally. He moved to third on Nick Markakis' grounder to the right side. Guerrero also had three hits Thursday against the Yankees. He's got 12 hits in his last 23 at-bats. The Orioles' bullpen has turned in 4 2/3 scoreless and hitless innings today. The...

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Nice recovery by Chris Davis, VandenHurk is done

September 10, 2011, 10:20am

Orioles

Nice recovery by Chris Davis, VandenHurk is done

It was only a few days ago that Chris Davis went 0-for-6 with five strikeouts in New York, stranding seven runners in the process. He came within one strikeout of tying Sam Horn's single-game franchise record. Davis didn't let it get him down. He's 2-for-2 today, including a double in the top of the third inning that scored Vladimir Guerrero from first base and tied the game at 3-3. Davis is 5-for-6 with two doubles and three RBIs since Wednesday's embarrassment in the Bronx. He was...

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VandenHurk loses lead again, more on winning streak

September 10, 2011, 9:35am

Orioles

VandenHurk loses lead again, more on winning streak

The Orioles did some two-out damage in the top of the first inning, stringing together three straight singles by Nick Markakis, Vladimir Guerrero and Chris Davis to take a 1-0 lead. It didn't last long. Jose Bautista hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first to give Toronto a 2-1 lead. Rick VandenHurk got ahead of Bautista 1-2 but couldn't put him away. And the former Oriole put the ball in the second deck for his 41st homer. He's also got 96 RBIs. VandenHurk is getting ahead of...

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Florimon gets first major league start (Jones scratched)

September 10, 2011, 6:14am

Orioles

Florimon gets first major league start (Jones scratched)

Adam Jones was scratched from the lineup with a sore ankle. He fouled a ball off it last night. Nick Markakis is back in right field, with Matt Angle moving to center. Josh Bell is playing third base and Chris Davis has moved to first. For the Orioles: Matt Angle CF Robert Andino 2B Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Chris Davis 1B Josh Bell 3B Kyle Hudson LF Pedro Florimon SS Craig Tatum C Rick VandenHurk RHP As a reader pointed out this morning, the Orioles' three-game winning...

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Talking about Strop and VandenHurk

September 09, 2011, 6:46pm

Orioles

Managers always warn us not to fall in love with spring training or September stats. I have a man crush on Pedro Strop's pitching line. Strop blanked the Blue Jays in the eighth inning last night to pass a 2-0 lead to Jim Johnson, who recorded the save. He's allowed one hit over 4 1/3 scoreless innings since the Orioles claimed him off waivers from the Texas Rangers. With Johnson moving into the closer's role for one night, the Orioles needed somebody to be the set-up man in the eighth....