Roch Kubatko

Touch 'em all

July 01, 2010, 4:25am

Orioles

It's another beautiful day, and my last one before the Orioles embark on a long road trip, followed by the All-Star break. That's my break. Luke Scott will be re-evaluated today, but he sure sounds like a guy who expects to go on the disabled list. What lesson did we learn last night, kids? Never run hard. OK, not really. Felix Pie drove from Bowie to Camden Yards late last night. I'm told that he makes the same trip after every rehab game with an in-state affiliate - he wasn't...

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Scott to be evaluated tomorrow (& former Oriole traded)

June 30, 2010, 6:47pm

Orioles

Scott to be evaluated tomorrow (& former Oriole traded)

The Orioles will wait until tomorrow to make a decision on Luke Scott, who strained his left hamstring while rounding first base on his home run in the seventh inning. "We'll evaluate Luke tomorrow and see how he shows up here and we'll go from there," said interim manager Juan Samuel. "I think he thought that ball was not going to be out. He was thinking if that ball hits the wall, he was trying to get a triple out of it. He was trying to get to third base, and once he hit first base,...

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Deep thoughts

June 30, 2010, 6:04pm

Orioles

Miguel Tejada hit the Orioles' fifth home run tonight, tying their season high set May 1 against Boston. He did it with gusto. Tejada crushed a 2-1 pitch from the latest Oakland victim, Tyson Ross, in the bottom of the eighth inning, and he enjoyed all 384 feet of it. He flipped his bat before leaving the box, and he practically sprinted around the bases. Maybe he was just showing off for Luke Scott. It's been a bad night for Tejada, but that one swing made him feel a whole lot better. It...

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Homer and hurt (w/Pie update)

June 30, 2010, 5:36pm

Orioles

Luke Scott just broke a 6-6 tie by following Ty Wigginton's home run with one of his own, a shot to left-center field off reliever Cedrick Bowers. Scott barely made it to the plate. He appeared to injure his left hamstring as he rounded first base and hobbled the rest of the way, almost coming to a full stop at third. Scott pointed to the heavens as he crossed the plate, bringing a louder ovation from the crowd. Now that's dramatic. I can't recall seeing anything like it. Kirk Gibson...

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He's baaack (w/game update)

June 30, 2010, 5:25pm

Orioles

Game update: We finally have a home run from a first baseman! Ty Wigginton just launched a two-run shot off Oakland reliever Brad Ziegler in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game, 2-2. That's Wigginton's first homer since May 22. We also have a Matt Albers sighting. Albers replaced Mark Hendrickson in the seventh inning after Daric Barton's leadoff single, his first appearance since June 24. He retired Conor Jackson on a ground ball before walking Kurt Suzuki. Kevin Kouzmanoff followed...

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Looking lost at home (w/scoring change)

June 30, 2010, 4:26pm

Orioles

The Orioles just put on a clinic on how to lose a lead. Take notes, if you must. Miguel Tejada opens the fourth with an error. Corey Patterson overruns a single in left field, allowing a run to score. Tejada fails to make a clean backhand stop of a ground ball, but is spared his second error. Kevin Milwood surrenders an RBI single. Mark Ellis steals home while catcher Matt Wieters throws to second, unaware that plate umpire Marty Foster has awarded a walk to Cliff Pennington, the No 9 hitter....

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Worth noting - Part II (updated)

June 30, 2010, 3:40pm

Orioles

Kevin Millwood made it through the first inning without allowing a run, ending his scored-upon streak at seven games. Millwood has given up two hits and struck out one in his first two innings. He's thrown 39 pitches. Adam Jones gave him a 2-0 lead with a home run onto the flag court in right. That's No. 13 for Jones, who's pushing for an All-Star berth. Jones has hit safely in 18 of his last 22 games, with seven homers, 18 RBIs and 15 runs scored. Update: The push continues. Jones'...

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Worth noting

June 30, 2010, 1:20pm

Orioles

Kevin Millwood will make his 400th major league appearance tonight, including his 392 start, becoming the 52nd active pitcher to reach that level of games. His 391 starts rank seventh among active pitchers, and his 1,889 strikeouts are fifth. Among active pitchers with 350 or more starts, Millwood's 4.08 ERA is second only to Andy Pettitte's 3.87. Millwood has allowed at least two runs in the first inning in each of his last seven starts, raising his total to 20, after not allowing a...

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Pie and Gonzo might take longer (updated)

June 30, 2010, 12:29pm

Orioles

Pie and Gonzo might take longer (updated)

Though a final decision hasn't been made, it's becoming more likely that Felix Pie will join the Orioles on the second leg of their road trip in Detroit. There's still a chance that Pie will be activated Friday, when the Orioles begin a three-game series in Boston, but team officials want him to receive more starts in left field on his injury rehab assignment before removing him from the disabled list. Pie will be re-evaluated after tonight's game at Double-A Bowie. He went 4-for-5 with...

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Orioles lineup (and A's)

June 30, 2010, 11:35am

Orioles

For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Scott Moore 2B Cesar Izturis SS Kevin Millwood RHP A team official confirmed that reliever Cla Meredith cleared waivers and will report to Triple-A Norfolk. For the Athletics: Crisp CF Barton 1B Jackson LF Suzuki C Kouzmanoff 3B Sweeney RF Ellis 2B Gross DH Pennington SS Sheets RHP If Sheets is knocked out early, should I write that the Orioles short-sheeted the...

