Roch Kubatko

Feat of Cla

June 13, 2010, 6:19pm

Orioles

Cla Meredith's demotion to Triple-A Norfolk hasn't done much for his career. Meredith was tagged with a blown save today after allowing two runs and two hits, and walking three batters, in two-thirds of an inning. His ERA is up to 16.85. Mike Hinckley took the loss against Columbus after allowing a run in the bottom of the 10th. Starter Brandon Erbe surrendered two runs and three hits in five-plus innings and remains winless at the Triple-A level. Josh Bell went 2-for-4 with a walk, RBI...

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Juan and done

June 13, 2010, 1:23pm

Orioles

The Orioles were 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position today, making them 6-for-35 (.171) in the series. They're batting .217 with RISP this season. The Orioles hit two home runs in nine games on this homestand. Kevin Millwood leads the majors with 19 homers allowed, including three today. Opposing pitchers have made quality starts in 16 of the Orioles' last 17 games. Other than that, how have things been going? "I thought early in that first inning, I don't think (Millwood's)...

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Bergesen confirmed

June 13, 2010, 12:54pm

Orioles

Interim manager Juan Samuel made the move official that we anticipated: Brad Bergesen is being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for reliever Alfredo Simon. Bergesen threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings today in relief of Mark Hendrickson. "I think we're doing him a disservice by keeping him in the bullpen," Samuel said. "This is a guy that we think is going to be a starter here for a long time and he just needs to go down there and pitch. Since he's been in the bullpen, he's probably...

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Bad to worse (updated)

June 13, 2010, 11:49am

The Mets just hung three more runs on the board in the sixth to increase their lead to 10-3. You remember the Mets - the team that hadn't won a road series all year. Kevin Millwood is charged with eight runs and 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings. He allowed three more home runs, raising his total to 19. Mark Hendrickson replaced him and served up David Wright's second home run of the day. Hendrickson is charged with two runs, raising his ERA to 6.19. He allowed four earned runs in one-third of an...

At least there's this... (updated)

June 13, 2010, 11:00am

Orioles

If it makes you feel any better, Adam Jones has hit safely in eight straight games, going 10-for-28 and raising his average to .258. He's hit in 19 of his last 20, going 26-for-75 (.347). Well, I tried. The Orioles trail, 6-3, in the bottom of the fourth. Kevin Millwood has allowed six runs and nine hits, and he's thrown 77 pitches. If it makes you feel any better, he struck out two of the three batters he faced in the fourth. Well, I tried. Scott Moore just reached on an infield hit,...

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Orioles

Paging Dr. Longball (updated)

June 13, 2010, 9:53am

Orioles

Kevin Millwood has taken over the major league lead in home runs allowed with 18, including two today in the first inning. Mets 5, Orioles 0. The Mets sent nine batters to the plate and collected six hits and a walk. Henry Blanco did Millwood a huge favor by bouncing into a double play with runners on the corners, one out and Brad Bergesen warming in the Orioles' bullpen. Millwood has given up 15 runs in the first inning in his last five starts after allowing none in his first nine...

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Simon says... (updated)

June 13, 2010, 7:08am

Orioles

Alfredo Simon will throw another bullpen session today instead of pitching in a simulated game. Simon tested his left hamstring by throwing two bullpen sessions in Sarasota before flying into Baltimore yesterday. "It feels a lot better," he said. "I'm just trying to come back and do what I was doing before, trying to help the team win." Simon could be activated from the disabled list tomorrow, when the Orioles begin their interleague series in San Francisco. "I'm ready," he said....

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Orioles lineup (w/Mets)

June 13, 2010, 6:27am

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 Julio Lugo SS Kevin Millwood RHP Here's the Mets lineup: Reyes SS Pagan CF Wright 3B Davis 1B Bay LF Carter DH Feliciano RF Cora 2B Blanco C Pelfrey RHP

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Orioles

Heating up leftovers

June 13, 2010, 4:38am

Orioles

For breakfast? Why not? Here's how Brian Matusz responded when asked if last night's start was one of his best: "Absolutely. I think it's one of the better starts of my career. I didn't walk a guy today and I threw a lot of strikes. I made a couple mistake pitches with the solo home runs, but that's going to happen when you're throwing a lot of strikes. I was just attacking the zone today and, unfortunately, came out with the loss." What about Jose Reyes' leadoff home run? "I just...

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After 62 games...

June 12, 2010, 6:12pm

Orioles

The Orioles fell to 17-45 after tonight's 3-1 loss to the Mets, a game that looked like so many others this season. They wasted a quality start because they didn't hit, going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. And they didn't make a key play on defense that cost them a run. "When you're in a funk those things happen," interim manager Juan Samuel said. "It seems like you don't make the play and it costs you, When things are going right, you don't make the plays and it does not...

