Roch Kubatko

The latest deficit vanishes (w/farm update)

June 27, 2010, 10:58am

Orioles

The latest deficit vanishes (w/farm update)

The Orioles have rallied from deficits of 3-0, 6-0 and 5-0 to win three straight games heading into today. They were down, 3-0, going into the bottom of the fifth, which must have made the Nationals uncomfortable. What transpired didn't improve their collective mood. Back-to-back doubles by Luke Scott and Adam Jones produced the Orioles' first run off Nats right-hander Luis Atilano, whose six wins tie him for second among National League rookies. So this is the phenom everybody has been...

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Dueling no-hitters (updated)

June 27, 2010, 10:25am

Orioles

Nationals starter Luis Atilano has retired the first nine batters he's faced, striking out three along the way. Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie hasn't allowed a hit in three innings, but he's walked three batters. Two of those walks came in the second, but were sandwiched around a double play. Guthrie threw eight pitches in the first, but his count is up to 52 heading into the fourth. Guthrie has lost five straight starts, but he's gone at least six innings in 10 consecutive outings and...

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Orioles

Is Atkins gone? (yes)

June 27, 2010, 7:32am

Orioles

The Orioles are activating Koji Uehara from the disabled list this morning. The corresponding roster move was expected to involve a reliever, but interim manager Juan Samuel summoned first baseman Garrett Atkins into his office. The meeting includes president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. Atkins had just arrived at the ballpark and was getting dressed when Samuel motioned for him. Update: Atkins was designated for assignment to make room for Uehara. The Orioles figure that Felix...

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Waiting on Koji (w/ update &lineups)

June 27, 2010, 6:18am

Orioles

The Orioles will decide within the next two hours whether to activate Koji Uehara from the disabled list or wait until the homestand resumes on Tuesday. Uehara threw a simulated game on Thursday and needed a few days to recover. Interim manager Juan Samuel had suggested that Uehara could rejoin the 25-man roster yesterday, but it didn't happen. I'm probably reading too much into it, but I was curious about Samuel's short responses when asked about Uehara before and after yesterday's game....

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Sweet relief

June 26, 2010, 3:14pm

Orioles

Starter Brad Bergesen didn't last beyond the fourth inning, but the Orioles' bullpen cushioned his fall. Four relievers combined for five scoreless innings, holding the Nationals to one hit and one walk, with two strikeouts. Major props to Mark Hendrickson, Jason Berken, Will Ohman and Alfredo Simon. Hendrickson gave up the only hit in his two innings. Berken issued the only walk over 1 1/3 innings and earned his first victory. "He's doing a tremendous job for us coming in late,"...

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Storming back again (updated)

June 26, 2010, 1:50pm

Orioles

The Orioles have trailed 3-0, 6-0 and 5-0 the past three games. They've won two and just tied this one, 5-5, in the bottom of the fifth inning. Matt Wieters' two-out single brought in the fourth and fifth runs, but there were plenty of key at-bats before he stepped to the plate. Corey Patterson doubled to put runners on second and third with no outs, and Miguel Tejada followed with an RBI single. Both hits went to the opposite field, as Nats starter Livan Hernandez kept working the outer...

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Mr. Jones and me

June 26, 2010, 1:22pm

Orioles

Adam Jones hit home run No. 12 in the fourth inning to reduce Washington's lead to 5-1. Left fielder Josh Willingham stumbled as he approached the fence and couldn't jump for the ball. Jones has hit safely in seven straight games (five multi-hit games) and 16 of his last 19. He was batting .347 in his last 18. Jones has six homers and 15 RBIs in 19 games. Brad Bergesen is gone after four innings and 72 pitches. He's charged with five runs and six hits, with two walks and no...

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Present and past (updated)

June 26, 2010, 12:43pm

Orioles

The Orioles wasted consecutive singles by Corey Patterson and Miguel Tejada in the first inning. Livan Hernandez escaped the jam by retiring Nick Markakis on a fly ball, striking out Luke Scott and inducing a ground ball from Adam Jones. How appropriate that Hernandez is starting today, since he also pitched against the 1970 Orioles. The last three members of the '70 Orioles who were introduced to fans today: 3. Brooks 2. Frank 1. Earl Would you move Brooks behind Frank or keep it this...

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It doesn't get much better

June 26, 2010, 11:00am

Orioles

Having grown up in Anne Arundel County, a kid whose mood was dictated by the Orioles' score, I can't quite describe what it's like, this many years later, to turn my head and see Brooks Robinson, Paul Blair and Davey Johnson walking toward me. Or to have Brooks shake my hand as if we're old friends. Earl Weaver also walked past. So did Frank Robinson, Boog Powell and Jim Palmer in the next wave, all of them headed inside the auxiliary clubhouse for today's 40th anniversary celebration...

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More pre-game chatter

June 26, 2010, 9:59am

Orioles

Interim manager Juan Samuel doesn't know how many starts Brad Bergesen will receive in the right-hander's latest return to the club, but he doesn't want today's outing to be viewed as an audition. "We sent him down to get some things straightened out," Samuel said, "and hopefully he'll do a good job for us today." We know what Bergesen needs to be successful - an effective sinker. When the ball's up, so is his ERA. "Whether he needs to get his fingers on top of the ball a little...

