Roch Kubatko

Matusz done after 5 2/3 innings (O's take lead)

June 01, 2011, 1:21pm

Orioles

Matusz done after 5 2/3 innings (O's take lead)

I thought the Orioles would push Brian Matusz a little farther today after he threw 83 pitches in his final injury rehab start at Triple-A Norfolk. Matusz was removed today after 84 pitches, including 52 strikes. He held the Mariners to one run and four hits, with no walks and three strikeouts. Matusz would have completed six innings, except first baseman Nick Markakis - it still feels weird typing that position for him - couldn't pull down third baseman Mark Reynolds' high throw with two...

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Matusz through the third

June 01, 2011, 12:39pm

Orioles

Brian Matusz doesn't necessarily have his best stuff today. He's hung a few changeups, including one that Jack Wilson ripped into center field for an RBI single. His fastball looks like it's topping out at 88 mph. But Matusz is a pitcher. He's not just a thrower. And he's held the Mariners to that one run over three innings. Matusz, in his first start this season, has allowed four hits, walked none and struck out two. He's thrown 44 pitches, including 28 for strikes. The Orioles might...

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Wieters not catching on with voters (updated)

June 01, 2011, 11:58am

Orioles

Wieters not catching on with voters (updated)

Nick Markakis flied to center field in his first professional at-bat as a first baseman. Matt Wieters struck out in his first at-bat this season as the cleanup hitter. That's it, trash the experiments immediately. Oh wait, Markakis just scooped out a throw in the dirt to complete a double play. Keep him there. Wieters is hitting fourth in his fourth major league game. He's 1-for-13 with a walk and 2 RBIs. Major League Baseball released its All-Star voting for the American League, and...

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Markakis starting at first base (updated)

June 01, 2011, 9:58am

Orioles

Markakis starting at first base (updated)

You want a different lineup? How about Nick Markakis making his first professional start at first base, Felix Pie playing right field, Luke Scott serving as the designated hitter and Matt Wieters batting cleanup? For the Orioles: Felix Pie RF Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis 1B Matt Wieters C Luke Scott DH J.J. Hardy SS Nolan Reimold LF Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino 2B Brian Matusz LHP Update: Vladimir Guerrero is getting a day off. His exclusion from the lineup isn't related to an...

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Fox DFA to make room for Matusz

June 01, 2011, 9:39am

Orioles

Rather than send down a reliever to make room on the 25-man roster for left-hander Brian Matusz, the Orioles have designated utility infielder Jake Fox for assignment. The Orioles would like Fox to clear waivers so he can be outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. "I don't know how likely that is, but that's our preference," said president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. Otherwise, MacPhail will attempt to trade Fox and get something in return. First baseman Derrek Lee is close to going...

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And when the Smoak clears ... (updated)

May 31, 2011, 8:25pm

Orioles

Jeremy Guthrie took a three-hit shutout into the eighth inning, retired the first two batters, committed an error, gave up a single and hung a changeup. This is how losing streaks continue and why fans curse their decision to stay awake. Justin Smoak hit a towering three-run homer off Guthrie to give Seattle a 3-2 lead. Koji Uehara grabbed his glove after Brendan Ryan's single into right field, but he barely had time to step on the bullpen mound before Smoak destroyed the Orioles, 2-0...

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Matusz on the mound

May 31, 2011, 8:11pm

Orioles

In case you're having trouble keeping track of all the starting times on this road trip, today's game in Seattle begins at 3:40 p.m. on the East Coast. Welcome back, Brian Matusz. I've written this before, but I can't believe it's been two months since Matusz was supposed to make his 2011 debut at Tropicana Field. It was April 2, to be exact, and Matusz was inconsolable after being scratched from his start, sent for an MRI and placed on the disabled list. A wart, a line drive off his...

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Bedard not making it easy (updated twice)

May 31, 2011, 6:56pm

Orioles

Bedard not making it easy (updated twice)

Former Oriole Erik Bedard has struck out five batters over three scoreless innings tonight. He's thrown 32 strikes among his 44 pitches, and the only hit off him is Nick Markakis' single with two outs in the first. Bedard was 3-0 with a 1.09 ERA in his last five starts before tonight. He's thrown 18 consecutive scoreless innings, including the three tonight. I guess he's healthy again. If Jeremy Guthrie thought this would be the night that he'd get a generous amount of run support,...

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Jones back in Orioles lineup

May 31, 2011, 3:08pm

Orioles

Adam Jones has returned to the lineup tonight after being restricted to pinch-running duty yesterday because of a sore right shoulder. He'll face former Orioles left-hander Erik Bedard. They crossed paths in a certain trade back in February 2008. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Luke Scott 1B Nolan Reimold LF J.J. Hardy SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP

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Power outage

May 31, 2011, 11:11am

Orioles

The Orioles have collected just three extra-base hits - two doubles and a home run - over 36 innings in the four games of this current road trip. In those four games, the Orioles have drawn 16 walks, but only two of those runners have scored. Mark Reynolds' home run yesterday was the first for the Orioles in 38 2/3 innings since the second inning of a May 26 game. Four of the Orioles' regulars have combined for nine doubles and no homers in their last 245 at-bats. Matt Wieters has three...

