Roch Kubatko

Today's lineups

May 05, 2010, 7:27am

Orioles

Orioles: CF Adam Jones 2B Ty Wigginton RF Nick Markakis 3B Miguel Tejada 1B Garrett Atkins DH Matt Wieters LF Nolan Reimold C Craig Tatum SS Julio Lugo RHP David Hernandez Yankees: SS Derek Jeter DH Nick Johnson 1B Mark Teixeira 3B Alex Rodriguez 2B Robinson Cano RF Nick Swisher CF Brett Gardner C Francisco Cervelli LF Randy Winn LHP Andy Pettitte

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Trying to avoid the sweep

May 05, 2010, 4:22am

Orioles

Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez aren't hitting in this series. Mariano Rivera isn't available, and Jorge Posada can be used only in an emergency. The bottom of the Yankees' lineup last night included Francisco Cervelli and Ramiro Pena. I'm glad the Orioles caught the Yankees at the right time. It's the bottom portion that keeps hurting the Orioles - along with starters CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. And they get Andy Pettitte today, another pitcher they can't touch without getting...

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Orioles

The frustration builds (updated)

May 04, 2010, 5:09pm

Orioles

Second and third, none out and a run already across in the third inning. The Orioles could have busted the game wide open, but their only run scored on pitcher A.J. Burnett's throwing error. Three straight batters went down swinging. Leadoff double for Miguel Tejada in the fourth. Tejada moves to third with one out. The Orioles could have snapped a 1-1 tie, but they failed to score. Luke Scott struck out and Garrett Atkins fouled out. Why was the game tied in the top of the fourth?...

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Tonight's lineups

May 04, 2010, 12:05pm

Orioles

For the Orioles: Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Matt Wieters C Miguel Tejada 3B Ty Wigginton 2B Luke Scott LF Garrett Atkins DH Rhyne Hughes 1B Cesar Izturis SS Brian Matusz LHP For the Yankees: Derek Jeter DH Nick Swisher RF Mark Teixeira 1B Alex Rodriguez 3B Robinson Cano 2B Marcus Thames LF Brett Gardner CF Francisco Cervelli C Ramiro Pena SS A.J. Burnett RHP Cano is the only left-handed batter to record an extra-base hit off Matusz in 25 at-bats this year (homer and double April 29 in...

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Orioles

More minor matters (w/Arrieta update)

May 04, 2010, 9:41am

Orioles

Left-hander Zach Britton tossed five scoreless innings today in Double-A Bowie's 9-0 win over Harrisburg. Britton allowed two hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out two while improving his record to 2-2 with a 3.60 ERA. Unfortunately, he was hit in the chest by a comebacker on his third pitch of the fifth inning and eventually left the game. I doubt that it's serious or he would have come out immediately, but I might have an update later. Former starter Pedro Beato followed Britton to...

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Checking on Arrieta

May 04, 2010, 8:47am

Orioles

Triple-A Norfolk pitcher Jake Arrieta has logged two scoreless innings today against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, allowing one hit and one walk, striking out one and hitting a batter. Arrieta has thrown 30 pitches, 17 for strikes. That's pretty busy for a guy who hasn't given up a run. Arrieta is coming off his worst outing, though he's raised the bar this season. He was charged with three earned runs (four total) and five hits in six innings, with four walks and four strikeouts. He had...

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Orioles

Looking back, looking ahead

May 04, 2010, 3:48am

Orioles

No reason to dwell on last night's loss. Just look forward to sweet redemption tonight against A.J. Burnett (3-0, 2.43 ERA) and tomorrow against Andy Pettitte (3-0, 2.12 ERA). Combined record against the Orioles: 36-8. What are you worried about? This just in: Randy Winn has accepted an invitation to participate in the Home Run Derby at this year's All-Star Game. I'll get over it eventually. It's just too soon. "You have to keep the ball in the ballpark from the No. 9 hitter. We...

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One bad inning does spoil the whole bunch

May 03, 2010, 5:32pm

Orioles

One bad inning does spoil the whole bunch

It won't go down as a quality start by definition, but Jeremy Guthrie deserves some props for giving the Orioles six good innings and one unfortunate one. All the scoring against him took place in the fourth, and he left after the seventh with the Yankees ahead, 4-1. He allowed six hits, walked two, struck out two and threw 116 pitches. If only he could take a mulligan on that Randy Winn at-bat. Gary Thorne talks with Dave Trembley after the O's 4-1 loss to the Yankees Ty Wigginton...

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Number 9, Number 9 (w/Koji update)

May 03, 2010, 4:47pm

Orioles

I usually throw a fit when a pitcher walks the No. 9 hitter, but Jeremy Guthrie reminded us tonight that there's a more unforgivable transgression. You don't let Randy Winn hit a three-run homer. Winn had no homers and no RBIs before tonight, but he unloaded on Guthrie in the fourth inning to break a 1-1 tie. His average has soared to .133, matching his on-base percentage. You Winn some, you lose some. And Guthrie's going to lose this one unless the Orioles can rally against CC...

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Orioles

Wieters has it covered

May 03, 2010, 3:40pm

Orioles

One more SI cover reference. Matt Wieters was hitting for a decent average this season, but not much power. That's changed over his last two starts. A lot has changed with the Orioles lately. Wieters belted a three-run homer on Saturday, and he just went opposite field against the Yankees' CC Sabathia in the second inning to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead and plant a huge smile on manager Dave Trembley's face. Wieters has reached base safely in 23 of 25 games. Amber talks with Matt...

