Steve Melewski

Another look at Friday's loss and notes from the night on the farm

July 21, 2017, 10:26pm

Orioles

Another look at Friday's loss and notes from the night on the farm

The Houston Astros began last night leading the American League in runs scored, averaging 5.87 per game, and with a 33-11 road record. They built a big early lead and improved on both stats in Friday's 8-7 win over the Orioles. Houston entered this series scoring a major league-best 7.14 runs per game on the road. When compared to previous full season totals, that number would rank fourth best in big league history. The Orioles found out about that offense as Houston banged out 16 hits and hit...

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Late rally falls short as Houston gets series opener (quotes added)

July 21, 2017, 6:12pm

Orioles

Late rally falls short as Houston gets series opener (quotes added)

Orioles right-hander Ubaldo JimÃ©nez was a pitch away from a scoreless first inning tonight. If he gets that pitch, maybe his night would have been different. Ultimately he was unable to make that pitch and Houston scored three off him in the first and two more in the second on its way to an 8-7 win at Oriole Park tonight. But the Astros needed to hold off a furious rally in the ninth by the Orioles to wrap this one up. Down 8-2 heading to the last of the ninth, the Orioles pulled within a...

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O's game blog: Jimenez on the mound for Houston opener

July 21, 2017, 3:03pm

Orioles

O's game blog: Jimenez on the mound for Houston opener

After winning four in a row against Texas, the Orioles face another team from that state tonight. They open a three-game series with the Houston Astros, who at 63-32, hold the best record in the American League. Houston is leading the AL West by 16 games and easily has the best AL record. Boston at 54-43 has the second-best record in the league and they are 10 games behind Houston. The Orioles (46-49) are still three games under the .500 mark after sweeping Texas. They are in fourth place,...

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How big is the Houston series for the Orioles?

July 21, 2017, 1:12pm

Orioles

So will the real second-half Orioles please stand up? We've seen them get swept by the Cubs and outscored 27-11. Then we saw them sweep four from Texas by a total score of 34-11. That brings us to tonight, when the Orioles play Houston, a team with a 63-32 record and .663 winning percentage. They are running away with the American League West, leading by 16 games. At 54-43, Boston has the second-best record in the AL and they are 10 games behind Houston. The Astros are the class of the...

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Gary Kendall on David Hess and DJ Stewart, plus O's notes

July 20, 2017, 10:14pm

Orioles

Gary Kendall on David Hess and DJ Stewart, plus O's notes

BOWIE, Md. - While other outfielders on the Orioles farm like Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins and Randolph Gassaway have gotten some deserved attention this year, the Orioles' 2015 top draft pick has been quietly having a solid year at Double-A Bowie. Florida State product DJ Stewart is batting .265/.357/.429 with 11 homers, 54 runs, 15 steals and 48 RBIs in 87 games for Bowie. As the Baysox (51-46) have made a run toward the top of their division over the last month, Stewart has elevated his...

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Mountcastle on his Double-A debut and move to third base

July 20, 2017, 7:22pm

Orioles

Mountcastle on his Double-A debut and move to third base

BOWIE, Md. - For Ryan Mountcastle, his first game in the Eastern League could have had a storybook ending. He batted for the Double-A Bowie Baysox in a 6-6 tie in the last of the ninth with runners on first and second and no outs. Could he produce a walk-off win in his first game with Bowie after being promoted earlier today from Single-A Frederick? He could not, but it still was a significant day in the life of the 20-year-old No. 3 rated Orioles prospect, according to Baseball America. A...

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Ryan Mountcastle makes Double-A debut at Bowie (updated)

July 20, 2017, 3:40pm

Orioles

Ryan Mountcastle makes Double-A debut at Bowie (updated)

BOWIE, Md. - Promoted today from Single-A Frederick to Double-A Bowie, 20-year-old infielder Ryan Mountcastle is batting fifth and playing third base tonight for the Baysox. Mountcastle played exclusively at shortstop this season for Frederick, where he hit .314/.343/.542 with 35 doubles, a triple, 15 homers, 47 RBIs and with an OPS of .885 in 88 games. He began today leading all of minor league baseball in doubles and ranks second in extra-base hits. This is a position change for Mountcastle,...

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O's game blog: Orioles go for four-game sweep of Texas

July 20, 2017, 2:42pm

Orioles

The Orioles started the second half and lost three straight to the Cubs and were outscored 27-11. They've now won three straight against Texas and outscored the Rangers 25-4. Tonight, the O's and Texas play the fourth game of this series and they bring identical 45-49 records into the finale. The Orioles last swept four straight from the Rangers at home on June 30-July 3, 2014. After winning 3-1 over the Rangers on Monday night, the Orioles have won 12-1 and 10-2 the past two nights. They've...

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Orioles promote prospect Ryan Mountcastle to Bowie

July 20, 2017, 10:19am

Orioles

The Orioles are moving one of their best prospects up a level and he is moving positions as well. Up until now exclusively a shortstop, 20-year-old infielder Ryan Mountcastle has been promoted from Single-A Frederick to Double-A Bowie and will start at third base for the Baysox at home tonight. The 36th overall pick in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft out of Hagerty High School in Oviedo, Fla., Mountcastle has had a big year at the plate at Frederick. Over 88 games, he is batting .314/.343/.542...

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Notes and quotes after three straight quality starts and wins

July 19, 2017, 10:00pm

Orioles

Notes and quotes after three straight quality starts and wins

I couldn't tell whether Orioles center fielder Adam Jones was kidding or serious, but this is what he said when a reporter pointed out that his three hits last night all went to the opposite field. "I was late (on the swing). I was late, trying to pull it. I was late, just trying to hit the ball hard anywhere it goes. I don't care, line-to-line," he said. Just being honest, I guess. Hey, all hits count and Jones went 3-for-5 in the Orioles' 10-2 win over the Rangers. He is 5-for-9 in the...