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Talking about Fox, Jones and Markakis

May 30, 2011, 6:17pm

Orioles

While wondering if former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel's next contract will include a vesting option ... And while wondering if anyone got that joke ... If I'm Jake Fox, I'm wondering where I fit on this team. Fox didn't pinch-hit yesterday despite having a few opportunities. I explained in one entry why he isn't an automatic choice with a left-hander on the mound, considering that he's 3-for-28 against them this season and is a career .206 hitter against them. But playing...

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Simon keeps it simple (Orioles lose 4-3)

May 30, 2011, 2:20pm

Orioles

Alfredo Simon kept today's game at Safeco Field from spinning out of control. If the Orioles brought their bats, he might be in line to get the win. Simon struck out the first two batters he faced to leave the bases loaded in the third inning and keep Jake Arrieta's line from growing uglier. He gave manager Buck Showalter 3 1/2 scoreless innings, allowing only two hits, walking one and striking out four. Just what the doctor ordered. And the manager. Simon threw 55 pitches over two...

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Another bullpen day? (updated twice)

May 30, 2011, 12:38pm

Orioles

While wondering why Major League Baseball insists that teams celebrate Memorial Day by wearing ugly caps... Matt Wieters commits his first error and Jack Cust triples. So it's going to be that kind of a day? Jake Arrieta threw 24 pitches in the first inning while surrendering two runs to the Mariners and putting the Orioles in an early hole. Arrieta receives a lot of run support. He'll need at least three today. Arrieta gave up two hits, including Cust's first three-bagger, and...

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Orioles lineup doesn't include Jones

May 30, 2011, 10:57am

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter waited longer than usual to post his lineup today. He had to check on Adam Jones, who apparently needed one more day to lessen the discomfort in his right shoulder. For the Orioles: Felix Pie CF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Luke Scott 1B Nolan Reimold LF Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino 2B Jake Arrieta RHP Also, the Orioles made their roster move official earlier today by announcing that they recalled pitcher Chris...

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Worth noting (updated)

May 30, 2011, 8:03am

Orioles

Center fielder Adam Jones told reporters yesterday that his sore shoulder wasn't going to force him onto the disabled list and he expected to play today against the Mariners at Safeco Field. If he needs added incentive, Jones went 8-for-14 (.571) with two doubles, a triple, five RBIs, and a walk against his former team during a May 10-12 series at Camden Yards. Update: The Sun's Jeff Zrebiec tweeted that Jones isn't in today's lineup, but the center fielder says his shoulder feels better...

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This, that and the other

May 29, 2011, 7:44pm

Orioles

The five open dates in June provide more than just rest for the Orioles. They allow manager Buck Showalter and president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail to more easily practice what they preach. If you're not doing the job, we'll find someone else who will. Brad Bergesen and Chris Tillman weren't getting through the middle innings consistently. They weren't making the kind of progress expected and needed of them. It figured to be one or the other when the Orioles had to create room...

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Tillman also optioned, Jones update

May 29, 2011, 3:17pm

Orioles

Chris Tillman beat out Brad Bergesen for a spot in the Orioles' rotation. That victory lasted one day. Manager Buck Showalter hinted earlier today that another roster move could be coming, and it happened after the game with Tillman being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. The Sun's Jeff Zrebiec and MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli tweeted that Chris Jakubauskas is expected to join the team in Seattle, giving Showalter another long reliever. The Orioles have five open dates on their June schedule...

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A career day for Zach Britton

May 29, 2011, 2:08pm

Orioles

I don't mean it in a good way. Zach Britton allowed a career-high six runs and 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings today before Jeremy Accardo replaced him. Britton gave up five runs on April 15 in Cleveland. He surrendered nine hits in his last start against the Royals at Camden Yards. Britton threw 97 pitches today, 57 for strikes. And once again, manager Buck Showalter is forced to go to his bullpen earlier than desired. In this series, Orioles' starters have logged 4 1/3, 5 2/3 and 5 2/3...

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Orioles take lead, lose Jones (and lose lead)

May 29, 2011, 1:25pm

Orioles

The Orioles have gotten pretty good at loading the bases with no outs. This time, they did more than come away frustrated. They're taking a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth. J.J. Hardy reached on an infield hit to open the fifth. Mark Reynolds grounded a single into left field and Robert Andino reached on a fielder's choice after laying down a bunt that was meant to advance two runners. Oakland starter Guillermo Moscoso tried unsuccessfully for the out at third. Felix Pie followed...

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The Matusz-Britton connection (updated)

May 29, 2011, 12:05pm

Orioles

They're left-handed and their paychecks are distributed by the Orioles, but there's more to the connection between Brian Matusz and Zach Britton. Britton wouldn't have made his major league debut April 3 without Matusz going on the disabled list. The Orioles are 1-11 in Oakland since 2008. The one victory was provided by Matusz. And I seem to recall guaranteeing it. Matusz threw a bullpen session today in Oakland, the last step before making his 2011 debut Wednesday in Seattle. It...