Roch Kubatko

Jones talks about Hellickson and Guthrie

May 13, 2011, 6:14pm

Orioles

Jones talks about Hellickson and Guthrie

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles center fielder Adam Jones described Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson as "a little different." It was the result that looked familiar. Another pitcher flattened the Orioles' bats. Hellickson went the distance tonight, shutting out the Orioles on four hits, walking one and striking out three. Adam Jones talks about the difficulties the O's had hitting Jeremy Hellickson "He threw everything - first-pitch strikes, curveball, changeup," Jones said. "He just...

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Showalter: "We've got to figure it out"

May 13, 2011, 6:05pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles won last night despite being shut out for the first 11 innings and falling behind by a run in the 12th. They didn't score through nine innings tonight and weren't nearly as fortunate. "We've got to figure it out. Just because we're facing good pitching...that's why they call it the major leagues. You've got to figure it out," said manager Buck Showalter. Gary Thorne asks Buck Showalter about the O's tough 3-0 loss to the Rays Jeremy Guthrie turned...

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The game within the game (updated)

May 13, 2011, 5:00pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter ordered an intentional walk to Rays left fielder Matt Joyce with first base open and two outs in the sixth inning. Another left-handed hitter, Casey Kotchman, stood on deck, but Showalter didn't want the Guthrie-Joyce matchup in that situation. Here's why it made sense: Joyce homered and singled tonight, making him 8-for-20 lifetime against Jeremy Guthrie. Joyce also led the American League in batting before tonight with a .358...

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Roberts still scuffling

May 13, 2011, 4:34pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Brian Roberts stepped to the plate with runners on the corners and two outs in the fifth and the Orioles trailing by two runs. He swung at the first pitch and flied to shallow center field. Roberts is 0-for-3 tonight, making him 3-for-42 since May 1. Mark Reynolds reached on an infield hit after almost striking out for the second time. Plate umpire Ron Kulpa ruled that Reynolds got a piece of the Jeremy Hellickson pitch, which catcher John Jaso couldn't hold. On the...

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Rays grab early lead

May 13, 2011, 3:45pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - It all started so innocently. Jeremy Guthrie retired the side in order on 11 pitches, nine for strikes, in the bottom of the first inning. He induced a bouncer to third base from Rays cleanup hitter Evan Longoria leading off the second. This is the end of the innocence. Mark Reynolds tried to make a barehanded grab, but the ball deflected off his fingers and rolled down the left field line. The official scorer here ruled it a hit, but he easily could have given...

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Pregame Showalter

May 13, 2011, 2:19pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter said his bullpen is in "pretty good shape, all things considered." Unfortunately, he still had to use it last night despite getting nine scoreless innings from rookie Zach Britton. "I've got a couple guys I'll stay away from tonight if I can," Showalter said. One of them is closer Kevin Gregg, who's been used in the last three games. "Kevin's reminded us that he's pitched nine out of 10 days (in the past)," Showalter said. "Somebody...

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More Matusz, Duchscherer update

May 13, 2011, 1:54pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - I promised you one more quote from Brian Matusz, and I won't go back on my word. "It's not hard for me to pump myself up and get excited," he said. "I am excited. I've been excited for a while. It's been tough these last few weeks, being in Sarasota, going out there and feeling good every day. It's been tough because I feel good, I feel healthy, I feel strong, and I want to get out there, but I realize this is my spring training process to get myself ready, so...

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Matusz ready for rehab start

May 13, 2011, 12:53pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Brian Matusz said he felt "real good" during today's bullpen session, and he's looking forward to Monday's injury rehab start at Single-A Frederick. Matusz threw three innings Wednesday in an extended spring training game before joining the Orioles today at Tropicana Field and throwing on the side for bullpen coach Rick Adair. He'll fly to Baltimore on Sunday and pitch the following night for the Keys. "I felt really good. I felt loose and I was hitting my...

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Pie in left, Guerrero on bench

May 13, 2011, 12:06pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Felix Pie is starting in left field tonight against Tampa Bay right-hander Jeremy Hellickson. Luke Scott is serving as the designated hitter. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Felix Pie LF Mark Reynolds 3B Jeremy Guthrie RHP For the Rays: Fuld CF Zobrist RF Damon DH Longoria 3B Joyce LF Kotchman 1B Rodriguez 2B Brignac SS Jaso C Hellickson RHP

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Matusz completes bullpen session

May 13, 2011, 11:04am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz threw his bullpen session earlier this afternoon at Tropicana Field after driving over from the minor league complex in Sarasota. Matusz threw 38 pitches, with bullpen coach Rick Adair keeping a close watch. Adair is serving as pitching coach again tonight while Mark Connor attends his son's graduation from the University of Tennessee law school. Manager Buck Showalter came onto the field to watch the last half of Matusz's...

