Roch Kubatko

Bergesen holding on

September 08, 2010, 11:03am

Orioles

My daughter just announced that she doesn't have school tomorrow and she doesn't know why. I'll explain it to her later. Brad Bergesen has held the Yankees to one run and three hits over six innings, and he continues to cling to a 2-1 lead. He's thrown 91 pitches, two of them resulting in fly balls to the warning track in the sixth. You can exhale now. I wouldn't want your face turning blue. Bergesen was 0-2 with a 10.38 ERA in two career starts against the Yankees, both in the Bronx,...

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Putting out the welcome Matt

September 08, 2010, 10:26am

Orioles

It took a while - an uncomfortable amount of time - but the Orioles finally broke through against Yankees right-hander Ivan Nova. Adam Jones opened the fifth inning with an infield hit, took second on a wild pitch - Nova's first in the majors - and scored on Matt Wieters' two-run homer to left. Orioles 2, Yankees 1. Wieters went to the opposite field on a 3-0 pitch, his 11th homer of the season, after Nova carried a two-hit shutout into the fifth. Wieters began the day 14-for-35 (.400)...

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Today's lineups

September 08, 2010, 7:22am

Orioles

For the Orioles: 2B Brian Roberts RF Nick Markakis 1B Ty Wigginton DH Luke Scott LF Felix Pie CF Adam Jones C Matt Wieters SS Cesar Izturis 3B Josh Bell RHP Brad Bergesen For the Yankees: LF Brett Gardner SS Derek Jeter DH Mark Teixeira 3B Alex Rodriguez 2B Robinson Cano RF Nick Swisher 1B Lance Berkman CF Curtis Granderson C Francisco Cervelli RHP Ivan Nova The Orioles have clinched their first series win on 161st St. since Sept. 11-13, 2009. They've won three straight games against...

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Where were you in June 1986?

September 08, 2010, 2:51am

Orioles

Former USC running back Reggie Bush will reportedly be stripped of his Heisman Trophy. Bush says he was promised that any stripping would include one of the Kardashian sisters. I want to begin my morning by wishing a very Happy Birthday to good friends and former colleagues Jeff Zrebiec and Peter Schmuck. They were born on the same day, but I'm not sure if they're celebrating together. They usually take turns jumping out of the cake. With Koji Uehara unavailable last night, I assured a...

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See see ya later

September 07, 2010, 5:17pm

Orioles

The Orioles ran up CC Sabathia's pitch count tonight and watched him walk off the mound in the seventh inning. Sabathia is gone after 6 1/3, with Nick Markakis' RBI single the final blow. Sabathia will win 20 games this season, but he won't reach that milestone tonight. What a sweet piece of hitting by Markakis, who again slapped the ball to the left side and through the hole between short and third. Sabathia allowed nine hits and exited with the Orioles ahead, 6-2. Five of the runs off...

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Ambushing CC in the first (and third)

September 07, 2010, 3:26pm

Orioles

Did that just happen? The first five batters reached against Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia, as the Orioles bolted to a 3-0 lead. Four of them singled, including Adam Jones, who drove in two runs. Third base coach Gary Allenson aggressively sent Nick Markakis, who looked like he would be an easy out. The ball arrived in plenty of time, but catcher Jorge Posada couldn't hold onto it. Posada committed a passed ball earlier in the inning that allowed Brian Roberts to advance to second...

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Montanez update

September 07, 2010, 1:08pm

Orioles

Lou Montanez cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. What's next for Montanez? Minor league free agency. It's not a real important transaction because Norfolk's season is over and Montanez is free to go. And you have to assume that he'll test the waters and try to hook on with another club, since he seems to be boxed out here. Montanez had never been outrighted before, so he couldn't refuse the assignment. But it's just a technicality. I don't see him remaining in the...

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Patton among call-ups; Reimold & Andino starting

September 07, 2010, 12:09pm

Orioles

Patton among call-ups; Reimold & Andino starting

The Orioles activated David Hernandez from the disabled list and recalled left-hander Troy Patton from Triple-A Norfolk and left-hander Pedro Viola from Double-A Bowie. Maybe Patton will get a chance to pitch this time. Hernandez will wear No. 29, Patton No. 40 and Viola No. 47. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Felix Pie LF Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Adam Jones CF Nolan Reimold DH Craig Tatum C Robert Andino SS Josh Bell 3B Jake Arrieta RHP For the Yankees: Brett Gardner LF Derek...

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Sweet music from Viola?

September 07, 2010, 9:37am

Orioles

I don't know when Pedro Viola will pitch for the Orioles or how he'll fare, but he won't be making his major league debut. Viola appeared in nine games with the Cincinnati Reds last year, allowing four runs and seven hits in seven innings, with three walks and five strikeouts. He surrendered two home runs, including the first for Colorado's Eric Young Jr. You can read more about him right here. It's his bio, which must be accurate if it ran in Wikipedia. The Orioles claimed Viola off...

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Because You Asked - Judgment Day

September 07, 2010, 3:06am

Orioles

You ask and I answer. And you ask again. It's our little dance here at School of Roch, and it's the only cardio I get, so I'm not complaining. My responses often get lost in the comments section, so better to post them here. "Why do the Orioles keep pitching Kevin Millwood when he isn't part of the future?" They couldn't trade him and aren't willing to cut him loose unceremoniously. They're more likely to shut down a young starter or two that reaches his pitch limit while working...

