Roch Kubatko

Orioles trail 7-0 in 5th, game still on FOX

May 07, 2011, 10:42am

Orioles

Tampa Bay has seven baserunners in four innings and has scored four runs. The Orioles have seven baserunners in four innings and are being shut out. Rays left fielder Sam Fuld raced toward the line and made a diving catch to deny Robert Andino in the fourth with two outs and Matt Wieters on second base. Wieters has walked twice. In Jeremy Guthrie's last five starts before today, the Orioles scored six runs while he was in the game and were held scoreless in three of those games while he was...

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Quick Matusz update (plus Hardy and Machado)

May 07, 2011, 7:50am

Orioles

Quick Matusz update (plus Hardy and Machado)

Brian Matusz went two innings today in an extended spring training game in Sarasota, and he threw 12-15 pitches in each inning. He faced six batters, and more important, he felt good. Matusz is scheduled to pitch again on Wednesday, and he'll go three innings. If Matusz stays on schedule, he could be activated on May 21 or 26. He would be limited to five innings (depending on pitch count) if he comes off the disabled list on the earlier date, so the condition of the bullpen could play a big...

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Orioles lineup against Tampa Bay

May 07, 2011, 6:16am

Orioles

The Orioles' lineup for today's 1:10 p.m. game on Fox includes Matt Wieters behind the plate. He's catching a day game after a night game. Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP Guthrie will aim for his eighth consecutive quality start against the Rays. Scott is batting .326 (14-43) with two doubles, four homers, 10 RBIs and six runs scored in his last 11...

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Showalter speaks after 6-2 loss

May 06, 2011, 6:49pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter wasn't going to use the rain as an excuse for tonight's 6-2 loss. It's not like the Rays were inside a dome. Buck Showalter meets with the media to discuss the Birds' 6-2 loss to the Rays "This is not a perfect-condition sport," he said. "You have to deal with all of it - cold, wind, rain. It's part of it. We've played in a lot worse." The Orioles are 2-14 when scoring three runs or fewer. Showalter was asked whether he's concerned that the lack...

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Berken a little better, Hardy update (and Uehara)

May 06, 2011, 5:20pm

Orioles

Berken a little better, Hardy update (and Uehara)

Reliever Jason Berken didn't allow a run tonight, which is significant if you consider that he permitted seven in his last five appearances. It wasn't exactly a clean outing for Berken, who gave up three hits, issued an intentional walk and struck out two in 1 1/3 innings, but his ERA is down to 5.02. He had surrendered 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings in those five previous games. That qualifies as a slump. Berken replaced Zach Britton with one out in the sixth and allowed two straight singles. He...

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Britton turns in shortest outing (updated)

May 06, 2011, 4:42pm

Orioles

Britton turns in shortest outing (updated)

You can't count on anything these days. Zach Britton failed to make it through the sixth inning tonight for the first time in seven major league starts. He retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced, but manager Buck Showalter went to his bullpen with the left-hander's pitch count at 95. Jason Berken replaced Britton, who allowed all three runs and all four hits in the second inning. Britton walked one and struck out four. James Shields continues to blank the Orioles on one hit, Vladimir...

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Tatum removed for pinch-hitter (updated)

May 06, 2011, 4:11pm

Orioles

Tatum removed for pinch-hitter (updated)

There's always intrigue down on the farm. Craig Tatum was catching tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, but backup John Hester pinch-hit for him in the bottom of the second inning. Tatum never received an at-bat in the game. Is he hurt? Did the Orioles pull him from the game so they could make a roster move? Wouldn't they have held him out of the starting lineup if that were the case? Am I speculating too much? Update: I'm told that Tatum was removed because of slight shoulder soreness. Back...

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Britton gives up three runs, Hardy walks

May 06, 2011, 3:34pm

Orioles

Britton gives up three runs, Hardy walks

Zach Britton was impressive in the first inning, retiring the side in order on 12 pitches, but he allowed back-to-back doubles and a two-run homer leading off the second to fall behind, 3-0. Britton got a grounder and two fly balls in the first. The first two fly balls in the second, from Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton, reached the right field fence. The fly ball from Brandon Guyer cleared the left-center field fence. That's not nearly as good. Guyer was batting for the first time in the...

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Machado has dislocated kneecap

May 06, 2011, 2:48pm

Orioles

Orioles shortstop prospect Manny Machado dislocated his kneecap last night and will likely go on the seven-day disabled list. Machado, playing for Single-A Delmarva, suffered the injury in the first inning while running to third base. He was carried off the field and underwent an MRI today that confirmed the dislocation. Team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens will examine Machado on Monday or Tuesday. The Orioles are optimistic that he'll be ready to play again before the seven days are...

