Lefty David Purcey picked up his first win of the year in his 7th Major League start of the season, pitching Toronto past the Orioles 9-2 Monday night.
It was game one of a ten-game trip for the Orioles.
Purcey, 1-2, gave up just one run and four hits, all singles, over 7 2/3. He fanned and walked four, throwing 111 pitches. This was his 4th Major League win.
Felix Pie's RBI single in the second provided the first O's run and he added a sac fly in the 9th. The Orioles have scored just...
Not Tillman time - After allowing just one run over 6 2/3 vs. Tampa in his last start, tonight, O's rookie Chris Tillman gave up four runs and six hits over five innings. Tillman falls to 2-4, 4.71 after 11 Major League starts.
In two starts vs. Toronto, Tillman is 0-1, 4.63. The O's are 4-7 when he starts.
The O's bullpen again served up late runs for an opponent. Tonight in three innings, the bullpen allowed seven hits and five runs (all earned).
Over the last three games, the O's...
Game Preview
Orioles (60-90) at Toronto (67-83)
Back in late April and early May, the Orioles lost six games in a row. It is a season-high mark they would like to avoid matching tonight.
In game two of a three-game series tonight at 7:05 p.m., the Blue Jays host the Orioles with Mark Hendrickson (5-5, 4.47) pitching vs. Brian Tallet (7-9, 5.31).
The O's have been out-scored 35-11 during their five-game losing streak. Over the past three games, the Orioles pitching has given up 29 runs,...
LHP Mark Hendrickson (5-5, 4.47) tonight will make his 51st appearance of this season and his 9th start. It's his 4th road start and the 12th of his career vs. Toronto.
Hendrickson took the rotation spot of Brian Matusz and made the start last Thursday vs. Tampa. In 3 1/3 innings, he gave up five hits and two runs, throwing 57 pitches.
In 42 games this year pitching out of the bullpen, Hendrickson went 4-0, 3.44. Over his last 12 relief outings, he pitched to an ERA of 2.31.
In his...
The Orioles blew a lead and the game. Their bullpen is still struggling.
Aaron Hill's RBI double to right center scored Jose Bautista in the last of the 11th as Toronto beat the Orioles 6-5 Tuesday to hand the O's a 6th straight loss.
Dennis Sarfate came on in the 11th and walked Bautista on a 3-2 pitch before Hill delivered his second RBI of the night and 100th on the year.
The O's led 5-2 after seven innings.
O's right hander Jim Johnson suffered another blown save as Toronto scored...
On the Mark - Mark Hendrickson got the start and pitched a season-high six innings but did not get a decision. He pitched very well, allowing just four hits and two runs, throwing 68 pitches.
Hendrickson, who retired the last 11 batters he faced, was seeking his first win since July 11th and his first win as a starter since April 10th.
Another rough night - Struggling closer Jim Johnson suffered his third blown save tonight in his last five chances. Johnson has saved six of nine games...
The Orioles are not confirming anything yet, but it appears there have been internal discussions about moving Billy Rowell from outfield back to the infield.
Rowell, who played third base his first three seasons in the organization, played right field last year for the Class-A Frederick Keys.
The 21-year-old Rowell struggled at bat the last two years with Frederick, but also had a tough time last season adjusting to right field.
The O's 2006 first-round draft pick, he made 15 errors with a...
Game Preview
Orioles (60-91) at Toronto (68-83)
With an inconsistent offense and a slumping bullpen, the Orioles have now lost six games in a row to tie a season high.
Tonight they try and avoid a three-game sweep at Toronto at 7:05 p.m. when Jeremy Guthrie (10-15, 5.05) pitches against Scott Richmond (6-10, 5.31).
During the six-game losing streak:
*O's have been out-scored 41-16
*Team ERA is 6.00
*Team batting average is .249
In just the past four games, the O's pitchers have allowed 35...
RHP Jeremy Guthrie (10-15, 5.05) tonight will make his 31st start of this season, his 15th on the road and the 10th in his career vs. Toronto.
Guthrie has lost his last two starts vs. New York and Boston, giving up 8ER over 11 1/3 innings. In his four previous starts, he went 3-1, 1.33.
So, over his last six starts, he is 3-3, 2.82.
Despite the improved pitching recently, Guthrie leads the Major Leagues with 15 losses and leads the American League in runs allowed and homers.
Right-handed...
A quick plug.
Check this space and blog on Thursday morning for a report on Matt Hobgood's first season in the O's organization.
Hobgood pitched at Bluefield this summer and talks about his experience there, what he'll be doing this winter and where he hopes to pitch next year.