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Tough loss for Patton

June 30, 2010, 11:20am

Orioles

Left-hander Troy Patton held Charlotte to one earned run over six innings, but it wasn't good enough to pick up a win. Patton also was tagged with an unearned run in a 2-1 loss. He allowed five hits, walked two and struck out two, as his record fell to 5-9 with a 4.84 ERA. The unearned run scored when catcher Michel Hernandez dropped a pop up with two outs in the second inning. Josh Bell, who homered twice and drove in six runs last night, went 2-for-4 to leave his average at...

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Don't mess with Samuel

June 30, 2010, 4:11am

Orioles

I'm not sorting through a collection of fond memories from last night. I can name two, and one of them involves talking to Cal Ripken on the phone, which has nothing to do with the game. It doesn't hurt to step back once in a while and recognize that I've talked to three Hall of Famers in a span of four days - Ripken, Brooks Robinson and Jim Palmer. And that doesn't include standing within a few feet of Earl Weaver and Frank Robinson. I usually take it all for granted because I'm jaded...

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Juan and done

June 29, 2010, 6:42pm

Orioles

Brian Matusz turned in his ninth quality start of the season, but the bats bailed on him again. "If you just look at him pitch, you wouldn't think he's that young," interim manager Juan Samuel said. "He's got an idea. He knows what he wants to do on the mound, so when he needs to make good pitches, he's been able to make good pitches and get out of potentially big innings for the other club. He's been able to control the damage very well, so that was very nice. He's been doing that...

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A few updates

June 29, 2010, 6:08pm

Orioles

Luke Scott's second double of the night, a shot that cleared right fielder Gabe Gross' head, reduced Oakland's lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth. Gross had just replaced Rajai Davis in right. Scott's hit came after Nick Markakis doubled and Ty Wigginton swung at the next pitch and flied out. A fan sitting in front of the press box yelled, "Way to work the count!" Koji Uehara got into his first game since May 19 and allowed a leadoff double to Coco Crisp. Conor Jackson singled...

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Bell's bat ringing (w/2 Gonzo updates)

June 29, 2010, 5:17pm

Orioles

Triple-A third baseman Josh Bell has homered twice, including a grand slam, to raise his total to 10 on the season. He's driven in six runs. Chris Tillman has held Charlotte to one run and four hits over six innings, with two walks and seven strikeouts. He's thrown 87 pitches, 53 for strikes. Felix Pie is 3-for-4 with a run scored in his first game at Double-A Bowie. Chorye Spoone allowed three runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings, with four walks and six strikeouts. Mike Flacco is 2-for-3...

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Purpose pitch

June 29, 2010, 4:43pm

Orioles

Oakland starter Vin Mazzaro drilled Julio Lugo in the back with his third pitch of the fifth inning, obvious retaliation for Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz hitting Daric Barton. It's not like Mazzaro tried to hide it. Lugo took a few steps toward the mound before his path was blocked. I thought we might have a brawl. It didn't go unnoticed that interim manager Juan Samuel was the first person out of the Orioles dugout. Luke Scott stood beside him, hands on hips. Ty Wigginton and bench...

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Ripken updates organizational discussions

June 29, 2010, 4:02pm

Orioles

Ripken updates organizational discussions

Cal Ripken confirmed tonight that talks are ongoing with owner Peter Angelos and president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail about a future role in the front office, but he isn't prepared to place a timeline on his return to the organization. "I love the fact that it's an open exploration and we're talking," Ripken said in a phone interview with MASNsports.com and The Sun. "My goal truly was to be available to (son) Ryan, my kids, but you start to look at it and it's a short period...

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New Orioles lineup (updated)

June 29, 2010, 1:42pm

Orioles

Corey Patterson LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Craig Tatum C Julio Lugo 2B Cesar Izturis SS Brian Matusz LHP So much for Jake Fox facing his former team. Dallas Braden was scratched because of stiffness in his left elbow.

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And another thing...(Braden scratched)

June 29, 2010, 1:26pm

Orioles

Update: Dallas Braden has been scratched from tonight's start. Vin Mazzaro (2-2, 4.71 ERA) will replace him. The Orioles' lineup could change. More to come. Tonight's game pits two teams with the longest winning streaks in baseball. The Orioles have won four in a row, and Oakland has won three straight. The Orioles have won their last four one-run games, improving their record to 13-11. They've scored 28 runs in the last four games after totaling 27 in the previous seven. Oakland leads...

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News and notes

June 29, 2010, 12:20pm

Orioles

Michael Gonzalez will pitch out of the bullpen tonight at short-season Single-A Aberdeen. Gonzalez has been working the first inning on his injury rehab assignment, but the Orioles want him to get more accustomed to his normal role. Gonzalez probably will take tomorrow off and pitch again on Thursday. It's not known when the Orioles will activate him. Gonzalez gave up a two-run homer in his last outing against Brooklyn, but interim manager Juan Samuel noted that the unfortunate pitch was a...