Orioles and Red Sox lineups

Orioles and Red Sox lineups
BOSTON - The Orioles activated closer Zach Britton from the disabled list today and optioned right-hander Mike Wright to Triple-A Norfolk. Wright didn't pitch after being recalled yesterday. Caleb Joseph is catching again, with Welington Castillo out of the starting lineup with neck spasms. For the OriolesJoey Rickard RFAdam Jones CFManny Machado 3BMark Trumbo DHChris Davis 1BJonthan Schoop 2BTrey Mancini LFJ.J. Hardy SSCaleb Joseph C Alec Asher RHP For the Red Sox Xander Bogaerts SS Andrew...

Britton's return and tonight's game

Britton's return and tonight's game
BOSTON - The Orioles are back in first place and ready to activate their closer from the disabled list. A strong bullpen is adding more muscle. We'll find out how much flexing it does tonight with Alec Asher making his second start for the Orioles. Zach Britton will be available to the Orioles for the first time since allowing his only run in six appearances on April 14 in Toronto. No more discomfort in his forearm area. No more concerns that it might be a sign of an elbow injury. Britton has...

Jones again the target of racial abuse (updated)

Jones again the target of racial abuse (updated)
BOSTON - Manny Machado had to deal with a booing crowd last night and more questions about a series against the Red Sox in Baltimore than turned ugly following his late slide into Dustin Pedroia. Who knew that the real ugliness was playing out in the stands at Fenway Park? That Adam Jones was subjected to much harsher treatment? Jones clearly was agitated with fans in center field and expressed it after making a fantastic lunging catch to rob Mitch Moreland and end the eighth inning, jumping to...

Machado answers critics in 5-2 victory (with quotes)

Machado answers critics in 5-2 victory (with quotes)
BOSTON - Manny Machado was greeted with a chorus of boos tonight as he stepped to the plate in the first inning, cast again as the villain for his slide into Dustin Pedroia when the Orioles and Red Sox met in Baltimore. Machado heard the same noise in his next at-bats. America's most beloved ballpark doesn't come with a mute button. He turned a hostile environment into his own playground. Machado put on a defensive show in the Orioles' 5-2 victory over the Red Sox, eliciting a few gasps from...

Britton: "I feel like I'm ready to go" (Orioles lead 5-0)

Britton: "I feel like I'm ready to go" (Orioles lead 5-0)
BOSTON - Orioles closer Zach Britton will be activated before Tuesday night's game, necessitating another roster move to clear a spot for him. The Orioles want to keep their five-man bench and probably will send out a reliever. Britton made two rehab appearances at Double-A Bowie and was much sharper yesterday, throwing 11 pitches in one inning. "I feel like I'm ready to go," he said today while standing outside the visiting clubhouse at Fenway Park. "Yesterday was good, a lot better than...

Castillo removed from lineup with neck spasms

Castillo removed from lineup with neck spasms
BOSTON - Orioles catcher Welington Castillo was scratched from the lineup tonight due to a reoccurrence of the neck spasms that surfaced in spring training. Caleb Joseph is behind the plate for Dylan Bundy's third start against the Red Sox. Manager Buck Showalter said Castillo's neck has been bothering him "off and on" and the Orioles decided to sit him. "Obviously, the last three games have been pretty challenging," Showalter said. "A lot of pitches, a lot of ... So, a good weapon to...

Castillo scratched from lineup (plus notes)

Castillo scratched from lineup (plus notes)
BOSTON - The Orioles have scratched catcher Welington Castillo from tonight's lineup and replaced him with Caleb Joseph, who's batting ninth. Manager Buck Showalter will provide an explanation later this afternoon. Seth Smith RF Adam Jones CF Manny Machado 3B Mark Trumbo DH Chris Davis 1B Jonathan Schoop 2B J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty LF Caleb Joseph C Dylan Bundy RHP Alec Asher has gotten into the habit of showing up every day ready to pitch. Always a chance for a spot start, always a chance...

Orioles recall Mike Wright (plus lineups and notes)

Orioles recall Mike Wright (plus lineups and notes)
BOSTON - The Orioles are taking advantage of the maneuverability of their bullpen, the latest example coming today with Mike Wright recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and Logan Verrett optioned to the Tides. Verrett was called up yesterday, earned the win in his Orioles debut with two scoreless innings and now heads back to Norfolk. Wright is 0-3 with a 5.79 ERA in five starts at Norfolk, with 15 earned runs (18 total) and 28 hits in 23 1/3 innings. Wright worked 5 2/3 innings on Thursday, allowing...

Trey Mancini included on All-Star Game ballot

Trey Mancini included on All-Star Game ballot
BOSTON - Orioles rookie Trey Mancini is listed among the designated hitters on the All-Star Game ballot released today by Major League Baseball. Mancini has appeared in 15 games this season after making his debut in September and hitting three home runs in five games. He's batting .216/.245/.549 (11-for-51) with two doubles, five home runs and 12 RBIs. The ballot also includes first baseman Chris Davis, second baseman Jonathan Schoop, shortstop J.J. Hardy, third baseman Manny Machado, catcher...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
NEW YORK - The Orioles made it through the month of April with a 15-8 record, their best start since the 2005 season. Didn't have their No. 1 starter, lost their closer and tied with the Yankees for the best winning percentage in the American League. Only one day without at least a share of the division lead. Six wins, one loss and one tie in eight series while compensating for injuries and testing the flexibility of their roster. "Our team is really good," said catcher Welington Castillo....

