Roch Kubatko

Arrieta and Wieters having big nights (updated)

April 19, 2011, 5:04pm

Orioles

Arrieta and Wieters having big nights (updated)

Jake Arrieta finished the sixth inning with his pitch count at 108 and Jason Berken warming in the bullpen. You have to figure that he's done for the night. Oriole starters have posted a 7.71 ERA during the eight-game losing streak, but Arrieta blanked the Twins on four hits. He walked three and struck out four. Arrieta got a huge double play bouncer from Michael Cuddyer after a one-out single by Jim Thome in the sixth. Two of Arrieta's three walks came in succession after Luke Hughes...

Tags:

Roberts adds to RBI total

April 19, 2011, 4:23pm

Orioles

Should Brian Roberts be batting third? How about cleanup? Roberts increased his team-leading RBI total to 14 with a two-out, run-scoring double in the fourth inning. Orioles 4, Twins 0. Once again, Carl Pavano got into trouble with two outs. He hit Matt Wieters and allowed a single to Robert Andino. Roberts followed with a double to right field that scored Wieters. Andino held at third. Roberts produced the Orioles' second extra-base hit this season with runners in scoring position and two...

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles3 brian roberts

It's called a "lead"

April 19, 2011, 3:43pm

Maybe you don't recognize it, but the Orioles have the lead tonight. Matt Wieters singled with two outs in the second inning to score Adam Jones, giving the Orioles a lead for the first time since the eighth inning of Thursday's game in New York. They hadn't been ahead for 39 consecutive innings. Did it seem that long? Robert Andino walked and Brian Roberts singled to deliver two more runs off Twins starter Carl Pavano, who retired the first two batters before Jones singled and Mark...

Arrieta through two innings

April 19, 2011, 3:28pm

Orioles

Last night, Chris Tillman threw 13 pitches in a scoreless first inning. Tonight, Jake Arrieta threw 13 pitches in a scoreless first inning. It means nothing, but I wanted to mention it anyway. Nine of Arrieta's pitches were strikes. His fastball reached 93 mph multiple times. Denard Span singled on the second pitch, but Arrieta retired the next three batters. Twins starter Carl Pavano needed only seven pitches to dispose of the Orioles in the bottom of the first. Brian Roberts swung at...

Tags:

orioles jake arrieta

Showalter talks about Gregg

April 19, 2011, 1:11pm

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter would like to give closer Kevin Gregg more work, which might keep him sharp and prevent the kind of outings that we saw last night. Not that there have been many save chances during this skid, but even a random inning could prove beneficial. "It's certainly something that we're conscious of coming out of spring training, but some of the situations that we've had early in the season haven't been there in perfect situations," Showalter said. "We haven't had a lot...

Tags:

orioles kevin gregg

Matusz progressing, Twins lineup

April 19, 2011, 12:33pm

Orioles

The tarp is coming off the field, but the Orioles won't hit outdoors. Left-hander Brian Matusz reported to the minor league complex today feeling good physically after yesterday's flat-ground session. Exactly the news that the Orioles wanted to hear. Matusz is scheduled to throw from 120 feet tomorrow, the next progression from 60 and 90. "He gets another day or two of that under his belt and we'll progress him to the mound," manager Buck Showalter said. Matusz will need at least...

Tags:

orioles brian matusz

Scott returns to lineup

April 19, 2011, 11:26am

Orioles

It's raining and the tarp's on the field. The clouds seem to be breaking up and we see some clearing. Early word is the storm will pass by 5 p.m., but I've been fooled many times in the past - and that includes the weather. Here's the Orioles' lineup, which includes Luke Scott in left field: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C Robert Andino SS Jake Arrieta RHP

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles luke scott

Waiting for Gregg to be great

April 19, 2011, 4:00am

Orioles

We've grown accustomed to the Orioles crashing in August, though last year proved the exception. I wonder if they're aware that it's still April. Same first letter, different month. The losing streak has reached eight games, but I'm still not in panic mode. That's mostly because it's baseball, which doesn't freak me out unless it forces me to rewrite a game story in the ninth inning or a screaming line drive is headed for my larynx. Still, it's disturbing that the Orioles got off to...

Tags:

orioles chris tillman kevin gregg frontstory_orioles1

Jones: No crying, no pouting

April 18, 2011, 6:42pm

Orioles

May as well hear from Adam Jones, too. "We put ourselves in some situations to get a big hit and we didn't," he said. "Hey, come out tomorrow, stop feeling sorry for ourselves. We don't. No one else in the league is, so we'll just go out and keep playing the game of baseball." "We were a little more aggressive today. We had multiple situations. You never know how the game is going to end until the 27th out is made. We keep fighting until that 27th out, and lately we just haven't been...

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles3 featured_sidebar adam jones

Tillman talks about outing

April 18, 2011, 6:35pm

Orioles

Chris Tillman retired 11 in a row before the final batter reached on Robert Andino's throwing error. He finished strong, but wasn't exactly in the mood to celebrate. "I wouldn't say I'm pleased," he said. "I felt OK about it. It was OK. It wasn't good enough. It's definitely a work in progress here. From the last start to this start, I've come a long way. I still have a lot of work to do, but it was OK." Later, Tillman said he "got excited seeing the results." That's OK, too. He...

