Roch Kubatko

Quotes and reactions following 5-2 win and wild card berth

October 02, 2016, 3:37pm

Orioles

Quotes and reactions following 5-2 win and wild card berth

NEW YORK - The Orioles formed the usual postgame handshake line on the field this afternoon after Zach Britton struck out Brett Gardner. High-fives, a few hugs and into the dugout. No dog pile on the mound, no raucous celebration. Champagne and beer were sprayed and poured over heads in the visiting clubhouse, but players stopped to watch the end of the game in Boston, showered and left. There's more work to do. And it's going to happen in Toronto. The Orioles qualified for the second wild...

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Orioles go wild in the Bronx

October 02, 2016, 1:42pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - The Orioles are going to the playoffs for the third time in the last five seasons, their bounce-back skills again on full display as they vaulted into the wild card round. Matt Wieters homered from both sides of the plate for the first time in his career, both two-run shots, and Kevin Gausman pitched into the eighth inning in a 5-2 victory over the Yankees in the Bronx. Gausman held the Yankees to one run over 7 1/3 innings before turning over the game to Zach Britton, who let an...

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More notes on Game 162 (O's lead 5-1)

October 02, 2016, 11:28am

Orioles

NEW YORK - The mood in the Orioles' clubhouse this afternoon was the same as usual. No one seemed uptight. Some guys watched the NFL game. Reliever Tommy Hunter brought the usual banter and silliness. Business as usual for Game 162. "I think nervousness comes when you're not sure if you're ready," said manager Buck Showalter. "I think our guys are looking forward to the things they've earned the right to be part of this time of the year. I think they look at it as that. I know they...

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A Bourn leadoff hitter

October 02, 2016, 10:21am

Orioles

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter didn't spend last night watching the other games that impacted his team's pursuit of a wild card berth, opting instead for college football. He had more interest in Clemson vs. Louisville than Toronto vs. Boston. Showalter said Dylan Bundy is available in the bullpen today. He has an idea who would start a wild card game, but won't reveal his choice, in part because he said it could change later. The obvious candidates are Chris Tillman and Ubaldo...

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Orioles and Yankees lineups

October 02, 2016, 8:18am

Orioles

NEW YORK - The Orioles can't be eliminated from playoff contention today, no matter what happens. The Tigers' rescheduled game on Monday further complicates the situation. Let's simplify it: The Orioles win and they're in the playoffs. They win and the Blue Jays lose, they're the home team in the wild card game. The Jays win and they're the home team. Both teams lose and the Jays are the home team because they own the tiebreaker. The possibility still exists that we could have a three-way...

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Can the Orioles clinch today?

October 01, 2016, 6:55pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - The Orioles never should have beaten the Giants on Aug. 14 after falling behind by six runs approaching the seventh inning. They weren't supposed to get a pinch-hit two-run homer from Hyun Soo Kim in the ninth inning last week to rally past the Blue Jays. They've won games they were set up to lose. They lost a game yesterday that they should have won. It's easier to accept baseball's balancing act when the defeat doesn't happen in the penultimate game of the regular...

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Wrapping up a 7-3 loss (updated)

October 01, 2016, 4:37pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he's waiting until the smoke clears to confirm that Kevin Gausman is starting on Sunday. This isn't smoke from a torched lead. It's just an expression. Gausman probably will get the start while the Orioles try to clinch a wild card and perhaps a home game. It's coming down to Game 162. Can you believe it? "Oh sure. Yeah, you can," Showalter said. "It's a real tribute to our guys to have an opportunity like we have tomorrow. That's how we...

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Orioles fumble three-run lead and lose to Yankees

October 01, 2016, 3:03pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - The Orioles couldn't hold a three-run lead today and may no longer hold the top wild card. More to come later. There's so much to sort through from this game, so much to wrap your head around - or at least try. Austin Romine's two-run single off Brad Brach in the bottom of the eighth inning broke a tie and the Yankees pulled away for a 7-3 win over the Orioles in the Bronx. A Blue Jays win tonight would create another tie for the top wild card. The Tigers also are playing tonight...

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Orioles refusing to look beyond today's game (O's down 5-3)

October 01, 2016, 12:12pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - Ben Werthan, the Orioles' coordinator of advance scouting, stepped inside manager Buck Showalter's office at Yankee Stadium prepared to formulate a plan on gathering information on potential opponents in the postseason. Showalter values Werthan's work, often citing his contributions and the degree of difficulty in executing the duties attached to the job. Short notice, expanded rosters, etc. But Showalter wasn't ready to divert his focus and peek down the road. "Ben came in...

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Gausman talks about possibility of starting Sunday

October 01, 2016, 11:17am

Orioles

Gausman talks about possibility of starting Sunday

NEW YORK - The Orioles confirmed today that Kevin Gausman will start Sunday's regular-season finale at Yankee Stadium. Just don't hold them to it. Gausman may be replaced if the Orioles already clinch a playoff berth, a topic that brings great discomfort to manager Buck Showalter. He doesn't want to go down that road with at least nine innings slated for today. Gausman could be on the mound as the Orioles try to cement a wild card spot and perhaps home field in the game. "It's going to be...