Wrapping up a 7-4 11-inning win

Wrapping up a 7-4 11-inning win
NEW YORK - Players were challenged to remember a stranger game in their careers. Reporters were challenged to make sure every detail got into their stories, with so many key moments and bizarre twists and turns that led to the Orioles' 7-4 11-inning win over the Yankees. Everyone inside the visiting clubhouse seemed to be in agreement that reliever Darren O'Day didn't commit a balk in the ninth inning, as ruled by plate umpire Stu Scheurwater. Logan Verrett threw to the wrong base to...

Orioles recover from blown lead to win in 11 innings

Orioles recover from blown lead to win in 11 innings
NEW YORK - Given the chance for redemption today, the Orioles bullpen couldn't cover the last four innings of regulation without unraveling. It happened again. A late lead lost and a game forced into extra innings. Unwanted drama better saved for Broadway. What didn't happen was another defeat that tears at the gut. The Orioles overcame the loss of their lead and their manager to avoid being swept and move back into a first-place tie in the American League East. Mark Trumbo delivered an RBI...

Elbow issues, roster moves and more (extra innings)

Elbow issues, roster moves and more (extra innings)
NEW YORK - Jonathan Schoop is hit on the elbow yesterday and remains in today's lineup. Chris Davis is hit on the elbow Friday night, plays yesterday and is scratched from today's lineup. This is today's elbow news. Schoop came out of yesterday's game, but he's batting seventh today against Yankees rookie left-hander Jordan Montgomery. "Where is hit him right above the elbow, it compresses the nerve and he had a lot of weakness there," said manager Buck Showalter. "I just didn't like...

Davis scratched from lineup (plus other notes)

Davis scratched from lineup (plus other notes)
NEW YORK - First baseman Chris Davis has been scratched from the Orioles lineup due to a sore right elbow after being hit by a pitch in the fourth inning on Friday. He was in manager Buck Showalter's office earlier this morning. Davis wanted to play, but Showalter made the decision to sit him. Here's the new lineup: Joey Rickard LF Adam Jones CF Manny Machado 3B Mark Trumbo DH Welington Castillo C Trey Mancini 1B Jonathan Schoop 2B Craig Gentry RF J.J. Hardy SS Wade Miley LHP Chris Tillman is...

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees
NEW YORK - Second baseman Jonathan Schoop is in today's Orioles lineup for the finale of a three-game series against the Yankees after being hit on the elbow and leaving Saturday's game. Schoop has reached base in 16 straight games after singling yesterday. Mark Trumbo is serving as the designated hitter and Trey Mancini is playing right field. Welington Castillo is catching left-hander Wade Miley for the first time. For the OriolesJoey Rickard LFAdam Jones CFManny Machado 3BMark Trumbo...

Orioles recall Bleier and Verrett

Orioles recall Bleier and Verrett
NEW YORK - The Orioles redesigned their bullpen today by recalling left-hander Richard Bleier and right-hander Logan Verrett from Triple-A Norfolk. They optioned left-handers Jayson Aquino and Vidal Nuño following yesterday's 12-4 loss to the Yankees. Bleier has allowed one earned run and seven hits in nine innings, with no walks and 11 strikeouts. He's made back-to-back appearances on Thursday and Friday after coming off the disabled list. Bleier worked three innings on April 9. He's...

Orioles try to avoid sweep today in the Bronx

Orioles try to avoid sweep today in the Bronx
NEW YORK - The Orioles made half of their roster moves yesterday by optioning left-handers Jayson Aquino and Vidal Nuño to Triple-A Norfolk. They brag about having more optionable pieces this year and no longer being handcuffed when their bullpen is taxed. They're now providing a demonstration. If Richard Bleier is recalled, and he's been discussed, the left-hander will be returning to Yankee Stadium. He appeared in 23 games with New York as a rookie last season and posted a 1.96 ERA in 23...

Wrapping up a 12-4 loss (Aquino and Nuño optioned)

Wrapping up a 12-4 loss (Aquino and Nuño optioned)
NEW YORK - Two games lost, a series lost for the first time this month and more roster moves to come. The Orioles are in scramble mode and no longer in first place. Three Orioles pitchers combined to allow 12 runs today over the first seven innings and the Yankees cruised to a 12-4 victory. Caleb Joseph hit a two-run homer off Tommy Layne in the ninth for his first RBIs since Sept. 11, 2015. There was a highlight on the visiting side. The Orioles had a 6-0-1 series record, but they've dropped...

Another disappointing start for Ubaldo Jiménez (O's lose 12-4)

Another disappointing start for Ubaldo Jiménez (O's lose 12-4)
NEW YORK - Yankees starter Michael Pineda struck out the side today in the top of the first inning. Orioles starter Ubaldo Jiménez served up a leadoff home run to Brett Gardner. And a tone was set. Gardner added a three-run shot in the second inning and the Orioles are threatening to lose their first series of the season while trailing 7-0 in the fifth at Yankee Stadium. Jiménez lasted only 3 1/3 innings for the second consecutive start and was charged with seven runs (six earned) and...

Updates on Tillman, Britton, Bundy and more (O's down 5-0)

Updates on Tillman, Britton, Bundy and more (O's down 5-0)
NEW YORK - Chris Tillman and Zach Britton will stay on their respective injury rehab assignments. Tillman will join Triple-A Norfolk and pitch Tuesday night in Charlotte. Britton will stay with Double-A Bowie and throw another inning on Sunday. The Orioles considered letting Tillman pitch at Bowie or Single-A Frederick, but decided to bump him up to the International League. "Talking to Chris, the best competition, the best facility. That will be good for him," said manager Buck...