Toronto scored three runs in the 4th to break a 2-2 tie and beat the Orioles 7-3 Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep.
The O's were out-scored 22-10 in the series and their losing streak has reached a season-high seven straight games.
Travis Snider hit a solo homer and had 2 RBI as six different Blue Jays drove in runs and Toronto improved to 41-36 at home and 9-6 vs. Baltimore.
Gary Thorne and Buck Martinez ask Dave Trembley about the O's 7-3 loss
Scott Richmond, who had an ERA...
Swept away by the Jays - Toronto posted wins over the O's by scores of 9-2, 6-5 and 7-3 in this series to complete the sweep by a combined score of 22 to 10. It's Toronto's second sweep of the O's this year. They took three straight at home from May 1-3.
The O's fall to 16-33 in series finales. They are now 4-18 in a finale vs. an AL East team and 1-10 vs. the East on the road in such games.
Toronto takes the season series lead 9-6 with these three wins. The Jays went 8-1 at home...
He didn't have the fastball velocity he had while dominating in high school. For sure he didn't have the eye-opening stats either.
But for O's first-round draft pick, RHP Matt Hobgood, his first season of pro ball was productive. He made the transition from high school ball and found out what it takes to be a pro.
It all happened fast for Hobgood. On May 31st, he pitched in a playoff game for Norco (California) High. A week later he threw a bullpen session for the O's brass at Camden...
After playing at times with pain for parts of the last two seasons, O's outfielder Nolan Reimold can now look forward to the 2010 season. One where he expects to be healthy, pain-free and not in the trainers room nearly every day.
Reimold, who batted .279-15-45 in 104 games this year, underwent successful surgery Wednesday to repair the Achilles tendon in his left foot.
"They told me everything went as planned. They shaved down the bump on my heel, that will give me some more room in...
Game Preview
Orioles (60-92) at Cleveland (61-91)
Tonight the Orioles begin a three-game series in Cleveland and they'll face a team that is currently struggling worse than they are.
While the Orioles are out to break a season-long, seven-game losing streak, Cleveland has lost 11 games in a row.
It's the Tribe's longest streak since losing a club-record 12 in a row in May of 1931.
Pitching Matchups - Cleveland series:
Fri, 7:05p - David Hernandez (4-8, 5.34) vs. Fausto Carmona (3-12,...
RHP David Hernandez (4-8, 5.34) tonight will make his 18th start of the season, his 9th on the road and his 2nd of the year vs. Cleveland.
Hernandez had been struggling, but put together a decent start last Saturday at home vs. Boston. He did not get a decision and over six innings allowed seven hits and three runs. He threw 93 pitches.
Hernandez, 2009 season:
First ten starts: 4-4, 3.81
Last seven starts: 0-4, 8.16
The Orioles are 5-12 when Hernandez starts, losing the last seven in a...
With 55 doubles, Brian Roberts is tied with Lance Berkman and Gee Walker for 18th on the all-time, single season doubles list. His next double will be number 56 and that would tie him for 13th best all-time. If he gets 57, he'll move into the all-time top ten for one season.
56 doubles
Craig Biggio, 1999
Garret Anderson, 2002
Nomar Garciaparra, 2002
George Kell, 1950
Joe Medwick, 1937
57 doubles
Carlos Delgado, 2000
Billy Herman, 1935
Billy Herman, 1936
So Roberts next double will be...
O's center fielder Felix Pie left tonight's game in Cleveland in the top of the 7th with a left leg injury. He was trying to beat out a double-play grounder, he did not, and he fell to the ground after hitting the first base bag.
It was a possibly a quad injury as Pie was grabbing the front of his leg.
Pie was 2 for 4 in the game with a single and double. Jeff Fiorentino went in for Pie in center in the last of the 7th.
It can't get much more frustrating for the Orioles.
A pitcher with an ERA of 13.11 over his last three starts beat them. So did a team with an 11-game losing streak.
The O's offense missed out on scoring chances throughout the night as Cleveland beat the Orioles 4-2 Friday night to snap their long losing streak.
Gary Thorne talks with Dave Trembley after the O's 4-2 loss to the Indians
The O's are 0-4 on this road trip and their own season-worst losing streak reaches eight games.
The...
Tough night at the office - The O's lost the game Friday night as much as Cleveland won it. They went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position and left ten men on base.
Melvin Mora's throwing error plated Cleveland's third run. A Matt Albers bases-loaded walk handed the Tribe their 4th run. The O's stranded two runners on base four times in the game, three times with Cesar Izturis making the third out.
It's over now - Cleveland snapped an 11-game losing streak, picking up its...