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Orioles

Tonight's lineups

May 03, 2010, 12:00pm

Orioles

Orioles: CF Adam Jones RF Nick Markakis 2B Ty Wigginton 3B Miguel Tejada CA Matt Wieters 1B Garrett Atkins DH Nolan Reimold LF Lou Montanez SS Cesar Izturis RHP Jeremy Guthrie New York: SS Derek Jeter DH Nick Johnson 1B Mark Teixeira 3B Alex Rodriguez 2B Robinson Cano CA Jorge Posada RF Nick Swisher CF Brett Gardner LF Randy Winn LHP CC Sabathia

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orioles

Your afternoon fact snack

May 03, 2010, 10:03am

Orioles

It's even less fattening than rice cakes. Too bad it doesn't come in cheddar flavor. Nationals closer Matt Capps has been named Major League Baseball's "Delivery Man of the Month" for April after going 10-for-10 in save opportunities. My concern is that Mike Gonzalez will actually become a delivery man if he doesn't stay healthy and start getting guys out. We're told that Gonzalez is pain-free and engaged in a throwing progression program in Sarasota. Once he returns, and we could be...

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Orioles

Tillman honored - of course

May 03, 2010, 6:40am

Orioles

Is anyone surprised that Triple-A Norfolk's Chris Tillman was named the International League's Pitcher of the Week? That usually happens after you've thrown a no-hitter, as Tillman did on Wednesday to defeat Gwinnett. Tillman, the new Prince of the Tides, starts again tonight after limiting Gwinnett to one walk and making minor league history. Another batter reached on an error in Norfolk's 6-0 win. It was Tillman's first career complete game, and Norfolk's first nine-inning no-hitter...

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Orioles

Guthrie vs. Girardi II

May 03, 2010, 5:04am

Orioles

It's raining here, it's raining in New York. Please give me some baseball weather while this team's on a roll. Do you think Jeremy Guthrie and Joe Girardi will talk around the batting cage today? Maybe shake hands, share a man-hug? Guthrie has hit more Yankees than any other team in his career. They fall like ducks at a shooting gallery. He drilled two in spring training, including Mark Teixeira, and nailed Jorge Posada in the ankle in his last start. Posada left the game. Girardi...

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Down on the farm

May 02, 2010, 6:16pm

Orioles

I'm watching Family Guy and cleaning up from the spaghetti dinner I prepared for my little one, but there's always time to check on the affiliates. Triple-A Norfolk's Brandon Erbe turned in his finest outing of the season, allowing one run and three hits over six innings against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He walked three and struck out a season-high six. Too bad the Tides managed only three hits and lost. I told you earlier that Koji Uehara registered a scoreless inning, allowing one hit on...

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Orioles

Trembley had a hunch

May 02, 2010, 1:48pm

Orioles

Manager Dave Trembley knew the Orioles were going to win today. We'll have to take his word for it, since he didn't write it down earlier or record his thoughts. "Sometimes, you come to the ballpark and you don't know what you're going to get," he said after a 3-2, 10-inning victory over Boston. "Today, when I walked through the clubhouse, I felt like we were going to win. I really felt like we were going to win. And I like what I saw today out there." Dave Trembley talks with the...

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Orioles

You like apples?

May 02, 2010, 1:02pm

Orioles

How do you like them apples? Ty Wigginton wasn't bunting in the 10th inning. Nick Markakis walked to conclude an outstanding at-bat and took second on an errant pickoff throw from Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon, and Wigginton kept swinging and kept fouling off pitches until he lined a double into left-center field to give the Orioles a 3-2 victory. That's an unearned run, if you're scoring at home. The Orioles have swept the Red Sox in a home three-game series for the first time since...

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Second-guessing one side

May 02, 2010, 12:31pm

Orioles

Here we go again. Everyone in the press box expected manager Dave Trembley to bring Matt Albers into the game with two outs, a runner on first and Adrian Beltre stepping to the plate in the top of the ninth. I said, "Let Will Ohman pitch. Stop passing the baton." But I'm not sure I really believed it. I just wanted to be the contrarian. I do know that Ohman has retired a few righties in his day - including Mike Lowell, who struck out after J.D. Drew's leadoff single. Trembley stepped...

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Orioles

Second-guessing both sides (update)

May 02, 2010, 12:05pm

Orioles

Each game brings another friendly debate in the press box. That's part of the fun. Did manager Dave Trembley stay too long with Kevin Millwood? I say no. Should a right-hander have been warming in the bullpen alongside lefty Will Ohman? I say yes. Millwood gave up a two-out single to Dustin Pedroia that could have given Boston the lead - except Red Sox manager Terry Francona didn't pinch-run for catcher Jason Varitek, who would lose a race to a snail, though it might bring a photo...

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Orioles

Luke what's happened to Scott

May 02, 2010, 11:35am

Orioles

Today's attendance: 34,255. I remember going on O's Xtra last summer and proclaiming Luke Scott the Orioles' first-half MVP. No question in my mind. So what the heck happened? Am I a distant relative of the SI cover? Scott has bounced to the mound and struck out twice today against Red Sox starter Josh Beckett. His average is down to .189, with a .268 on-base percentage and .378 slugging percentage. Here's the real concern: Scott is batting .203 (59-for-290) since the All-Star break....