Orioles and White Sox lineups

Orioles and White Sox lineups
After reaching base five times in last night's game, Seth Smith remains atop the Orioles lineup for tonight's opener of a weekend series against the White Sox. Hyun Soo Kim is starting in left field. Former Orioles pitcher Miguel González pitches for the White Sox, opposing left-hander Wade Miley. In case you're counting, there are three Garcías in the starting lineup for the White Sox. Avasaíl García is serving as the designated hitter, Willy García is playing left field and...

Orioles back home and out of their division

Orioles back home and out of their division
BOSTON - The Orioles are changing Sox this weekend and the timing couldn't be better. Out goes the nastiness that unfortunately defined the last series at Fenway Park. In come the non-division White Sox and all-around good guy Miguel González. May peace be with us. González returns to Baltimore, where he pitched for four seasons, and I'm confident that he won't be hunting for heads or knees. There's no bad blood between the teams. They won't organize a group hug, but the focus should...

Orioles rally to gain split over the Red Sox (with quotes)

Orioles rally to gain split over the Red Sox (with quotes)
BOSTON - The Orioles left the bases loaded in the first inning last night and came up empty after working Red Sox starter Drew Pomeranz for 34 pitches. They had two runners in scoring position in the first inning tonight and again couldn't put a run on the board. If the lack of clutch hitting wasn't enough of an irritant, the Orioles allowed three straight two-out singles tonight in the bottom of the first, botched a rundown and fell behind by two runs. This is how a losing streak can stretch...

Injury updates, roster moves and Hardy's slump (O's lead 8-3)

Injury updates, roster moves and Hardy's slump (O's lead 8-3)
BOSTON - Orioles top pitching prospect Hunter Harvey will throw a 25-pitch bullpen session on Friday as he recovers from ligament-reconstructive surgery in his right elbow. "It will be good to get him back out there," said manager Buck Showalter. "We had hoped he'd make it back by June, so he's right on schedule." Outfielder Michael Bourn played nine innings today at extended spring training and should be reporting soon to Triple-A Norfolk. I wrote earlier that Double-A Bowie catcher...

Jiménez on his outing, Ynoa on his promotion

Jiménez on his outing, Ynoa on his promotion
BOSTON - Ubaldo Jiménez will take a seat in the visiting dugout tonight and watch Tyler Wilson make the start that belonged to him. Jiménez should have closed out the series against the Red Sox, but the Orioles needed him to pitch in relief following Kevin Gausman's ejection in the second inning. Richard Bleier covered the next four innings and was optioned today to Triple-A Norfolk. Jiménez worked the final three and must wait his next turn. As far as Jiménez knows, he's going to...

Orioles and Red Sox lineups

Orioles and Red Sox lineups
BOSTON - The Orioles also have called up Gabriel Ynoa from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned Alec Asher to the Tides. Both moves are official. Hyun Soo Kim gets the start tonight in left field as the Orioles close out their four-game series against the Red Sox and complete their road trip. Nothing else of interest here. Seth Smith is leading off, Mark Trumbo is the designated hitter and Caleb Joseph is behind the plate. Xander Bogaerts is 4-for-9 with two doubles against Tyler Wilson. Mookie Betts...

Wilson and Ynoa joining the Orioles in Boston (Wilson recalled)

Wilson and Ynoa joining the Orioles in Boston (Wilson recalled)
BOSTON - Last night's early ejection of starting pitcher Kevin Gausman has forced the Orioles to make multiple roster moves for tonight's series finale against the Red Sox. Pitchers Tyler Wilson and Gabriel Ynoa will be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. Wilson will get the start, with Ynoa going to the bullpen. Wilson has posted a 2.61 ERA in five career games against the Red Sox. He's tossed 11 scoreless innings in two appearances at Fenway Park, including one start. Ubaldo Jiménez no...

Revisiting last night's ump show and the impact on pitching

Revisiting last night's ump show and the impact on pitching
BOSTON - Fans who paid last night to watch plate umpire Sam Holbrook sure got their money's worth. They must have gone home happy. Memories to last a lifetime. Kids today are demanding two Angel Hernandez cards and a Laz Diaz for one Sam Holbrook. Holbrook put on a show, ejecting Kevin Gausman and Adam Jones within the first five innings. He jumped out of his shoes to toss Gausman after a 77 mph curveball kissed Xander Bogaerts' back one pitch into the second. Manager Buck Showalter and...

Showalter, Gausman and Joseph on ejections and 4-2 loss

Showalter, Gausman and Joseph on ejections and 4-2 loss
BOSTON - The Orioles already have a pitcher in place who could make Thursday night's start against the Red Sox. He was summoned to Boston tonight, with the intent of possibly using him in relief. Richard Bleier and Ubaldo Jiménez were needed to cover the last seven innings after Kevin Gausman's shocking ejection. Plate umpire Sam Holbrook tossed him for hitting Xander Bogaerts with a 77 mph curveball. Let's start with a statement from Holbrook, collected by a pool reporter. Holbrook...

Orioles lose game and listed starter for Thursday

Orioles lose game and listed starter for Thursday
BOSTON - In another unexpected development for a team that can't get through a night undisturbed, the Orioles will need a starter for Thursday's series finale against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Ubaldo Jiménez worked three scoreless innings of relief tonight in a 4-2 loss to the Red Sox, no longer making him available on Thursday. He was supposed to oppose Kyle Kendrick, who hasn't started since 2015. Manager Buck Showalter had to dip into his bullpen early after plate umpire Sam Holbrook...