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Orioles and Yankees lineups

October 01, 2016, 9:21am

Orioles

NEW YORK - The Orioles will be a playoff team in 2016 with a win today and either a Blue Jays or Tigers loss tonight. Reports of their demise, again, were greatly exaggerated. The wild card game will be played at Camden Yards if the Orioles win and the Jays lose. The pitching continues to lead the way, with the Orioles posting a 2.90 ERA in September. The Orioles have won six of seven since the Red Sox swept them in a four-game series. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Jonathan Schoop was...

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Miley will try to keep the Orioles rolling

September 30, 2016, 9:30pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - The Orioles managed last night to win the opener of a series at Yankee Stadium for the first time since Aug. 31, 2012. They had lost 11 in a row. It really is a special September stretch. Now, let's see what they can do in October. The Rangers clinched home field in the postseason and would play the Orioles in the American League Division Series. The latter has to advance, of course, but for planning purposes ... The Orioles could mash their way to Arlington, perhaps going on...

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Wrapping up an 8-1 win

September 30, 2016, 7:38pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - The Orioles sit atop the wild card mountain again. The Blue Jays lost to the Red Sox 5-3 and enabled the Orioles to take sole possession of the top wild card. A rainy, windy night never looked so good to a team that refuses to be counted out. The Tigers won and are now a half-game behind for the second wild card. Manager Buck Showalter said he accidentally checked the scoreboard, but never on purpose. "Not much at all until I had no choice because it was right behind the pitcher's...

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Orioles don't let Yankees rain on wild card parade

September 30, 2016, 6:34pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - The Orioles are serious about getting the home wild card game. It's not just about making the playoffs. It's about making the most of the opportunity. The Orioles hit three home runs tonight in the top of the fifth inning, giving them 250 for the season, and they coasted to an 8-1 rain-soaked victory over the Yankees in the Bronx. The win improved the Orioles' record to 88-72. They hadn't scored more than six runs since Sept. 10. The Blue Jays blew a 3-1 lead over the Red Sox in...

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Showalter expresses interest in keeping Bourn (O's lead 8-1)

September 30, 2016, 3:17pm

Orioles

Showalter expresses interest in keeping Bourn (O's lead 8-1)

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter can envision a scenario where outfielder Michael Bourn fits on next season's club no matter how the other personnel moves unfold. Bourn has made a solid impression since the Orioles acquired him from the Diamondbacks on Aug. 31 for minor league pitcher Jason Heinrich. He's 9-for-36 heading into tonight's game against the Yankees, but it includes a double, two home runs and six RBIs. He's also drawn three walks and stolen two bases. Joey Rickard is...

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More on the weather, rotation and lineup

September 30, 2016, 2:14pm

Orioles

More on the weather, rotation and lineup

NEW YORK - The tarp remains on the field as a mist falls at Yankee Stadium. There's a sense of optimism that the game will start on time, but the conditions are sloppy at best. Whether it goes uninterrupted is another story. The Yankees haven't been keeping an open weather dialogue with the Orioles. Asked what he's heard about the forecast, Showalter replied, "Nothing. They haven't said a word to us. I'll stop right there. That's kind of the way it goes." Showalter joked about playing a...

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Trumbo and Britton finalists for awards

September 30, 2016, 1:00pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - Rain continues to fall at Yankee Stadium this afternoon and the tarp is on the field. No batting practice and no idea whether tonight's game starts on time. We're waiting to meet with manager Buck Showalter. So far, there's been no news to report. Just an Orioles lineup that again excludes Pedro Alvarez versus a right-handed starter. Showalter values Michael Bourn's defense in right field, which puts Mark Trumbo in the designated hitter slot. Trumbo and Zach Britton are finalists...

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Orioles lineup vs. Yankees

September 30, 2016, 11:34am

Orioles

NEW YORK - Hyun Soo Kim remains in the starting lineup in left field as the Orioles begin their final series of the regular season at Yankee Stadium. Chris Davis is batting sixth again. Still no Pedro Alvarez in the lineup, with Michael Bourn in right field and Mark Trumbo serving as the designated hitter. Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda hasn't completed six innings in any of his five starts this month, but he's allowed only five earned runs in 23 2/3 innings. He's surrendered only three...

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Must-win series shifts to the Bronx

September 29, 2016, 6:33pm

Orioles

The regular season is down to three games. Three games against the Yankees in the Bronx. Three games in jeopardy because the forecast is calling for rain through the weekend. Anyone interested in a Monday tripleheader? The Orioles are 2-5 at Yankee Stadium this season and a combined 5-12 over the past two seasons. They haven't swept a three-game series in the Bronx since June 1986. There's no real momentum in baseball because it's dictated by the next day's starting pitcher, but few people...

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Jimenez vs. Stroman tonight in Toronto

September 29, 2016, 1:19pm

Orioles

The Orioles close their series against the Blue Jays tonight with a chance to move into a tie for the first wild card. Can Ubaldo Jimenez carry them to it? Jimenez has registered a 2.85 ERA in his last six starts over 41 innings. It's been a remarkable turnaround. But he's posted a 9.42 ERA and 1.953 WHIP in four games (three starts) against the Blue Jays this season, and it's been especially ugly at times. Jimenez retired only one batter in a June 12 start at Rogers Centre, allowing five...