Roch Kubatko

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...

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Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays

September 29, 2016, 11:34am

Orioles

Hyun Soo Kim is batting second and playing left field tonight as the Orioles attempt to tie the Blue Jays for the first wild card. Chris Davis has moved down to sixth in the order. Michael Bourn is playing right field and Mark Trumbo is the designated hitter, which excludes Pedro Alvarez from the lineup. Kim's two-run homer last night made him 6-for-9 as a pinch-hitter. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only three other active players began their careers with at least six hits in their...

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Savoring a win while still wondering about the offense

September 28, 2016, 7:20pm

Orioles

Savoring a win while still wondering about the offense

Hyun Soo Kim's pinch-hit home run last night gave the Orioles a 3-2 win and momentarily made us forget about the offensive woes. The amnesia was temporary. Is there anything that can be done about the bats? How about an exorcism, or at least something involving a live chicken? All virgins are off limits. This is a lineup issue, no matter the names or the order that they appear. The hitters are in a collective slump and it's been going on for much of the second half. Too many strikeouts, which...

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The beauty of Kim

September 28, 2016, 6:28pm

Orioles

Hyun Soo Kim is 6-for-9 as a pinch-hitter this season and fans still want him in the lineup. Makes no sense. But seriously ... Kim may have saved the Orioles' season tonight when he came off the bench in the ninth inning and hit a two-run homer off Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna to give them a 3-2 win at Rogers Centre. Shortstop J.J. Hardy was called out on strikes to lead off the inning, but slumping second baseman Jonathan Schoop poked a single into right field. Schoop had two hits tonight...

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Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

September 28, 2016, 11:43am

Orioles

Trey Mancini is back in the lineup tonight with a left-hander opposing the Orioles. Mancini is batting fifth as the designated hitter against the Blue Jays' Francisco Liriano. Nolan Reimold is in left field and Mark Trumbo is playing right. Chris Davis continues to bat second. The Orioles trail the Blue Jays in the all-time series 278-320. They're 159-143 at home and 119-177 in Toronto, the latter stat being the greater concern at the moment. The Orioles are 2-6 at Rogers Centre this season...

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Tillman vs. Liriano tonight in Toronto

September 28, 2016, 7:52am

Orioles

As Evan Roberts of WFAN pointed out this morning, we could have a five-way tie for the second wild card if the Yankees finish 5-0, the Orioles 1-4, the Tigers 2-3, the Mariners 3-2 and the Astros 3-1. Please don't let this happen. I can't book that many hotels. I cancelled my Boston reservation for the wild card game, confident that the Red Sox are winning the division. Their magic number remains at one. Manager Buck Showalter dislikes the phrase "must-win," but tonight's game seems to...

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Notes on Davis, OBP, Bourn, Wieters and Britton

September 27, 2016, 5:37pm

Orioles

Notes on Davis, OBP, Bourn, Wieters and Britton

Not only did the Orioles drop two games behind the Blue Jays last night for the first wild card, their lead over the Tigers for the second spot was reduced to one. Chris Davis was ejected last night by plate umpire Will Little for arguing a called third strike in the top of the seventh inning. Davis kept his cool all season despite having plenty of reasons to vent, but Little actually made the right call last night. Davis didn't go ballistic, but he must have said the magic word(s). Manager...

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Checking how the Orioles bullpen stacks up against Jays

September 27, 2016, 1:31pm

Orioles

With the Orioles and Blue Jays set to begin a crucial three-game series at Rogers Centre, how much will the bullpens factor into the outcomes and better shape the wild card picture? Orioles relievers rank second in the American League and fourth in the majors with a 3.42 ERA. The Jays rank 21st with a 4.09 ERA. The Orioles batted .215 and averaged 3.1 runs on their 11-game homestand, finishing 5-6, but the bullpen posted a 0.82 ERA by allowing four earned runs in 44 innings. The rotation posted...