Steve Melewski

Pie leaves game injured

April 02, 2010, 7:07pm

Orioles

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.

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steve melewski orioles

O's can't get the clutch hit, lose at Cleveland

April 02, 2010, 7:06pm

Orioles

O's can't get the clutch hit, lose at Cleveland

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...

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steve melewski orioles

Post-game Notes: O's lose series opener at Cleveland

April 02, 2010, 7:04pm

Orioles

Post-game Notes: O's lose series opener at Cleveland

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...

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steve melewski orioles

Saturday night baseball: O's at Cleveland

April 02, 2010, 7:02pm

Orioles

Saturday night baseball: O's at Cleveland

Game Preview Orioles (60-93) at Cleveland (62-91) When two baseball teams working on long losing steaks collided Friday night in Cleveland, the Indians ended their frustration while the Orioles must wait at least a few more hours. A loss Friday and Cleveland would have equaled its longest streak ever - 12 games in May of 1931. But the Indians took advantage of O's mistakes and Baltimore's lack of clutch hitting to post a 4-2 win on Friday. That was game one of a three-game...

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steve melewski orioles

Tonight's pitchers: Berken vs. Sowers

April 02, 2010, 7:01pm

Orioles

RHP Jason Berken (5-12, 6.41) tonight makes his 23rd start of the year, his 10th on the road and his 2nd vs. Cleveland. After a five-start stretch where Berken went 3-0, 4.23, the right hander took the loss Sunday vs. Boston. In three innings, he allowed ten hits and six runs. Right-handed hitters are batting .312 against him and lefties hit .337. The O's are 6-16 when Berken starts, but are 3-3 over the last six games. Berken, 2009 season: First half: 1-6, 5.87, 9 starts Second half: ...

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steve melewski orioles

Tribe with a walk-off win, 9-8 over O's

April 02, 2010, 6:59pm

Orioles

Jhonny Peralta's RBI single in the last of the 9th gave Cleveland a 9-8 walk-off win over the Orioles Saturday night, after the Birds had rallied to tie it in the top of the ninth. Luis Valbuena singled off Jim Johnson leading off the 9th and advanced to second on a grounder. Peralta's 2nd RBI of the night was the game winner. The Orioles have now lost nine games in a row. Gary and Jim ask Dave Trembley about the O's 9-8 loss to Cleveland The O's went to the 9th down 8-6, but the first...

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steve melewski orioles

Post-game Notes: Tribe walks off to victory

April 02, 2010, 6:57pm

Orioles

Post-game Notes: Tribe walks off to victory

The pen was not mightier - The O's struggling bullpen continue in that fashion on Saturday night. The Tribe rallied for four runs in the 7th vs. Sean Henn and Chris Ray and scored in the 9th to beat Jim Johnson. The O's pen tonight allowed seven hits and five runs in 4 2/3 innings. The bullpen ERA is 7.99 over the last seven games. The O's losing streak has reached nine in a row since a 4-2 win over Tampa on September 16th. For the second time in four games, the O's opponent won in...

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steve melewski orioles

Series finale: Orioles at Cleveland

April 02, 2010, 6:55pm

Orioles

Game Preview Orioles (60-94) at Cleveland (63-91) After 4-2 and 9-8 losses the past two nights vs. Cleveland, the Orioles will need to win this afternoon at 1:05 p.m. to avoid a three-game sweep. Chris Tillman (2-4, 4.71) pitches for the O's vs. Cleveland's David Huff (10-8, 5.98). The Orioles are 0-5 on this ten-game road trip and are 24-52 in road games on the season. The Orioles have now lost nine games in a row since beating Tampa on September 16th. Four of the nine losses have come...

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steve melewski orioles

Today's pitchers: Tillman vs. Huff

April 02, 2010, 6:50pm

Orioles

RHP Chris Tillman (2-4, 4.71) today makes his 12th start of the season, his 7th on the road and his 2nd this year vs. Cleveland. Two starts ago, Tillman gave up just one run over 6 2/3 vs. Tampa. In his last start he gave up four runs and six hits in five innings Monday, in taking the loss at Toronto. In four September starts, Tillman is 1-2, 5.56. Right-handed batters are hitting .336 against him while lefties bat just .242. The Orioles are 4-7 when Tillman starts, 2-2 this...

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steve melewski orioles

Not Tillman's time

April 02, 2010, 6:49pm

Orioles

Chris Tillman gave up six runs in the first inning today at Cleveland and lasted just two innings. His previous shortest start this year was his first start, July 29 vs. KC, when he went 4 2/3 innings. Tillman may have tired here at the end of the year. His ERA in September is 7.30 after it was 5.79 in July and 4.04 in August. Tillman today: 2IP, 6H, 6R-ER, 1B, 2K, 1HR......53 pitches. Brian Bass came on in the third. Meanwhile, David Huff has sailed through four innings for Cleveland on...

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steve melewski orioles

Tribe blanks O's to complete three-game sweep

April 02, 2010, 6:47pm

Orioles

Tribe blanks O's to complete three-game sweep

The Cleveland Indians scored six runs in the first inning Sunday off Chris Tillman, on their way to 9-0 win over the Orioles and a sweep of the three-game series. The Orioles have lost ten in a row, matching their longest losing stretch since September of 2008. Asdrubal Cabrera had a two-run double in the 1st and Kelly Shoppach's three-run homer capped the inning. Cabrera went 4 for 5 with three RBI. Tillman lasted just two innings, allowing six runs and six hits. He falls to 2-5,...

