Roch Kubatko

Guthrie's big-time escape act (Bell injured at Norfolk)

August 30, 2011, 4:40pm

Orioles

Guthrie's big-time escape act (Bell injured at Norfolk)

The Orioles tied tonight's game in the bottom of the fourth on Robert Andino's two-out double and Toronto left-hander Brett Cecil's throwing error. The Blue Jays almost untied it in the top of the fifth, and they're still wondering how they botched that assignment. They loaded the bases with no outs against Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie on Eric Thomas' double, Matt Wieters' error and Adam Lind's single to right. Thomas was held at third, a smart decision given the situation and right...

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Guthrie walks Orioles into 3-0 hole (Wieters homers)

August 30, 2011, 3:42pm

Orioles

Nothing good happens after a walk. Nothing good happens after two walks. Bad, bad stuff can happen. Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie issued back-to-back walks to Edwin Encarnacion and Kelly Johnson with one out in the second inning, and Brett Lawrie followed with a 385-foot shot to left field to give the Blue Jays a 3-0 lead. In his last start, Guthrie held the Twins to one run over seven innings. He won't be quite that good tonight. Lawrie's blast is the only hit off Guthrie in two...

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Hendrickson will return to 40-man roster (and more notes)

August 30, 2011, 12:33pm

Orioles

Hendrickson will return to 40-man roster (and more notes)

I have a few notes to pass along from manager Buck Showalter's pregame session with the media, beginning with news on left-hander Mark Hendrickson. The Orioles placed Hendrickson on optional waivers today, the same procedure that Troy Patton went through earlier this summer. As I explained back then, it takes two business days to clear and no team will claim him. It's sort of a gentleman's agreement. Happens all the time in baseball. Hendrickson came off the 40-man roster to make room for...

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Familiar lineup for Orioles

August 30, 2011, 11:25am

Orioles

The Orioles aren't making any drastic changes to their lineup, or doing a whole lot of tweaking. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Robert Andino 3B Nolan Reimold LF Ryan Adams 2B Jeremy Guthrie RHP Reliever Jason Berken and his wife, Emily, are the proud parents of a baby girl, Hadley Lane, who was born at 12:04 p.m. Hadley weighs 5 pounds, 12 ounces. All are doing well.

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Patton reinstated, Hendrickson DFA

August 30, 2011, 9:31am

Orioles

The Orioles reinstated left-hander Troy Patton from the restricted list, placing him back on the 25-man and 40-man rosters. Patton left the team over the weekend to attend a hearing yesterday in Houston related to his DWI arrest over the winter. To make room for Patton, the Orioles once again have designated left-hander Mark Hendrickson for assignment. Hendrickson appeared in one game after replacing Patton, allowing one run and two hits in one inning against the Yankees in Game 2 of...

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No trades imminent as another deadline approaches

August 29, 2011, 7:57pm

Orioles

No trades imminent as another deadline approaches

I woke up this morning with 4,000 Twitter followers. No wonder I didn't get any of the covers. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail told me yesterday that he isn't close to making any deals before tomorrow's deadline for contending teams to set their playoff rosters. You know how things can change with one phone call, so don't read too much into it. However, something new would have to develop within the next day. Nothing is percolating. I've heard that the usual suspects...

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Showalter speaks after 3-2 loss

August 29, 2011, 6:26pm

Orioles

The Orioles are 15-28 in series finales after tonight's 3-2 loss to the Yankees. New York improves to 29-14. The Orioles have lost their last six games decided by one run at home since a 3-2 victory over the Angels on July 23. Manager Buck Showalter delivered heavy praise to starter Alfredo Simon, who allowed three runs and four hits over seven innings. Buck Showalter gives praise to Alfredo Simon's outing and some potentially career-best seasons "He was really good. He was really...

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Simon strengthens case for rotation spot (O's lose, 3-2)

August 29, 2011, 5:11pm

Orioles

Simon strengthens case for rotation spot (O's lose, 3-2)

Alfredo Simon tied his career high with 114 pitches tonight. The last time he did it? His last start on Aug. 23 against the Twins. OK, he's stretched out to be a starter. Simon can't win tonight, as he left after the seventh inning with the Orioles losing, 3-1, but he deserves a better fate. He held the Yankees to three runs and four hits, with two walks and six strikeouts. That's more impressive than controlling the offensively-challenged Twins in their ballpark. Simon has allowed four...

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Simon found groove and lost it (updated)

August 29, 2011, 4:08pm

Orioles

Simon found groove and lost it (updated)

If that headline sounds familiar, I wrote the same one for Brian Matusz last night. Remember how Matusz retired nine in a row in Game 2 before Mark Teixeira singled with one out in the sixth and Robinson Cano followed with a home run? Well, Alfredo Simon retired nine Yankees in a row tonight before Cano singled with one out in the fourth and Nick Swisher followed with his 21st home run. Yankees 3, Orioles 0. Swisher has six homers in his last seven games. He hit No. 20 last night after...

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Showalter pre-game quotes

August 29, 2011, 3:03pm

Orioles

In case you missed the sight of manager Buck Showalter's voice, here are some comments from his pregame session with the media. On adding players Thursday when rosters can expand: "I think it's got to serve a purpose, whether it be what the club needs or what the organization needs to make better decisions in the offseason. I know Andy (MacPhail) feels the same way. We've got some people in mind that fit, but things could change." On whether Jim Johnson needs to start next month to be...