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Quality start, bad feeling (w/update)

June 12, 2010, 5:11pm

Orioles

Brian Matusz held the Mets to two runs and four hits over his first seven innings. He didn't issue a walk. He retired 18 of the last 21 batters he faced. So why is Matusz staring at his seventh consecutive defeat? Julio Lugo couldn't turn a critical double play in the sixth as the tie-breaking run scored. And the Orioles didn't get the memo about Mets left-hander Hisanori Takahashi struggling badly in his last two starts and being on the verge of losing his spot in the rotation. Matusz...

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A few updates (w/update)

June 12, 2010, 4:18pm

Orioles

The reports of Mets pitcher Hisanori Takahashi being a slow worker weren't exaggerated. It's like watching Steve Trachsel on Quaaludes. Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" was playing over the PA system between innings, and a few of us started singing, "Taka Takahasi." Very mature, I know. We're still tied, 1-1, heading to the top of the fifth. The Orioles tried to play little ball to push across the go-ahead run in the third, with Corey Patterson laying down a sacrifice bunt after Cesar...

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Back, back, back... (updated)

June 12, 2010, 3:16pm

Orioles

Jose Reyes began tonight's game with the 15th leadoff home run of his career, and the first against the Orioles this season. Reyes drove a 91 mph fastball over the fence in left-center field to give the Mets an early lead. Brian Matusz has surrendered at least one home run in his last five starts. He gave up only two in his first eight starts. Corey Patterson tried to duplicate Reyes' at-bat, but he settled for a double off the out-of-town scoreboard in right. He also climbed up the back...

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Simon's on his way (updated)

June 12, 2010, 12:23pm

Orioles

Alfredo Simon is expected to arrive in Baltimore later today after rehabbing his injured left hamstring in Sarasota. Simon could throw a simulated game tomorrow if pitching coach Rick Kranitz wants to see him face left-handers and right-handers. But he isn't dealing with an arm injury, so the Orioles might decide to skip it. Interim manager Juan Samuel isn't sure whether Simon will come off the disabled list Monday. The club would have to make a corresponding roster move. Koji Uehara is...

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Tonight's lineups

June 12, 2010, 11:36am

For the 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 For the Mets: Reyes SS Pagan CF Wright DH Davis 1B Bay LF Tatis 3B Barajas C Francoeur RF Tejada 2B Takahashi LHP

Tejada to short? Again, no

June 12, 2010, 6:37am

Orioles

I guess it's worth repeating. Interim manager Juan Samuel was asked after last night's game whether he's given any thought to moving Miguel Tejada to short. Samuel is giving the same answer we've been hearing, from the front office and former manager Dave Trembley, since the winter. "It never crossed my mind," he said. OK, that's not the exact same answer, but the message is a duplicate. Tejada will not be replacing Cesar Izturis. That wasn't part of the equation when they signed...

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Wrapping it up

June 11, 2010, 6:21pm

Orioles

The Orioles collected 11 hits tonight and scored one run. That won't win you many games. "Tonight, we faced a very tough, a different type of knuckleball," interim manager Juan Samuel said, referring to Mets starter R.A. Dickey. "It was a little bit unusual to see a knuckleball with that kind of velocity. We had a situation where we could have scored some runs there, loaded the bases, and I think he added a little velocity to that knuckleball and made it tough for our hitters. "We got...

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Caps and Bergy

June 11, 2010, 5:30pm

Orioles

Let's get the important stuff out of the way first: The O's/Ravens caps will be handed out tomorrow night, as I wrote earlier. Trust me on this one. OK, now about Brad Bergesen... I wrote earlier today that interim manager Juan Samuel wanted to get Bergesen into a game because it had been too long, but he didn't want to use the right-hander in the late innings. Things do change quickly around here. That was Bergesen on the mound in the eighth, giving up a run that increased the Mets'...

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Golden grab (updated twice)

June 11, 2010, 3:37pm

Orioles

Jeremy Guthrie gave up a run in the top of the first inning on a leadoff double by Jose Reyes and one-out single by David Wright. The damage would have increased if not for a spectacular diving catch by Adam Jones in left-center field that robbed Jason Bay. Wright would have scored easily. Bay might have joined him if the ball got past Jones. My second-favorite moment of the game: Tejada making a nice stop on Tejada's grounder in the hole, but Tejada's late throw allows Tejada to reach...

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Samuel says...

June 11, 2010, 2:36pm

Orioles

I told you earlier that interim manager Juan Samuel will give the ball to David Hernandez tonight if he's confronted with another save situation. Here's more from Samuel: "Of course, of course. Stay with the hot hand," Samuel said. "He showed some poise last night. He came right after those hitters. Hopefully, if we're in the same situation tonight, he'll be the guy. "It's not an easy role. We're talking about a very young guy thrown in the fire. To me, he showed last night that he...