Roch Kubatko

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....

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Guthrie good but unrewarded (O's win 2-0)

September 09, 2011, 4:15pm

Orioles

Guthrie good but unrewarded (O's win 2-0)

This is why I can't give a firm answer on whether Jeremy Guthrie will lose 20 games this season. Guthrie has shut out the Blue Jays through four innings tonight. That screams quality start and victory. Except Toronto left-hander Brett Cecil has shut out the Orioles through five innings. And so it goes ... Guthrie can bring his 'A' game and still lose. The last time we saw Guthrie, he was body-slamming a water cooler in the visiting dugout at Tropicana Field. He didn't yell or wear a...

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Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

September 09, 2011, 12:13pm

Orioles

Ryan Adams gets the start at second base tonight for the series-opener in Toronto. Robert Andino is starting at third base, and Chris Davis gets the night off. Well, at least the beginning of it. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 3B J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Nolan Reimold LF Ryan Adams 2B Jeremy Guthrie RHP For the Blue Jays: Escobar SS Thames LF Bautista RF Encarnacion DH Lind 1B Lawrie 3B Johnson 2B Arencibia C...

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Showalter's words about the walk-off

September 08, 2011, 1:33pm

Orioles

No discussion about or dissection of today's 5-4, 10-inning win over the Yankees would be complete without mention of the Orioles' bullpen, which turned in six scoreless and hitless innings. Orioles relievers have now worked 13 1/3 scoreless innings over the last three games, with four hits, three walks and 17 strikeouts. Eight of those strikeouts came today, including four from Kevin Gregg over 1 1/3 innings. Jo-Jo Reyes was a calming influence after replacing starter Alfredo Simon with 2...

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Blake Davis clears waivers (O's walk-off win)

September 08, 2011, 12:22pm

Orioles

Blake Davis clears waivers (O's walk-off win)

Infielder Blake Davis cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. Once again, an Orioles player is ignored by the rest of baseball. What gives? Davis came off the 40-man roster on Tuesday when the Orioles purchased the contracts of relievers Clay Rapada and Jeremy Accardo. Meanwhile, we've got free baseball today at Camden Yards, where the announced attendance is 33,841. That's tickets sold. The Orioles' bullpen hasn't allowed a run, hit or walk in five innings. The...

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Markakis lowers shoulder and raises collision bar (game tied)

September 08, 2011, 11:50am

Orioles

Markakis lowers shoulder and raises collision bar (game tied)

There won't be a single Ravens player who delivers a hit on Sunday like the one Nick Markakis laid on Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli at home plate. Ray Lewis would be proud. Markakis tried to score from first base with one out in the seventh inning on Vladimir Guerrero's double into right-center field. He never broke stride. He almost broke Cervelli's nose. Markakis lowered his shoulder into Cervelli's face in a violent collision. Cervelli held onto the ball and all of his body parts,...

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This and that

September 08, 2011, 11:09am

Orioles

I just finished typing up a large morning entry for you, and my laptop screen faded to black. I lost everything except the headline. I don't have the energy or patience to duplicate it, so I'm just going to pass along a few items that are still fresh in my mind. I'm also going to display unusual restraint by not running into my front yard and screaming until my throat burns. With my hair looking like this? No way. I'm no longer using the "This, that and the other" headline. There's no...

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Guerrero continues to own Nova (O's down 4-3)

September 08, 2011, 10:40am

Orioles

Guerrero continues to own Nova (O's down 4-3)

Vladimir Guerrero's presence in the cleanup spot is a major irritant to fans here, but the matchup clearly favored him today. Guerrero has two more hits off Yankees starter Ivan Nova, including his 12th home run and a leadoff double in the fourth inning that led to another run. Yankees 4, Orioles 2. Guerrero is 6-for-8 with two homers lifetime against Nova. He just missed clearing the fence in right-center field in the fourth and settled for a double after slowing up as he rounded first...

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Simon and Andino with inning to forget

September 08, 2011, 9:43am

Orioles

Alfredo Simon retired the side in order in the top of the first inning on a pop up, fly ball and strikeout, but the first four Yankees reached base against him in the second. He also issued a two-out walk and gave up a two-run single to Derek Jeter. Vladimir Guerrero led off the bottom of the second with his 12th home run. He's 5-for-7 with 2 homers against Ivan Nova. Yankees 3, Orioles 1. Simon has faced 11 Yankees and we're only in the bottom of the second. He's thrown 47 pitches, 24...

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VandenHurk will start Saturday (Yankees lineup)

September 08, 2011, 8:15am

Orioles

VandenHurk will start Saturday (Yankees lineup)

Orioles manager Buck Showalter has chosen Rick VandenHurk to start Saturday's game in Toronto. Showalter also considered left-handers Jo-Jo Reyes and Brian Matusz, but he's going with VandenHurk, who has allowed one run and two hits, with three walks and two strikeouts, in two relief appearances covering 3 2/3 innings. VandenHurk went 9-13 with a 4.43 ERA in 26 starts at Triple-A Norfolk, with 40 walks and 108 strikeouts in 154 1/3 innings. He allowed one earned run or fewer in each of his...

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Orioles break out more traditional lineup

September 08, 2011, 7:01am

Orioles

It's a one-game homestand, but the lineup looks pretty normal today. Nothing here that should surprise you. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Nolan Reimold LF Chris Davis 3B Robert Andino 2B Alfredo Simon RHP

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Home today, gone tomorrow

September 07, 2011, 7:17pm

Orioles

Don't be fooled by that open date on your Orioles pocket schedule or refrigerator magnet. We're supposed to have a game today if it stops raining long enough to get the tarp off the field and separate the animals that have already been paired up. The Orioles will fly out to Toronto for a three-game series that starts tomorrow. They're one and done against the Yankees at Camden Yards. Or the fifth game between the two teams this season will be postponed because of the weather. It could go...

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Reynolds doesn't whiff in clutch; O's win 5-4 in 11 innings

September 07, 2011, 1:36pm

Orioles

Reynolds doesn't whiff in clutch; O's win 5-4 in 11 innings

Mark Reynolds struck out four times today, making him the envy of teammate Chris Davis, but he also delivered the Orioles' go-ahead run in a 5-4, 11-inning win over the Yankees. Reynolds singled off Yankees reliever Hector Noesi with two outs in the top of the 11th to score Matt Angle and break a 4-4 tie. Mark Reynolds talks with the O's Xtra crew after hitting the game-winning RBI single in the 11th inning Angle reached with one out on another error by Yankees shortstop Eduardo Nunez....

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Davis, Reynolds wearing golden sombreros (Davis approaching record)

September 07, 2011, 12:09pm

Orioles

Davis, Reynolds wearing golden sombreros (Davis approaching record)

Orioles third baseman Chris Davis misses that Eastern League pitching. Davis has struck out four times today and is 0-for-8 with six strikeouts since completing his injury rehab assignment at Double-A Bowie and coming off the disabled list yesterday. Davis fanned three times today against A.J. Burnett and took a called third strike from reliever David Robertson. This isn't a recent development for Davis. He's struck out 19 times in his last nine games and 39 at-bats. Meanwhile, the...