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A few pregame notes (and Yankees lineup)

August 29, 2011, 1:10pm

Orioles

A few pregame notes (and Yankees lineup)

First baseman Chris Davis will swing a bat tomorrow down in Sarasota as he begins baseball activities. Jason Berken will head to Sarasota later this week to begin a throwing program after his wife is induced at 6 a.m. tomorrow. He'll hold his baby girl before holding a baseball. The Orioles want Berken to pitch in a few games in September before he comes off the disabled list, but the minor league seasons end next week. They might have to organize simulated games at the minor league...

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Orioles lineup against Yankees

August 29, 2011, 11:31am

Orioles

For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Ryan Adams 2B Nolan Reimold LF Robert Andino 3B Alfredo Simon RHP

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Post-Game 2 Showalter

August 28, 2011, 7:03pm

Orioles

J.J. Hardy extended his hitting streak to 11 games tonight. Mark Reynolds has hit in eight straight games, going 13-for-33 (.394). It wasn't all bad. The Orioles lost the nightcap, 8-3, to the Yankees. Brian Matusz gave up three of New York's five home runs, tying his career high, and has lost seven consecutive starts. "He got some balls elevated and had some trouble keeping the ball in the park," manager Buck Showalter said. "Kind of took some of the momentum we had away with (Curtis)...

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This, that and the other

August 28, 2011, 6:30pm

Orioles

Zach Britton threw 120 pitches in Game 1 of yesterday's doubleheader. That's the most by an Orioles starter against the Yankees since Sidney Ponson threw 128 on June 1, 2004 in New York. One of manager Buck Showalter's biggest peeves is young players who join the club and don't know how to bunt because they've hit in the middle of the lineup in the minors and assumed it wouldn't be necessary. He isn't aiming this rant at one particular player. He means just in general. A lot of guys...

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Matusz found groove and lost it (updated twice)

August 28, 2011, 5:26pm

Orioles

Matusz found groove and lost it (updated twice)

The Yankees have hit four home runs tonight to account for all seven of their runs. Three of them came against left-hander Brian Matusz. Their ability to go deep has prevented Matusz from doing the same. He's done after 5 1/3 innings. Robinson Cano just broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth with a two-run shot to left, and Nick Swisher followed with a shot to left that forced manager Buck Showalter to go to his bullpen. Andruw Jones greeted reliever Chris Jakubauskas with a home run, the first time...

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Orioles take early lead (we're tied, 3-3)

August 28, 2011, 3:55pm

Orioles

I'm sure it's just coincidence, but the Orioles are 7-1 when Robert Andino plays third base and 9-3 when Ryan Adams plays second base. Mark Reynolds is batting .413 (12-for-29) with a double, triple, three homers and eight RBIs during his seven-game hitting streak. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was a late scratch with a bruised right knee, the result of a foul ball in Game 1. Nobody said so, but I'm assuming he's day-to-day. Jeter is 7-for-17 lifetime against Orioles left-hander Brian...

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Orioles Game 2 lineup against Yankees

August 28, 2011, 1:52pm

Orioles

Adam Jones remains in center field for Game 2 of today's doubleheader against the Yankees. It's pretty much the same lineup except Craig Tatum is catching and other players have moved up a spot. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Mark Reynolds 1B Ryan Adams 2B Nolan Reimold LF Robert Andino 3B Craig Tatum C Brian Matusz LHP

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Post-Game 1 Showalter

August 28, 2011, 1:23pm

Orioles

The Orioles shut out the Yankees for the first time since April 19, 2008, when Brian Burres and Jim Johnson combined to blank New York. The Orioles have won six games in a row for the first time since April 2-8, 2008. They haven't won seven in a row since 2005. Down on the farm, Brandon Waring hit his 43rd career home run for Double-A Bowie to break the franchise record off 42 held by former first-round pick Keith Reed. Buck Showalter talks with the media about Zach Britton's outing and...

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Britton much better against Yankees (O's win, 2-0)

August 28, 2011, 11:10am

Orioles

Britton much better against Yankees (O's win, 2-0)

Remember the last time Zach Britton faced the Yankees? He retired one batter, was charged with six runs (nine total) and seven hits, and put the Orioles in a huge hole in Game 2 of a doubleheader in New York back on July 30. It's been a different story today. Britton is blanking the Yankees on four hits over six innings, with one walk and five strikeouts. Britton has thrown 110 pitches, including 67 for strikes. He just retired Alex Rodriguez on a bouncer to third baseman Robert Andino to...

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Showalter says Yankees' complaints were "disrespectful to Flanny"

August 28, 2011, 8:26am

Orioles

Showalter says Yankees' complaints were "disrespectful to Flanny"

Manager Buck Showalter knows that the Yankees are chafed at the Orioles for refusing to schedule a doubleheader on Friday and costing them the Sept. 8 off-day. And he really doesn't care. Showalter spoke calmly today, but he didn't pull any punches while addressing the topic with reporters before Game 1. He also referenced the tragic death of former Orioles pitcher Mike Flanagan. "The way I understand, I think they approached Andy (MacPhail) less than 24 hours before," he said. "First of...