Steve Melewski

Adam Jones has a three-RBI day as the Orioles win in Chicago

April 19, 2012, 1:22pm

Orioles

It got shaky there in the last of the ninth but the Orioles won another close one today, beating Chicago 5-3 to improve to 8-5 on the season. The White Sox loaded the bases against Jim Johnson in the last of the ninth, but he fanned Alex Rios to end the game and strand the bases loaded. Johnson is now six for six in saves this year and has recorded 14 consecutive saves dating to last August. Last year the Orioles won just five road series all season. After this win today, they are now 2-0 in...

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Sometimes, there is nothing wrong with a productive out

April 19, 2012, 10:54am

Orioles

Sometimes, there is nothing wrong with a productive out

I don't expect everyone to share this opinion, but I think Nick Johnson did a good job in the top of the first inning today, even though he made another out. Johnson is now 0-for-17 on the year and that is the most at-bats by anyone so far this year without a hit in the majors. He came up today with a run in, after an Adam Jones RBI double, and runners at second and third with one out. He was down 0-1 on the count when he hit a groundout to second base to score a run and give the Orioles a...

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Orioles starting pitchers hit a bump in the road

April 18, 2012, 9:52pm

Orioles

Even after their second loss on this road trip by seven runs, the Orioles woke up today for the series finale in Chicago still in first place. At 7-5, they lead the American League East by a half-game over Toronto. Tommy Hunter gave up eight runs and nine hits over 5 2/3 innings last night. Three runs scored after he left the game, but it was the poorest outing by an O's starter this year. Since allowing two unearned runs in his first start, Hunter has given up 13 runs (12 earned) on 15 hits...

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Time to tighten up the defense (Orioles lose 8-1)

April 18, 2012, 4:26pm

Orioles

While the Orioles began today in first place in the American League East, they began in last place in the AL in some defensive stats. They rank at the bottom of the league in fielding percentage at .973 and have the most errors with 12 through Tuesday's games. Matt Wieters has thrown out four of 13 base stealers so far to rank ninth in the league at 30.8 percent. Yes, the Orioles need to tighten up on the D. They do lead the AL with 16 double plays, so they've got that going for...

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Memo to O's fans: Enjoy this good start

April 18, 2012, 7:51am

Orioles

I know what you were thinking when the ball was hit to Wilson Betemit with two outs and the bases loaded in the last of the ninth last night. You were thinking that third base has been a disaster for the Orioles on defense this year and now the White Sox hit the ball to the third sacker with the game on the line. Yikes, anywhere but that! But Betemit made a very nice play and the Orioles won again to improve their first place record to 7-4. After 11 games my advice to the Orioles fans is...

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The bullpen is pulling its weight

April 18, 2012, 5:43am

Orioles

Maybe somewhat lost during the Orioles 7-4 start which has featured some longball bashing and solid starting pitching is that the Orioles' bullpen has been pretty solid this year as well. Outside of that Kevin Gregg meltdown Sunday in Toronto the bullpen has been very good. The 'pen ERA on the year is 2.75 and if you take away Sunday's game that lowers to 1.82. In last night's 3-2 win, four pitchers combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings. It was all needed as Darren O'Day, Troy Patton,...

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Another excellent outing tonight for Dylan Bundy (update, O's beat Chicago)

April 17, 2012, 3:50pm

Orioles

Another excellent outing tonight for Dylan Bundy (update, O's beat Chicago)

Orioles top pitching prospect Dylan Bundy just completed his third outing as a pro and he has now pitched the equivalent of a nine-inning no-hitter over his three games for the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds. In the first inning tonight versus Hagerstown, the 19-year-old right-hander got a strikeout, followed by a pair of ground outs. In the second inning he got a fly out and then a pair of strikeouts. In the third he retired the first two hitters on ground outs before allowing a two-out walk...

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Matt Wieters with some impressive homer stats

April 17, 2012, 3:23pm

Orioles

Matt Wieters with some impressive homer stats

Here are some impressive home run stats for Orioles catcher Matt Wieters. He started hitting more homers late last year as you may recall and, in fact, he had 12 of his 22 homers in 2011 in the season's final two months. If you combined that with his fast start this year - he has four homers already - Wieters has now hit 16 home runs over his last 45 games. That is a 57-homer pace over 162 games. He hit 12 in his last 36 games last year and has four in the first nine games this season. He...

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Big night in Salisbury: Dylan Bundy makes his home debut tonight

April 17, 2012, 7:16am

Orioles

Big night in Salisbury: Dylan Bundy makes his home debut tonight

I would have to guess the Orioles fans on Maryland's Eastern Shore are pretty fired up about tonight's game at Salisbury's Perdue Stadium. Dylan Bundy makes his third pro start and first at home as the Single-A Shorebirds host Hagerstown at 7:05 p.m. Hagerstown's Alex Meyer, drafted 23rd overall last year (Bundy was No. 4) will make this a matchup of first-round draft picks for the Orioles and Nationals. Bundy has dazzled starting this season by retiring 18 consecutive batters - 12 on...

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Improbable win: O's use late homer barrage for latest comeback victory

April 16, 2012, 10:40pm

Orioles

Improbable win: O's use late homer barrage for latest comeback victory

You don't often see a team win a game where it makes three errors, strikes out 15 times, leaves the bases loaded twice, goes 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position through the first nine innings and trails by three runs with six outs to go. But the Orioles scored nine unanswered runs over their last three at-bats last night to storm back and win 10-4 in 10 innings at Chicago. Here is a stat for you: In their three wins on this road trip, the Orioles have outscored opponents 15-0 from the...

