Roch Kubatko

Orioles won't be no-hit (and they won't win)

July 01, 2011, 5:10pm

Orioles

It was getting pretty dicey there. Adam Jones bounced a single into center field with one out in the top of the seventh inning to break up Jair Jurrjens' no-hit bid. The ball took a few hops, but I swear that I counted 17. Maybe it just looked that way. Jurrjens still has his shutout intact, however. The Orioles are losing, 2-0. Jurrjens had a perfect game until Mark Reynolds walked in the sixth. Gary Thorne asks Buck Showalter for his thoughts on the Birds' 4-0 loss to Atlanta Say what...

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Reimold back on bench

July 01, 2011, 11:58am

Orioles

Nolan Reimold homered and drove in four runs last night, but Luke Scott gets the start in left field for tonight's series-opener in Atlanta. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Derrek Lee 1B Luke Scott LF Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino 2B Jeremy Guthrie RHP For the Braves: Jordan Schafer CF Jason Heyward RF Brian McCann C Chipper Jones 3B Freddie Freeman 1B Dan Uggla 2B Alex Gonzalez SS Nate McLouth LF Jair Jurrjens RHP Jurrjens is 10-3 with a 2.07...

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Viola headed to Atlanta, Rapada clears waivers

July 01, 2011, 10:06am

Orioles

Viola headed to Atlanta, Rapada clears waivers

The Orioles haven't announced the transaction, but left-hander Pedro Viola will join the team in Atlanta and be officially recalled from Double-A Bowie. Viola will replace Brian Matusz on the 25-man roster. This is a short-term move. Viola will give the Orioles an extra southpaw in the bullpen to counter the Braves' left-handed hitters, but he's not expected to stay long. Viola made one appearance with the Orioles this season, retiring all five Seattle Mariners that he faced. He joined...

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Looking back at a loss and an option

June 30, 2011, 7:37pm

Orioles

Well, so much for finishing the homestand on a high note. The Orioles tied their season high by hitting into four double plays last night, and the Cardinals completed their first road sweep of the season. Brian Matusz was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after the game, a move that couldn't have come as much of a surprise. Manager Buck Showalter wanted Matusz to work through his issues here, but he needed to see some results. Fastball command and velocity aren't where they need to be, and the...

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Matusz talks about his demotion

June 30, 2011, 7:06pm

Orioles

Brian Matusz expressed confidence tonight that he'll regain his effectiveness once he's at Triple-A Norfolk. He sounds like he's in a good frame of mind. "Absolutely," he said. "It's going to be tough. I'm not getting it done up here. It's not fair for the team. Every fifth day I go out there and make starts like this. It's just motivation for me to get down there and work with Mike Griffin, the pitching coach, and get myself back to regular form. Brian Matusz speaks to the media...

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Matusz optioned to Triple-A Norfolk (with quotes)

June 30, 2011, 6:29pm

Orioles

Matusz optioned to Triple-A Norfolk (with quotes)

The Orioles optioned left-hander Brian Matusz to Triple-A Norfolk after tonight's game. A corresponding move will be announced tomorrow. Matusz is 1-4 with an 8.77 ERA in six starts since coming off the disabled list. He allowed eight runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings tonight in the Orioles' 9-6 loss to the Cardinals. Manager Buck Showalter said he's not angry with Matusz. "I just know he's capable of better," Showalter said. Showalter also said that Norfolk will be a "better...

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More on Simon, Berkman and the farm (updated)

June 30, 2011, 5:26pm

Orioles

More on Simon, Berkman and the farm (updated)

Tonight's attendance: 28,340 Alfredo Simon had retired eight of nine batters before Lance Berkman led off the top of the seventh inning with his second home run of the night and his 20th this season. David Freese followed with a double, and Simon was out of the game. Michael Gonzalez walked Colby Rasmus to put runners on first and second with no outs, but he escaped the jam without another run scoring. Berkman is the first Cardinals player to homer from both sides of the plate since...

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Another short night for Matusz (updated twice)

June 30, 2011, 4:28pm

Orioles

Another short night for Matusz (updated twice)

Brian Matusz's sixth start didn't bring any comfort to the Orioles or the young left-hander. Matusz allowed eight runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings, with one walk, two strikeouts and two home runs. He threw 70 pitches, the last resulting in Jon Jay's three-run homer. Alfredo Simon replaced Matusz, who has surrendered 14 runs and 18 hits in his last two starts covering eight innings. Rick Adair and catcher Matt Wieters both made trips to the mound in the fourth - Adair after No. 9...

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Showalter talks about Matusz (O's trail 4-0)

June 30, 2011, 3:09pm

Orioles

Showalter talks about Matusz (O's trail 4-0)

Manager Buck Showalter was asked what he needs to see from Brian Matusz tonight to be convinced that the left-hander is moving in the right direction. It won't be velocity. "I know what everybody's going to be looking at the first time he throws a fastball - second time, third time," Showalter said. "I think command and his secondary pitches, so that thick or thin he'll be able to defend himself. Going back through the tape and stuff, you see a lot of those pitches were center cut. That...

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Showalter talks about Reimold (plus minor league note)

June 30, 2011, 1:22pm

Orioles

Showalter talks about Reimold (plus minor league note)

As soon as the Cardinals announced that left-hander Jaime Garcia would make tonight's start for the Cardinals instead of right-hander Jake Westbrook, you knew that Nolan Reimold would crack the Orioles' lineup for the first time since June 19. It's not like Reimold is being eased back into the competition. Not with Garcia on the mound. "Well, like he said, it beats (Triple-A) Norfolk," manager Buck Showalter said. "First of all, there aren't many left-handers in the big leagues who...