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steve melewski orioles

Post-game Notes: The losing skid reaches ten

April 02, 2010, 6:45pm

Orioles

Post-game Notes: The losing skid reaches ten

Tough time for Tillman - Chris Tillman took the loss Sunday, pitching just two innings, in his shortest start of the year. His previous shortest start was 4 2/3 vs. Kansas City in his Major League debut July 29th. Today he allowed six runs in the first inning and threw just 53 pitches in falling to 2-5, 5.40. Tillman has allowed 10ER in seven innings over his last two starts. In five September starts, he is 1-3, 7.30. Dave Trembley talks with the media after the O's 9-0 loss to the...

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steve melewski orioles

Taking a guess at the minor league rotations

April 02, 2010, 6:40pm

Orioles

Taking a guess at the minor league rotations

The Orioles have not yet announced their pitching rotations for three of their four full-season minor league clubs. But at this point, it's worth taking an educated guess at what we might see on the mound starting next Thursday. A few days ago, O's skipper Dave Trembley told reporters that Chris Tillman, Jake Arrieta, Brandon Erbe, Troy Patton and Alfredo Simon would begin the year in the Norfolk Triple-A rotation. The order of the rotation has not been announced. Here are some guesses at...

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steve melewski orioles

Will there be another change for Rowell?

April 02, 2010, 6:39pm

Orioles

Will there be another change for Rowell?

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...

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The passing of a great Oriole

April 02, 2010, 6:31pm

Orioles

Mike Cuellar, one of the greatest pitchers in Orioles history, died today in Orlando, Florida. The Cuba-born Cuellar, who won 143 games with the Birds, was 72. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Cuellar had been in failing health since January and was dealing with the effects of a brain aneurism and stomach cancer. Cuellar was a mainstay in the Orioles rotation during some of the club's glory years and pitched in three straight World Series from 1969 to 1971. He was nicknamed "Crazy...

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steve melewski orioles

Another September swoon

April 02, 2010, 12:27pm

Orioles

The O's can only hope the saying "it's darkest before the dawn" might apply to baseball as well. It's getting pretty dark around here lately. Until this ten-game losing streak, the Orioles were not only competing with but they were beating good teams. They took two of three from Texas and won back to back series over the Yankees (on the road) and vs. Tampa. That all happened in September, although it seems years away now. With some recent blowout losses, the teams' effort can be...

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steve melewski orioles

The final road series: O's at Tampa

April 02, 2010, 12:26pm

Orioles

Game Preview Orioles (60-95) at Tampa (79-76) After going winless at Toronto and Cleveland, the O's play at Tampa tonight. It's the start of the final week and final road series of the year. The Orioles are 0-6 on this trip and have lost ten games in a row. Tonight, the Rays host the Orioles in the opener of a four-game series at Tropicana Field at 7:08 p.m. Pitching Matchups - Tampa series: Mon, 7:08p - Mark Hendrickson (5-5, 4.37) v. Jeff Niemann (12-6, 3.81) Tues, 7:08p - Jeremy...

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steve melewski orioles

Tonight's pitchers: Hendrickson vs. Niemann

April 02, 2010, 12:25pm

Orioles

Tonight's pitchers: Hendrickson vs. Niemann

LHP Mark Hendrickson (5-5, 4.37) tonight makes his 10th start of this season, his 5th on the road and his 4th vs. Tampa Bay. Hendrickson pitched well, but did not get a decision Tuesday at Toronto. Over six innings, he gave up four hits and two runs, throwing 68 pitches. Hendrickson, 2009 season: As starter: 1-5, 5.73, nine starts As reliever: 4-0, 3.44, 42 games The Hendrickson-Niemann pitching matchup tonight features a pair of 6'9" hurlers. Hendrickson pitched with Tampa from...

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steve melewski orioles

O's fall in Tampa as losing streak reaches 11

April 02, 2010, 12:24pm

Orioles

O's fall in Tampa as losing streak reaches 11

The O's got a decent outing from a starter and six runs on offense, but their struggling bullpen could not hold on again. Tampa pushed across a run in the last of the 8th to snap a 6-6 tie and beat the Orioles 7-6, handing the Birds their 11th straight loss. It's the longest losing streak since the O's lost 12 in a row from August 16-28, 2004. Ben Zobrist doubled off Chris Ray leading off the 8th and moved to third on a groundout. Danys Baez came on and Pat Burrell's sac fly put Tampa...

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steve melewski orioles

Post-game Notes: Pen can't hold lead vs. TB

April 02, 2010, 12:23pm

Orioles

Post-game Notes: Pen can't hold lead vs. TB

The pen falters again - The O's bullpen went from bad to worse Monday night. The pen could not protect a 6-3 lead after six and a half innings. Willie Aybar's three-run, pinch hit homer tied it in the 7th and Tampa scored the winning run in the 8th. Tonight the O's pen allowed four hits and four runs over three innings. The pen ERA on this road trip is 8.37. The bullpen ERA over the last 29 games is 6.77. Dave Trembley talks with Gary and Jim after the O's 7-6 loss Starter Mark...