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Orioles score nine late runs to beat the White Sox

April 16, 2012, 8:01pm

Orioles

Who saw that coming? Maybe after watching the Orioles come up with some late offense on Friday and Saturday in Toronto led many fans to not give up on tonight's game. Those that stayed with it were rewarded. The Orioles scored nine unanswered runs in the last three innings tonight to beat Chicago 10-4 in ten innings. In the top of the eighth, Matt Wieters hit a solo homer to bring the Orioles within 4-2. Then they got a pair of solo homers to tie the game off White sox closer Hector...

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Orioles release pair that were on minor league deals

April 16, 2012, 4:25pm

Orioles

The Orioles released catcher Josh Johnson and pitcher Casey Fossum over the weekend. Both were in extended spring training on minor league contracts. Neither was currently on a roster of any of the team's minor league affiliates. Beyond that, I have no other info as to how they played or looked this spring, just that both have been released. Here are some notes about tonight's Orioles-White Sox game: * New White Sox manager Robin Ventura made his major league debut at Memorial Stadium in...

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Minor league news and notes

April 16, 2012, 11:06am

Orioles

Taking a look around the Orioles' minor leagues: Triple-A Norfolk picked up a walk-off win Sunday, 4-3 over Charlotte on Ryan Adams' two-out, bases-loaded single in the last of the ninth. The Tides are now 5-6. Outfielder Jai Miller went 0-for-2 Sunday to end his six-game batting streak. Miller is hitting .297 over ten games but has struck out a whopping 20 times in 37 at-bats so far for Norfolk. Brad Bergesen, who is 0-1 with an ERA of 8.68 in his first two starts, pitches tonight for the...

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Thoughts on Gregg, Matusz and more

April 15, 2012, 4:39pm

Orioles

I would guess if you put it to a vote right now among the fan base, it might be almost unanimous that the club should now cut ties with reliever Kevin Gregg, even if the Orioles have to eat all of his 2012 salary. The 2011 season was bad for him, but it's started worse this season. He allowed six straight batters to reach yesterday turning a 3-2 deficit that the Orioles could possibly overcome into an 8-2 game that was now pretty much out of reach. The Orioles clearly have better options...

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Toronto scores seven in the sixth to avoid the sweep

April 15, 2012, 11:48am

Orioles

Toronto scores seven in the sixth to avoid the sweep

The Orioles chance to come up with their first three-game series sweep at Toronto since April of 2005 evaporated today during the Blue Jays last of the sixth when Toronto scored seven times against Brian Matusz and Kevin Gregg. Toronto beat the Orioles 9-2 to salvage the series finale as the Orioles fall to 2-1 on this road trip and 5-4 on the season. Buck Showalter speaks with Jim Hunter following the Orioles' 9-2 loss to Toronto Toronto came up with the seven runs on six hits along with...

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Orioles among the AL leaders in a few categories

April 15, 2012, 10:13am

Orioles

As they look for a three-game sweep this afternoon, the Orioles began today among the American League leaders in several team categories: * Team ERA: second at 2.84 * Opponent batting average: fourth at .236 * Saves: Tied for first with four * Batting average: fifth at .261 * Runs: Tied for fifth with 38 * Home runs: Tied for first with Texas at 13 * Slugging: First at .464 * On-base percentage: Tied for fourth at .325 Brian Matusz entered this game with a 0-2 record and career ERA of 18.56...

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Surprised to see Reimold missing from the lineup (updated)

April 15, 2012, 8:36am

Orioles

Surprised to see Reimold missing from the lineup (updated)

I can understand the decision to sit Matt Wieters today and can even understand Buck Showalter deciding to rest J.J. Hardy also at the start of today's game. But the omission of Nolan Reimold from today's starting lineup is a real head scratcher to me. Knowing Showalter there is a very good reason to do it, I just haven't heard it yet. Maybe he is putting defense first today. But it's the third game already that Reimold has not started, so it shouldn't have anything to do with him...

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O's show some spunk and chemistry during 5-3 start

April 14, 2012, 6:40pm

Orioles

O's show some spunk and chemistry during 5-3 start

The Orioles began yesterday in a four-way tie for first place in the American League East and now they are, at least for a day, alone at the top at 5-3. So they've got that going for them. They also seem to have a little spunk and chemistry going for them in the early going. It is impressive that they pulled out these games in Toronto considering they kept giving up leads on Friday night and their own error led to Toronto taking a lead in the sixth yesterday. But they pulled both out late,...

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Clutch homer: Reimold's blast in ninth carries O's past Toronto

April 14, 2012, 3:12pm

Orioles

Clutch homer: Reimold's blast in ninth carries O's past Toronto

Nolan Reimold came into this Toronto series batting just .238, but he now has five hits in the last two days, including a very big one today in the top of the ninth. Reimold's two-run homer broke a 4-4 tie and gave the Orioles a 6-4 win at Toronto. He is 5-for-10 in the series with two doubles, two homers and three RBIs. The Orioles went 4-23 in Toronto from 2009-2011, but now have a series win there for the first time since June 2008 and can sweep this series Sunday. Wilson Betemit's...

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Finally another homer with someone on base for the Orioles (Betemit ties it)

April 14, 2012, 1:35pm

Orioles

The Orioles finally have hit another homer with someone on base. After Nick Markakis hit a two-run shot in the first inning on opening day, the Orioles' next nine homers were all solo shots by five different players. But Chris Davis showed off his power potential in the top of the fourth today at Toronto with a two-run blast that gave the Orioles a 3-2 lead. Davis got an offspeed pitch up and in from Henderson Alvarez and didn't miss it, hitting his third homer as an Oriole after he had...