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Montanez to DL (w/quote added)

June 26, 2010, 9:20am

Orioles

The Orioles made today's roster move official by placing outfielder Lou Montanez on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 21, with a strained left oblique. Montanez batted .140 in 26 games, but interim manager Juan Samuel said the outfielder is talented enough to play in the majors - primarily because he doesn't lack in confidence. "He knows he's good," Samuel said, smiling. "He'll tell you he's good." It's a lot harder to prove it when you go long stretches without...

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Today's lineups

June 26, 2010, 8:38am

Orioles

For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Scott Moore 1B Julio Lugo 2B Cesar Izturis SS Brad Bergesen RHP For the Nationals: Morgan CF Guzman DH Zimmerman 3B Dunn 1B Willingham LF Rodriguez C Bernandino RF Kennedy 2B Desmond SS Hernandez RHP

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Not Dunn celebrating

June 26, 2010, 6:12am

Orioles

I'm waiting for the technician from Directv to arrive at my house and bring me back into the 21st century. I'm also waiting for Comcast to stop calling me like an ex-girlfriend. It's over. We'll always have our memories, but it's time to move on. I'll be joining MASNsports.com's Steve Melewski again today for the pre- and post-game shows on 105.7 The Fan, which means I'll miss the festivities surrounding the 40th anniversary of the 1970 World Series championship. My view will be...

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A little post-game chatter

June 25, 2010, 8:09pm

Orioles

Nick Markakis is a lot happier with the Orioles' approach at the plate since he vented on the road trip. "For the most part, we're having good approaches up there," he said after tonight's 7-6 thriller. "They're going up there looking for a pitch to hit, and when they get it, we haven't been missing lately. It's a good sign, and hopefully we can keep it going." Markakis then excused himself and met up with Peter Angelos for a late-night snack. Not really. Interim manager Juan...

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Walk-off error

June 25, 2010, 7:06pm

Orioles

It isn't the most dramatic way to win a game, but the Orioles will take it. Julio Lugo grounded to shortstop Ian Desmond with one out and runners on first and second in the bottom of the ninth. A sure double play and extra innings - except second baseman Cristian Guzman made a wide throw to first, and Adam Dunn couldn't get his glove down and stop the ball from shooting past him. Pinch-runner Jake Fox raced home with the winning run, and the Orioles completed their rally from a 6-0...

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It counts, and it doesn't (updated)

June 25, 2010, 6:27pm

Orioles

Scott Moore just launched a pinch-hit, two-run homer off Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard in the bottom of the eighth to reduce Washington's lead to 6-5. Moore was batting for Garrett Atkins, which raised the following question: Does this count as the Orioles' first home run by a first baseman? So far, the answer is "no," because Moore hasn't played the position tonight. It just goes down as a pinch-hit homer - the second for the Orioles this season. Luke Scott came off the bench and...

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Random updates (and wild no-hitter)

June 25, 2010, 5:29pm

Orioles

Tonight's attendance: 43,484. Nationals center fielder Nyjer Morgan is having the game of his life tonight. He's 4-for-4 with a double, RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base, he's robbed Corey Patterson of a home run and he's run down Miguel Tejada's bases-loaded shot to left-center field. He's made a much better impression than the one he left back in D.C. All three of the Orioles' runs in the fifth were unearned after two errors by Nats shortstop Ian Desmond. Are we really...

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The two Jakes (updated)

June 25, 2010, 4:38pm

Orioles

We're getting the bad version of Jake Arrieta tonight. For those of you keeping score at home, that's two impressive outings followed by two poor ones. Arrieta has allowed six runs (five earned) and eight hits in four innings, as the Nationals provide a nice cushion for J.D. Martin. Arrieta also has issued two walks, and his pitch count is up to 84. I expected interim manager Juan Samuel to pop out of the dugout after Adam Dunn's two-run double with two outs in the fourth, but Arrieta...

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It's all bad so far (w/rehab updates)

June 25, 2010, 4:06pm

Orioles

We can start with Jake Arrieta's marathon first inning, and how his pitch count stands at 57 through the third. We can proceed to the 3-0 deficit, and how Arrieta has allowed five hits and walked a batter. There's also the throwing error by Matt Wieters in the first. And the double play from Miguel Tejada, who swung at the initial offering from Nationals starter J.D. Martin after Corey Patterson led off the bottom of the first with a seven-pitch walk. Garrett Atkins, in his first at-bat...

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Bordick in dugout tonight

June 25, 2010, 12:50pm

Orioles

Former Orioles shortstop Mike Bordick will serve as hitting coach tonight. Terry Crowley left the team to tend to a personal matter, but he's expected to return tomorrow. Bordick will wear No. 85, in case you're wondering. Admit it, you were wondering. The Orioles are close to sending left-hander Michael Gonzalez on an injury rehab assignment. Jake Fox is the fourth outfielder tonight while Lou Montanez deals with an oblique injury and Luke Scott serves as the designated hitter. Ty...