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles1 featured_sidebar chris tillman

Postgame Showalter

April 18, 2011, 6:29pm

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter met with the media for about four minutes after tonight's 5-3 loss to the Twins, which ran the Orioles' losing streak to eight games. Manager Buck Showalter talks about Chris Tillman and the Orioles' 5-3 loss to Minnesota Here is a sampling: On Chris Tillman: "He was better. Obviously, they're operating without Morneau and Mauer, but it was good for the most part. He gave us a chance to win. We just didn't give him much offensive support. We knew Liriano was...

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles featured_sidebar chris tillman kevin gregg

Rapada Inn and out (updated twice)

April 18, 2011, 5:36pm

Orioles

Clay Rapada faced four batters tonight in his Orioles debut, and he struck out three of them. All three Twins who fanned were caught looking at the third strike. None of them agreed with the calls from plate umpire Chris Guccione, who handed Twins manager Ron Gardenhire his 53rd career ejection. Jim Thome had to be restrained from going after Guccione. The strikeouts came against three left-handed hitters. That's why Rapada is here. The one batter who didn't strike out, switch-hitting...

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles clay rapada

Tonight's silver lining (updated twice)

April 18, 2011, 4:40pm

Orioles

Chris Tillman hasn't walked a batter in six innings. Tillman walked six in his first three starts covering 12 1/3 innings, including three on the night that he held the Rays hitless. Tillman has allowed three runs and six hits, with five strikeouts. He's retired nine in a row since Michael Cuddyer's double with no outs in the fourth. Nobody is warming in the Orioles' bullpen with Tillman's pitch count at 91, including 58 strikes. The Twins have gone down in order in the third, fifth...

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles1 chris tillman

Early opportunities lost (updated)

April 18, 2011, 4:01pm

Orioles

The Orioles put two runners on base with one out in the first inning on Brian Roberts' leadoff single and Derrek Lee's walk. Francisco Liriano retired the next two batters on a ground ball and called third strike. Jake Fox walked with one out in the second inning, but Matt Wieters grounded into a 5-4-3 double play. Again, the Orioles just can't seem to get that one big hit. Chris Tillman was much better in the third inning, retiring the side in order. He got two ground balls and struck...

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles1

Talking about Tillman, Reimold and Bell (updated)

April 18, 2011, 3:21pm

Orioles

Talking about Tillman, Reimold and Bell (updated)

Chris Tillman got through a scoreless first inning on 13 pitches. That's quite an improvement over his last start in New York, when Alex Rodriguez hit a three-run homer in the opening frame. Tillman's fastball topped out at 92 mph against the Twins. His first heater registered at 87 mph, and the drop in his velocity has become a hot topic considering that he used to touch the mid-90s. He hit 90 at least twice, including his strikeout of Jim Thome to end the inning. Jason Kubel singled with...

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles3 chris tillman josh bell

Feats of Clay Rapada

April 18, 2011, 2:24pm

Orioles

When the Orioles sent Clay Rapada to their minor league camp toward the end of spring training, they never gave him a timetable for a return to the majors. It turned out to be April 18. "They kind of told me to keep doing what I was doing and when the time came, they said to be ready," he said earlier today after reporting to Camden Yards. "I felt like I did what I needed to do in spring training to impress Buck (Showalter). I told him I was going to come in and get lefties out, and...

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles1 clay rapada

Notes and quotes from Showalter (and Twins lineup)

April 18, 2011, 1:24pm

Orioles

Notes and quotes from Showalter (and Twins lineup)

Clay Rapada isn't here to serve exclusively as a left-handed specialist. He'll also be needed to retire right-handed hitters. "He's a guy who has the ability to defend himself against some right-handed hitters, too, so we feel confident he'll be able at times to be able to pitch a clean, full inning," manager Buck Showalter said. "As our rotation gets straightened out a little bit, hopefully the need for longer relief stints isn't as prevalent." Left-handers went 1-for-19 against...

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles3 clay rapada j.j. hardy

Postive reports on Matusz and Hardy

April 18, 2011, 12:35pm

Orioles

The Orioles made their roster moves official. They placed Chris Jakubauskas on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 17, with a strained right groin and purchased the contract of left-hander Clay Rapada from Triple-A Norfolk. Justin Duchscherer was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to create room on the 40-man roster. Jakubauskas began experiencing some tightness in his groin in New York, and he aggravated his condition in Cleveland while fielding a ball and throwing to second...

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles2 brian matusz j.j. hardy

Today's lineup against the Twins

April 18, 2011, 11:30am

Orioles

Jake Fox is making another start in left field today, as the Orioles attempt to break a seven-game losing streak. Otherwise, no major changes to the lineup. Here's the lineup: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Mark Reynolds 3B Adam Jones CF Jake Fox LF Matt Wieters C Robert Andino SS Chris Tillman RHP

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles1 jake fox

The Duchscherer timetable keeps changing

April 18, 2011, 11:04am

Orioles

The Duchscherer timetable keeps changing

Once it became clear that Justin Duchscherer wouldn't be ready for opening night, the Orioles targeted him for an April 10 start. He would be placed in the bullpen until the club needed a fifth starter. Once it became clear that Duchscherer needed more time and innings after making only one appearance in an exhibition game, the Orioles decided to place him on the 15-day disabled list and get him ready for an April 21 start. They're now ready to go with Plan C, which eliminates any...