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A few pregame notes

June 30, 2011, 12:40pm

Orioles

Jake Arrieta is still scheduled to start Saturday night's interleague game in Atlanta. He threw in the bullpen yesterday and impressed pitching coach Rick Adair. Vladimir Guerrero is expected to be on the bench again for the three games against the Braves unless injuries dictate a change in plans. Guerrero didn't start any of the games in Washington and Pittsburgh. Former No. 1 pick Matt Hobgood threw two scoreless innings today for the Gulf Coast League Orioles. He allowed one hit and...

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Reimold starting tonight

June 30, 2011, 11:17am

Orioles

Nolan Reimold is making his first start tonight since June 19. He'll also get his first at-bats since that date. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Derrek Lee 1B Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Nolan Reimold LF Robert Andino 2B Brian Matusz LHP If you're keeping score at home, here are the Orioles' draft picks who have agreed to terms: Mike Wright (3), Kyle Simon (4), Matt Taylor (5), Trent Howard (7), Devin Jones (9), Adam Davis...

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RIP if you're a RISP (plus minor league note)

June 29, 2011, 6:38pm

Orioles

RIP if you're a RISP (plus minor league note)

I'm staring at my laptop screen right now and wondering if I should just slam it shut and go back to bed. The Orioles are making me want to pull the covers over my head. Maybe I'll bring a blanket to the press box. They went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position last night and are 9-for-61 in their last seven games. They couldn't score after loading the bases with no outs. They stranded eight more runners. The rotation has turned in one quality start in the last 12 games. I'm not a...

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Jakubauskas talks about his outing

June 29, 2011, 6:27pm

Orioles

One more note on the starters: They're 3-8 with a 5.99 ERA and have failed to complete seven innings in the last 16 games since Jake Arrieta did it on June 10. Chris Jakubauskas fell to 2-1 with a 5.68 ERA after allowing five runs and seven hits in five innings. He noted that the Cardinals were "a little bit more aggressive." They also were four runs better. Chris Jakubauskas meets with the media about picking up his first loss as an O's starter "I noticed it in the first inning," he...

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Showalter speaks after 5-1 loss

June 29, 2011, 6:10pm

Orioles

You can't talk about tonight's 5-1 loss to the Cardinals without focusing on the bases-loaded, no-out situation in the fifth inning that yielded no runs, and another non-quality start from the rotation. "We had a shot at them there in the fifth," manager Buck Showalter said. "That was a big momentum swing." Was it quality pitching from Cardinals right-hander Chris Carpenter or the Orioles' hitters pressing at the plate? Maybe a little of both? Buck Showalter meets with the media to...

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Orioles leave them loaded

June 29, 2011, 4:43pm

Orioles

Each time Brad Bergesen begins to warm in the Orioles' bullpen, Chris Jakubauskas makes a big pitch to end an inning and stay in the game. He's not especially sharp tonight, but he's stubborn. The Orioles had a chance to wipe out a four-run deficit, or at least take a big chunk out of it, after loading the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fifth. Felix Pie and Blake Davis singled, and J.J. Hardy reached on an infield hit. Chris Carpenter was teetering. The Orioles couldn't topple...

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Markakis keeps streaking (updated)

June 29, 2011, 3:59pm

Orioles

Nick Markakis' hitting streak has reached a career-high 18 games. Markakis doubled off Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter with two outs in the bottom of the third inning to reduce their deficit to 4-1. The run is unearned because Carpenter was charged with an error on a sharp ground ball by J.J. Hardy that deflected off the pitcher's foot and bounced to third base. It sure looked like a hit to the rest of us, but so far it hasn't been changed. Update: It's been changed. Credit Hardy...

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Jakubauskas and Berkman meet again (updated twice)

June 29, 2011, 3:20pm

Orioles

Jakubauskas and Berkman meet again (updated twice)

That was a nice eight-pitch top of the first inning for Orioles right-hander Chris Jakubauskas. Pop up, strikeout. fly ball. It can be a pretty simple game. Throw strikes and work quickly. Command your fastball and good things usually will happen. Lance Berkman stepped to the plate in the top of the second, which must have brought disturbing flashbacks for both men. Jakubauskas' only major league start in 2010 ended after a Berkman line drive slammed off his head. Jakubauskas was pitching...

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Showalter discusses roster move

June 29, 2011, 1:02pm

Orioles

Clay Rapada wasn't available to reporters once the clubhouse opened for us at 3:35 p.m. He might have already packed up and left the ballpark. Rapada posted a 7.30 ERA in 22 appearances. Left-handers were 4-for-35 with three walks and 13 strikeouts against him, but right-handers were 9-for-13 with two doubles, a triple, two homers, three walks and no strikeouts. In 12 1/3 innings this season, Rapada allowed 10 runs and 13 hits, walked six and struck out 13. Yes, he was good against...

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Rapada designated for assignment (and Orioles lineup)

June 29, 2011, 11:16am

Orioles

The Orioles will activate Alfredo Simon from the disabled list this afternoon and designate left-hander Clay Rapada for assignment. The club has 10 days to trade Rapada, pass him through waivers and outright him to Triple-A Norfolk or release him. The Sun's Jeff Zrebiec tweeted the roster move, and a team official just confirmed it. Rapada was effective against left-handers, as advertised. They went 4-for-35 against him, with one home run, three walks and 13 strikeouts. However,...