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Showalter speaks after 2-1, 12-inning win

May 12, 2011, 6:47pm

Orioles

Showalter speaks after 2-1, 12-inning win

Just another night at the office. The game officially ended with one out in the 12th inning when pinch-runner Jake Fox followed Derrek Lee across the plate on J.J. Hardy's single into center field. Showalter toyed with the idea of using pitcher Jeremy Guthrie as a pinch-runner for Vladimir Guerrero at second base, which might not have brought the desired result after Mariners shortstop Luis Rodriguez made a diving stop with the bases loaded to rob Matt Wieters. "We had a running bet...

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Trop of the morning to you

May 12, 2011, 5:54pm

Orioles

I must say, 4:45 a.m. arrived pretty early this morning. That makes sense, right? Why am I up at 4:45 a.m.? Because I have a 7:45 a.m. Southwest flight to Tampa that's not going to wait for me, unless the pilot is a big fan of the blog. (I know there's an "upright and locked position" joke in there, but we'll leave it alone.) I'm covering the three-game series at Tropicana Field. Jeremy Guthrie vs. Jeremy Hellickson tonight (all Jeremy's get in for half-price), Brad Bergesen vs....

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Quick trivia question (with answer & final update)

May 12, 2011, 5:15pm

Orioles

Quick trivia question (with answer & final update)

Name the last Orioles pitcher to throw nine scoreless innings and get a no-decision. I'll trust you not to look up the answer. And no, you can't say Zach Britton. I mean before him. Kevin Gregg walked the leadoff hitter in the top of the 10th. That's never good. The Mariners didn't get a runner to second base until the 10th, but Mike Wilson bounced into a double play to bail out Gregg. Answer: Mike Morgan on April 16, 1988. Here's another one for you: Name the last major league...

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Britton through, yes, nine innings (updated twice)

May 12, 2011, 4:51pm

Orioles

Britton through, yes, nine innings (updated twice)

Zach Britton has completed eight innings, and the Mariners are stuck on three hits and no walks. No runs, either. Britton has struck out four, and he's the first Orioles starter to finish eight innings since Jeremy Guthrie on opening day. Unfortunately, the Orioles haven't scored for him tonight. Britton has thrown 98 pitches, including 69 for strikes. He needed only eight pitches to complete the eighth, getting a fly ball, line drive and grounder up the middle that Brian Roberts...

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Make mine a double play (updated)

May 12, 2011, 4:00pm

Orioles

The Orioles have hit into three double plays in the first three innings. That's the maximum allowed, as far as I know. Brian Roberts singled in the first inning, and Nick Markakis grounded into a DP. Adam Jones and Matt Wieters singled in the second inning, and J.J. Hardy grounded into a DP. Robert Andino singled in the third - and you wanted him out of the lineup! - and Roberts grounded into a DP. The Orioles have stranded only one runner in three innings, so let's choose to look on the...

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Roberts' early hitting already pays off

May 12, 2011, 3:20pm

Orioles

Brian Roberts singled into center field leading off the bottom of the first inning. And you wanted him benched tonight! Roberts snapped an 0-for-26 slump. He hadn't collected a hit since May 4 in Kansas City. Roberts is 3-for-37 this month, so he still has some catching up to do. And speaking of catching... A male fan caught two fouls balls from Chone Figgins during the same at-bat in the first inning. It pays to bring your glove. The fan was standing behind the last row of seats in...

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A few pregame comments from Showalter (updated)

May 12, 2011, 1:03pm

Orioles

A few pregame comments from Showalter (updated)

In my "1993 brawl" entry, I meant to point out that Cal Ripken's streak almost ended because of a knee injury sustained when he got caught in the bottom of a pile. Thanks to TomD for the reminder. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells worked on the knee the next day after Ripken said he wouldn't be able to play. The rest is baseball history. The Sun didn't report the injury because it went unnoticed with all the fights that broke out that afternoon. Once I joined the beat fulltime in...

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Just the facts

May 12, 2011, 12:34pm

Orioles

Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz will likely make two injury rehab starts before the Orioles consider activating him from the disabled list. Matusz is scheduled to throw a bullpen session tomorrow afternoon at Tropicana Field, fly back to Baltimore and start Monday night at Single-A Frederick. He will probably join Triple-A Norfolk and start the May 21 game against Louisville at Harbor Park. Manager Buck Showalter said the only way Matusz could be activated after one minor league game is if...

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Andino in left field tonight

May 12, 2011, 11:30am

Orioles

J.J. Hardy moves up to seventh in the lineup after batting ninth and eighth this season, and Robert Andino replaces Luke Scott in left field against Mariners left-hander Jason Vargas. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino LF Zach Britton LHP For the Mariners: Ichiro RF Figgins 3B Smoak 1B Olivo C Cust DH M. Wilson LF J. Wilson 2B Rodriguez SS Saunders CF...