Roch Kubatko

Showalter shows faith in Davis

June 25, 2011, 4:33am

Orioles

If you told me back in March that the biggest buzz yesterday would be created by Blake Davis' return to the lineup, I would have handed you a small plastic cup and pointed you toward the bathroom. Then I would have remembered that I'm not in the medical profession and have no real reason to test you for mind-altering drugs, and we would have shared a laugh. Then you would have reported me to the authorities. Anyway, Davis wasn't on the 40-man roster and wasn't invited to spring training....

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Nobody doesn't like Derrek Lee tonight

June 24, 2011, 7:54pm

Orioles

Well, unless you're a Reds fan. First baseman Derrek Lee hit the third walk-off home run of his career, the others coming May 11, 2005 off Heath Bell and July 3, 2000 off Turk Wendell. Yes, Lee's been playing this game for a while. Derrek Lee after his dramatic walk-off home run in the bottom of the 12th Friday night against the Reds "I hit that one good," he said of tonight's shot into the left field seats off Cincinnati's Jose Arrendondo. "It felt good to finally get one over the...

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Showalter speaks after 5-4, 12-inning win

June 24, 2011, 7:46pm

Orioles

Showalter speaks after 5-4, 12-inning win

Like everyone else in the Orioles' dugout, manager Buck Showalter was happy for first baseman Derrek Lee, who hit the walk-off home run that produced a 5-4 win in 12 innings. Buck Showalter's postgame comments after Friday's uplifting 5-4 win against Cincinnati "I'm happy for us, too," Showalter said. "That's a really good club over there. I said before, they won the National League Central in a tough division. MVP, three Gold Glove guys, a great manager. That was a battle. And I...

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Another opportunity goes up in flames (Lee with the walk-off)

June 24, 2011, 6:51pm

Orioles

Another opportunity goes up in flames (Lee with the walk-off)

The Orioles blew a 4-0 lead tonight. Now they've blown another chance to end this game. J.J. Hardy opened the bottom of the 11th inning with a double to center field off Cincinnati reliever Jose Arredondo, the ball deflecting off Drew Stubbs' glove as he slowed near the warning track. Nick Markakis swung at the next pitch and grounded to third baseman Scott Rolen. Pull the ball and Hardy advances to third with one out. Or bunt him over. That was the crucial at-bat of the inning. Adam...

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Johnson and Johnson (updated)

June 24, 2011, 5:37pm

Orioles

Orioles reliever Jim Johnson stranded two runners in scoring position to keep the score tied in the seventh inning. Naturally, the rally started with two outs when Scott Rolen singled and Jay Bruce followed with a ground-rule double to center. Jonny Gomes hit a tapper to the third base side of the mound and Johnson initially froze, assuming that the ball hit Gomes' foot and would be ruled foul. He finally reacted and made a strong throw that barely beat Gomes to the bag. First baseman...

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Jakubauskas falters in fifth (game tied in sixth)

June 24, 2011, 4:44pm

Orioles

Jakubauskas falters in fifth (game tied in sixth)

Chris Jakubauskas shut out the Reds through four innings, no small feat considering they began the night having scored the third-most runs in the majors with 364. Their .261 average ranked seventh. Jakubauskas issued a two-out walk to leadoff hitter Chris Heisey in the fifth, moving former Orioles catcher Ramon Hernandez to second base. You could guess what would happen next. Brandon Phillips followed with a two-run double, and he scored on Joey Votto's double. Orioles 4, Reds 3. Scott...

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Davis gets first major league hit and RBIs (Jones homers)

June 24, 2011, 3:49pm

Orioles

Davis gets first major league hit and RBIs (Jones homers)

Great crowd here tonight for the Reds and fireworks. If this game isn't a sell-out, it will be pretty close to one. Random stat of the night: Opponents are batting .375 off Cincinnati right-hander Edinson Volquez with the bases empty and no outs, the fourth-highest average in the National League. J.J. Hardy grounded out leading off the first, and Derrek Lee walked leading off the second. Lee took third on Matt Wieters' ground-rule double, which halted a 2-for-21 stretch. Mark Reynolds...

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Quick pregame hits

June 24, 2011, 12:19pm

Orioles

PItcher Alfredo Simon threw today in Sarasota without any hamstring issues and is scheduled to throw one or two innings Sunday at Double-A Bowie. He's eligible to come off the disabled list on Tuesday. Jake Arrieta will throw a light bullpen session today. Arrieta says his right elbow feels better and he remains scheduled to start Wedneday night against the Cardinals at Camden Yards. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters that second baseman Brian Roberts is having wisdom teeth removed. He...

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Blake Davis gets another start

June 24, 2011, 11:34am

Orioles

Blake Davis will make his second major league start tonight. Vladimir Guerrero returns to the lineup. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Derrek Lee 1B Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Blake Davis 2B Chris Jakubauskas RHP

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Seeing Reds this weekend (plus notes and Reds lineup)

June 24, 2011, 9:03am

Orioles

Seeing Reds this weekend (plus notes and Reds lineup)

It's funny how almost 41 years have passed and I still associate the Cincinnati Reds with the 1970 World Series. It's not as funny when I link the Pittsburgh Pirates to the 1971 and '79 World Series. The Orioles begin their interleague homestand tonight against the Reds, who are making their first visit to Camden Yards. Edinson Volquez will try to lower his career 5.59 ERA against the Orioles. Game 1 of the '70 Series took place at Riverfront Stadium, the first time that the Fall Classic...