Gausman ejected in second inning (Jones ejected in fifth)

Gausman ejected in second inning (Jones ejected in fifth)
BOSTON - Plate umpire Sam Holbrook ejected Orioles starter Kevin Gausman tonight for hitting Xander Bogaerts leading off the bottom of the second inning, bringing a heated protest from a team that's been on the receiving end of purpose pitches. Gausman's first pitch was a 77 mph curveball that hit Bogaerts on his left side. Holbrook immediately moved around the plate and tossed Gausman, a move that will be viewed throughout the night as a gross overreaction to the feud between these...

Notes on Tillman, Castillo and tonight's game

Notes on Tillman, Castillo and tonight's game
BOSTON - Chris Tillman will fly into Baltimore on Friday, throw a bullpen session and wait for confirmation that he's starting Sunday afternoon against the White Sox at Camden Yards. The Orioles are listing the starter as TBD, but Tillman is expected to take the mound for his 2017 debut. Tillman served up four home runs last night in five innings at Triple-A Charlotte, but only one was deemed legitimate, according to reports provided to manager Buck Showalter. "No sense in flying here for one...

Duquette says Machado "shouldn't have to fear for his livelihood"

Duquette says Machado "shouldn't have to fear for his livelihood"
BOSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he thought about removing third baseman Manny Machado from last night's game against the Red Sox after the first inning due to concerns about the All-Star's safety in the growing feud between the teams. Showalter considered the idea after a Chris Sale pitch zipped behind Machado's knees. Machado talked him out of it and homered in the seventh inning. "I took Manny down the runway there after the first inning because I was leaning toward taking...

Orioles and Red Sox lineups

Orioles and Red Sox lineups
BOSTON - Trey Mancini is in left field tonight for the Orioles, while Joey Rickard gets the start in right. Mark Trumbo is serving as the designated hitter. Kevin Gausman is fighting to get on a roll, with only one quality start in six outings and a 7.50 ERA and 1.967 WHIP in 30 innings. His 42 hits allowed are tied for first in the majors and his 25 earned runs lead the American League and are tied for second in the majors. In his last three starts, Gausman has allowed 18 runs and 24 hits with...

Wondering what's in store tonight as series continues

Wondering what's in store tonight as series continues
BOSTON - The Orioles and Red Sox shouldn't be allowed to play together for a while. They have other friends. Separate the two teams and see if they start to miss each other and make up. The ugliness won't leave this series, just as it lingered in Baltimore like body odor. Bad slides, hit batters, pitches thrown behind hitters, racial slurs in the stands, more pitches throw at or behind hitters. Benches are warned, managers are fuming, and there's the very real and disturbing possibility that...

Machado: "I've lost all respect for that organization"

Machado: "I've lost all respect for that organization"
BOSTON - The plate umpire issued a warning tonight. The FCC may do the same. Orioles third baseman Manny Machado boiled over outside the visiting clubhouse following tonight's 5-2 loss to the Red Sox, his anger directed at left-hander Chris Sale and a fastball in the first inning that zipped behind his knees. With cameras and digital recorders rolling, Machado went on a profanity-laced tirade and said he lost respect for the Red Sox organization. He's tired of still being a target for his...

Benches warned, a triple play executed and a game lost

Benches warned, a triple play executed and a game lost
BOSTON - Adam Jones heard his name announced tonight over the public address system at Fenway Park and the polite round of applause that accompanied his stroll to the plate in the first inning steadily grew into a standing ovation, fans reaching out to a rival player who was subjected last night to racial taunts and a bag of peanuts thrown in his direction. Red Sox starter Chris Sale recognized the significance of the moment, stepped off the mound and let it build. Jones took a step out of the...

Showalter: "It's unfortunate and it's non-tolerable" (O's down 5-2)

Showalter: "It's unfortunate and it's non-tolerable" (O's down 5-2)
BOSTON - On the list of reasons for Orioles manager Buck Showalter to be upset about what transpired last night at Fenway Park, marring a 5-2 victory over the Red Sox, included is how he didn't know Adam Jones had taken such verbal abuse in center field. He saw the bag of peanuts that flew near the visiting dugout, aimed at Jones but hitting a Boston police officer. But he wasn't aware that racial slurs also were coming down from the stands. "It's unfortunate and it's non-tolerable....

Orioles place Castillo on disabled list

Orioles place Castillo on disabled list
BOSTON - The Orioles have placed catcher Welington Castillo on the 10-day disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis and purchased the contract of catcher Francisco Peña from Triple-A Norfolk. Pitcher Damien Magnifico was designated for assignment to create a 40-man spot for Peña, who was outrighted in spring training. Castillo underwent an MRI this morning and no structural damage was found in the shoulder. He was scratched from the lineup yesterday, with the initial explanation being...

Adam Jones: "I thought we moved past that a long time ago"

Adam Jones: "I thought we moved past that a long time ago"
BOSTON - Orioles center fielder Adam Jones spent about 16 minutes this afternoon standing outside the visiting clubhouse at Fenway Park and talking about incidents last night that included racial slurs and a bag of peanuts thrown at him. A hostile environment toward an opponent that turned especially ugly. Here's a sampling of what he said. I'll pass along more of the interview later: Asked for details on who yelled the slurs and when it happened: "It's hard to look at someone when you're...