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Viola joining Orioles

September 06, 2010, 5:00pm

Orioles

Pedro Viola will join the Orioles in New York as an extra bullpen arm, further expanding their September roster. Viola is on the 40-man roster, so no corresponding move is necessary. Double-A Bowie's season ended today with a loss to Richmond. Viola was notified after the game that the Orioles had recalled him. Viola went 0-2 with a 17.65 ERA, 10 walks and eight strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings at Triple-A Norfolk before moving down to Bowie. He was 3-4 with a 3.59 ERA, 19 walks and 64...

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Koji closes out another one

September 06, 2010, 12:26pm

Orioles

0-2. 0-2. 0-2. Koji Uehara got ahead of all three batters he faced in the ninth inning today. Throw strikes, work quickly, go out to dinner. Uehara recorded his seventh save in pretty routine fashion, getting a fly ball and two strikeouts to complete a 4-3 victory over the Yankees. Pinch-hitter Colin Curtis saw three pitches and froze on the last one to end the game. We're still not calling Uehara the closer. No labels here. Just saves. He's converted all seven opportunities since...

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50 ways to lose a lead (updated)

September 06, 2010, 11:19am

Orioles

I won't detail all 50, but the Orioles covered a few of them in the sixth inning. They didn't slip out the back, but they definitely should have made a new plan. A leadoff walk. A wild pitch. The catcher's failure to block a ball in the dirt. The failure to catch a fly ball in shallow left field. That'll do it. Brian Matusz walked Nick Swisher to begin the sixth, putting his 3-1 lead in immediate jeopardy. Mark Teixeira singled and a wild pitch move up both runners. Matt Wieters...

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B-Rob: A hurting hero (updated)

September 06, 2010, 10:33am

Orioles

Brian Roberts just gave the Orioles a 2-1 lead with a two-out single in the fifth that scored Cesar Izturis from second base. I thought we'd have a close play at the plate, but Alex Rodriguez cut off Marcus Thames' throw from left field and gunned down Roberts at second for the final out. Roberts is clearly in pain, wincing and staying bent over as a teammate brought his glove. He made a cautious slide into second, as if trying to lessen the impact of slamming into the bag. The back might...

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One isn't enough (updated)

September 06, 2010, 10:10am

Orioles

The Orioles have put runners on the corners with one out in the second inning and no outs in the third and settled for a 1-0 lead. Good, but not nearly good enough. Corey Patterson popped up and Cesar Izturis struck out to end the rally in the second. Josh Bell scored on Felix Pie's double play grounder in the third, moving the Orioles ahead but eliminating the potential for a much bigger inning against A.J. Burnett. Matt Wieters walked with one out in the fourth and was erased on Ty...

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Today's lineups

September 06, 2010, 7:29am

Orioles

For the Orioles: 2B Brian Roberts LF Felix Pie RF Nick Markakis DH Luke Scott C Matt Wieters 1B Ty Wigginton CF Corey Patterson SS Cesar Izturis 3B Josh Bell LHP Brian Matusz For the Yankees: SS Derek Jeter RF Nick Swisher 1B Mark Teixeira 3B Alex Rodriguez 2B Robinson Cano LF Marcus Thames DH Jorge Posada C Francisco Cervelli CF Brett Gardner RHP A.J. Burnett

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On this date... (updated)

September 06, 2010, 5:46am

Orioles

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of 2,131, I think we should all run a lap around our houses at exactly the same time. If you're stuck at work, I'm sure your boss will understand if you circle the building. As I've written in the past, I attended the two games that allowed Cal Ripken to tie and break Lou Gehrig's unbreakable record. I was still working for The Sun, though I wasn't on the Orioles beat. My editors asked me to help out, and I did so with great enthusiasm. I had to write a...

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Showalter time

September 05, 2010, 1:42pm

Orioles

The official scorer exercised his right to award the win to Alfredo Simon, judging that Jim Johnson and Michael Gonzalez were too ineffective in brief appearances. Once Johnson was skipped, you pick the guy who was the most effective out of the remaining group. It's not real common, but it happens. Simon turned in a perfect eighth, and Koji Uehara did the same in the ninth by retiring Ben Zobrist, Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria. "We were all joking, everybody kind of turns when Koji...

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Koji closes it out

September 05, 2010, 12:53pm

Orioles

Koji Uehara took the ball again today, less than 24 hours after giving up back-to-back home runs. Uehara closed out an 8-7 victory, earning his sixth save, but he's not the closer. Just the guy who protected a one-run lead in the ninth. That's all. No need to slap a label on him. This one was easy. Strikeout, pop up and strikeout. Fans were chanting "Koji, Koji, Koji" before the final strike to Evan Longoria. This season has taken a strange turn in more ways than one. Alfredo Simon gets...

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Attacking the Rays' bullpen (updated twice)

September 05, 2010, 11:57am

Orioles

Attacking the Rays' bullpen (updated twice)

The Orioles have retaken the lead in the sixth, and the bottom third of the order spirited the comeback. Admit it, you didn't see that one coming. Craig Tatum and Cesar Izturis walked with one out against reliever Dan Wheeler. Chad Qualls replaced him and gave up Josh Bell's single to center field on an 0-2 pitch that tied the game. This was especially significant because Bell had struck out twice against starter Wade Davis, giving him 42 Ks and only two walks in 118 at-bats. Brian...