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Is a second baseman the first priority?

June 23, 2011, 9:48pm

Orioles

I'll begin this entry by congratulating shortstop Manny Machado for hitting a home run last night in his first game with Single-A Frederick. Machado went deep in his second at-bat with the Keys, and I've heard it was a moon shot. Machado was 1-for-4 and accounted for Frederick's only run in a 2-1 loss to Winston-Salem. I think the kid needs more hype. We haven't written enough about him. The Cincinnati Reds have arrived in Baltimore, which will conjure up plenty of memories and anecdotes...

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Notes on Tillman, Machado and Schoop

June 23, 2011, 11:04am

Orioles

For the first time in three outings, Triple-A Norfolk's Chris Tillman didn't have a start cut short by the weather. Unfortunately, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre forced his early exit this afternoon. Tillman allowed five earned runs (six total) and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out four. His ERA rose to 4.56. Tillman threw 97 pitches, 62 for strikes. Tillman's last start ended after a 42-minute rain delay. He allowed one unearned run over 3 2/3 innings. Jake Fox, who's...

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Random thoughts and concerns

June 22, 2011, 6:46pm

Orioles

The Orioles are off today, which pretty much matches their play for most of the road trip. See if you can tell the difference. Here's one way to do it: There won't be a final score later. If we're led to believe that the Orioles are improved - and their record compared to last season points to that truth - they can't lose four of six games against the Nationals and Pirates. OK, those teams are improved, too, but the Orioles need to be ... more improved. They need to beat these clubs if...

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A second look at Blake Davis

June 22, 2011, 2:37pm

Orioles

Before closing the book on today's 5-4 loss to the Pirates - and if an Orioles starter tried to do it, he'd probably pinch a finger and have his turn skipped - I wanted to revisit Blake Davis' major league debut. Davis went 0-for-4, though he made solid contact in his first two at-bats and advanced both runners with his drive to left-center field. But his day will be defined by his error that allowed two runs to score and gave the Pirates their final lead. I've seen Davis play second base...

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Orioles end road trip with 5-4 loss (Davis quotes)

June 22, 2011, 11:17am

Orioles

The Orioles fell to 10-15 in series finales with today's 5-4 loss to the Pirates. The road trip is finally over. They lost two games in Toronto, two in Washington and two in Pittsburgh. Not exactly how you'd draw it up. The Orioles are back to being a season-worst six games below .500. And now they've got the Reds and Cardinals coming to Camden Yards, followed by another three-city road trip, this one cutting through Atlanta, Arlington and Boston. Zach Britton turned in another quality...

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Davis has "welcome to the majors" moment

June 22, 2011, 10:14am

Orioles

Davis has "welcome to the majors" moment

This isn't how Blake Davis wants to remember his major league debut. Davis let a sharp two-out ground ball from Josh Harrison scoot through his legs in the fifth inning, allowing two runs to score and giving the Pirates a 5-4 lead. Zach Britton should have been out of the inning. Instead, he's trailing again and his pitch count continues to increase. It's up to 70 through the fifth. Britton isn't blameless here, of course, He surrendered back-to-back singles to open the fifth. He's...

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Arrieta's elbow an issue (updated twice)

June 22, 2011, 9:00am

Orioles

Arrieta's elbow an issue (updated twice)

Nick Markakis extended his hitting streak to 13 games today with a double in the first inning. I just wanted to make sure everyone knew about it. The Pirates lead, 2-0, as we head to the top of the second inning. Update: Markakis singled in the third to score Zach Britton, who collected his second major league hit and moved up on J.J. Hardy's single. That's two hits for Markakis in two at-bats. Adam Jones tied the game with a grounder. Orioles pitchers are 6-for-13 on this trip. Update...

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Blake Davis gets first major league start

June 22, 2011, 6:31am

Orioles

Blake Davis gets first major league start

Blake Davis is in the starting lineup today at second base. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Derrek Lee 1B Matt Wieters C Luke Scott LF Mark Reynolds 3B Blake Davis 2B Zach Britton LHP Orioles pitchers are a combined 5-for-12 (.417) at the plate this year with two doubles and two RBIs. All other AL teams are a combined 9-for-120 (.075). Britton recorded his first major league hit Friday in Washington. The Orioles have collected 62 hits in the last five...

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While waiting for the first pitch...

June 21, 2011, 7:02pm

Orioles

The Orioles and Pirates have a 12:35 p.m. game today at PNC Park, which means an early lineup posting and a free night. I'm talking about myself. I don't care what they do. Zach Britton is taking the mound for the 15th time today. Nine of his outings have resulted in quality starts. I'd settle for him getting through the game without an injury. Brad Bergesen probably woke up with a bruise on the right side of his back after being nailed by Jose Tabata's liner last night. I've woke...

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A losing road trip

June 21, 2011, 6:42pm

Orioles

A 9-3 loss to the Pirates tonight assures the Orioles of finishing below .500 on this nine-game, three-city road trip. During his interview that aired on MASN, Jeremy Guthrie told reporters that he felt very comfortable. The back wasn't an issue, and neither was an adjusted throwing schedule leading up to tonight's start. What hurts is the 2-9 record.