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Rays lineup, more stuff

May 06, 2011, 1:01pm

Orioles

For Tampa Bay: Sean Rodriguez 2B Ben Zobrist RF Johnny Damon DH Evan Longoria 3B B.J. Upton CF Brandon Guyer LF Kelly Shoppach C Dan Johnson 1B Elliot Johnson SS James Shields RHP Orioles manager Buck Showalter doesn't seem concerned about minor league shortstop Manny Machado's left knee. He's waiting for the results of today's MRI, but conversations with team officials didn't send up any red flags. "Initially, they didn't think it was anything serious," Showalter said. "They were...

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Updates on Matusz and Hardy

May 06, 2011, 12:34pm

Orioles

Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz will pitch twice at extended spring training, his first start coming tomorrow, before he reports to one of the affiliates on his injury rehab assignment. Matusz will make his first start for an affiliate on May 16, according to manager Buck Showalter. As the plan is currently constructed, Matusz will throw two to three innings tomorrow at Twin Lakes Park and three to four innings in his next start. He'll go at least four innings in his first start with a...

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Orioles lineup

May 06, 2011, 12:22pm

Orioles

Here is the Orioles lineup for tonight's series opener against Tampa Bay: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino SS Zach Britton LHP

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Early news on Machado encouraging

May 06, 2011, 11:25am

Orioles

The Orioles are encouraged by the preliminary reports on Single-A Delmarva shortstop Manny Machado's left knee. The club will know more after receiving the results of Machado's MRI, but director of player development John Stockstill is hopeful that it's a "few days" thing. Machado will undergo an MRI in Asheville, N.C. this afternoon, and team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens will view the results later tonight and lay out a diagnosis. Machado was walking around fairly easily last night...

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Looking at the Orioles vs. Shields

May 06, 2011, 7:36am

Orioles

Mark Reynolds batted .198 last year for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He's hitting .198 going into tonight's series-opener against the Tampa Bay Rays. This .198 looks a lot better than the other one. Reynolds has gone 4-for-6 over his last two games after a 5-for-53 slump. He's collected at least one hit in five of his last seven games. Maybe he'll clear the Mendoza Line tonight. Reynolds went 1-for-3 with two strikeouts in his only previous game against Rays starter James...

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Talking Tillman, the farm and ratings (and Machado)

May 05, 2011, 6:53pm

Orioles

Talking Tillman, the farm and ratings (and Machado)

The Orioles are back home tonight against the Rays, and Zach Britton is back on the mound. A Friday night, Britton pitching, a division rival. Let's hope for a little atmosphere at Camden Yards. He'll need to stick around longer than Chris Tillman did in Kansas City. Tillman lasted only 3 2/3 innings yesterday and raised more concerns about his long-term future in the rotation and the organization. Tillman's dragged down by a 7.16 ERA and much higher expectations. He's a riddle in some...

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Machado exits with injured knee (updated)

May 05, 2011, 4:57pm

Orioles

Machado exits with injured knee (updated)

Single-A Delmarva shortstop

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Rupe a silver lining in 9-1 loss (updated)

May 05, 2011, 1:36pm

Orioles

Rupe a silver lining in 9-1 loss (updated)

It's hard to find anything positive to say about a 9-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals, but I'll focus on reliever Josh Rupe. Rupe replaced starter Chris Tillman in the fourth and tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings. He allowed only one hit, walked one and struck out two, and lowered his ERA from 7.59 to 5.65. Welcome back to Kansas City, Josh. Rupe had surrendered nine earned runs and 15 hits in his last seven appearances covering 9 2/3 innings. Clay Rapada replaced Rupe and served up Melky...

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Tillman gone after 3 2/3 innings

May 05, 2011, 12:29pm

Orioles

I didn't make it back home from Bowie before Chris Tillman had walked off the mound for the last time. Tillman lasted only 3 2/3 innings in today's start in Kansas City, allowing eight runs and 10 hits to raise his ERA to 7.16. I wonder if manager Buck Showalter will mention pitch sequences again in his post-game session with the media. Tillman threw a flat breaking ball on a 2-2 count to the Royals' No. 8 hitter, Brayan Pena, in the fourth inning. He threw the same pitch with the count...

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Simon talks about today's start

May 05, 2011, 11:05am

Orioles

Alfredo Simon threw 81 pitches in five innings today in his first start on his rehab assignment, which ended with Harrisburg defeating Bowie, 8-6. The Senators scored twice in the ninth off Brandon Cooney. Simon read his prepared statement in one of the third-level suites at Prince George's Stadium and took questions from reporters related to today's outing. The entire session lasted about six minutes. Alfredo Simon talks about his rehab start with Double-A Bowie "I feel great. My pitches...