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Adam Jones on three wins: "Shuts up all the trade rumors"

July 19, 2017, 7:11pm

Orioles

Adam Jones on three wins: "Shuts up all the trade rumors"

Orioles outfielder Adam Jones went 3-for-5 with two RBIs tonight as the Orioles won their third in a row, beating Texas 10-2. Despite these wins, the Orioles (45-49) would need four more consecutive wins just to get back to .500. But Jones made his feelings clear when asked tonight what three straight wins does for the Orioles. "Shuts up all the trade rumors, I know that," Jones said. "We feel that we're still in this race. Long way to go. We're not just going to give up. No, I don't take...

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Gausman bounces back, offense blows it open in rout of Texas

July 19, 2017, 5:59pm

Orioles

Gausman bounces back, offense blows it open in rout of Texas

So this series has been very different. The Orioles pitching staff got bounced around over the weekend by the Chicago Cubs, but they have turned the tables against Texas. For the second night in a row, the offense joined in the act. Right-hander Kevin Gausman produced the third straight quality start for the Orioles tonight as they beat Texas 10-2 at Oriole Park. They have taken the first three in this four-game series and broke this game open late with a seven-run seventh inning. Gausman's...

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O's game blog: Kevin Gausman faces the Rangers

July 19, 2017, 3:02pm

Orioles

O's game blog: Kevin Gausman faces the Rangers

The Orioles have taken the first two games of their four-game series against Texas by scores of 3-1 and 12-1. They host the Rangers the next two nights to conclude this series. In three weekend games versus the Cubs, the O's pitching staff allowed 27 runs on 41 hits. In the last two games against Texas, they have allowed two runs on nine hits. With Chris Tillman and Dylan Bundy, they recorded two straight quality starts for the first time since June 1-2. Right-hander Kevin Gausman (5-7, 6.39...

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Catcher Caleb Joseph on trying to get Kevin Gausman going tonight

July 19, 2017, 1:13pm

Orioles

Catcher Caleb Joseph on trying to get Kevin Gausman going tonight

Catcher Caleb Joseph will be back behind the plate tonight in the latest attempt to get pitcher Kevin Gausman on the right track. In his first second-half start on Friday against the Cubs, Gausman faced 17 batters, allowing eight runs and a career-worst four homers over three innings. He has gone from a pitcher with an ERA of 3.61 last year (which was 3.10 in the second half) to the current ERA of 6.39. Gausman recorded 18 quality starts in 30 outings last year and has recorded five quality...

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Mancini ends homerless stretch and second-round pick makes big debut

July 18, 2017, 9:56pm

Orioles

Mancini ends homerless stretch and second-round pick makes big debut

The Orioles reminded themselves how it can look when pitching and hitting come together in the same game. They scored six runs before they made a single out last night in beating Texas 12-1 at Camden Yards yesterday. Chris Davis hit a two-run homer during the Orioles big first inning and added his eighth career grand slam in the fourth as the Orioles built the early 10-1 lead. The Orioles had 16 hits, including two doubles and four homers and went 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position. It...

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Chris Davis with two homers and six RBIs as O's roll (with quotes)

July 18, 2017, 6:32pm

Orioles

Chris Davis with two homers and six RBIs as O's roll (with quotes)

The Orioles offense had produced just six runs and two homers the last three games. They matched those numbers in the first six batters of the last of the first tonight. But it would get even better. First baseman Chris Davis hit two homers, one a grand slam, and drove in a career-high six runs as the Orioles hammered Texas 12-1 at Camden Yards. On the second pitch of the game, Texas outfielder Shin-Soo Choo homered off right-hander Dylan Bundy. But it was all Orioles from there. Adam Jones...

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O's game blog: Dylan Bundy makes second-half debut

July 18, 2017, 2:59pm

Orioles

O's game blog: Dylan Bundy makes second-half debut

After getting a quality start and a win in well-pitched game last night, the Orioles shoot for two in a row tonight. Chris Tillman allowed one run over six innings in last night's 3-1 win over Texas. Tillman was pitching on 16 days' rest last night, and right-hander Dylan Bundy (8-8, 4.33 ERA) will be pitching on 11 days' rest tonight since his last start on July 6 at Minnesota. Bundy had a 3.05 ERA after his June 9 start against the Yankees. But in five starts since that game he is 2-3 with...

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O's Richard Bleier continued his strong season last night

July 18, 2017, 1:09pm

Orioles

O's Richard Bleier continued his strong season last night

Orioles lefty reliever Richard Bleier picked up his first major league win on May 16 at Detroit. Last night he picked up his second as the Orioles beat Texas 3-1. Entering to pitch the top of the seventh of a 1-1 game, Bleier hit Carlos Gomez, the first batter he faced. But then he got a fly out and a double-play grounder. When the Orioles scored twice in the last of the seventh and held the lead, the 30-year-old Bleier picked up his second win in his 50th major league game. Acquired on Feb. 21...

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O's get elusive quality start, trade talk and a gem on the farm

July 17, 2017, 9:31pm

Orioles

O's get elusive quality start, trade talk and a gem on the farm

Entering his start last night with an 7.90 ERA and with just two quality starts in 11 outings for the season, right-hander Chris Tillman was desperately in need of a well-pitched game. So were the Orioles. Both got one. Tillman allowed just two hits and one run over six innings as the Orioles beat the Texas Rangers 3-1 to open a four-game series. Tillman's outing was in stark contrast to the starting pitching over the weekend versus the Cubs. The O's starters in that series gave up 27 hits...

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Chris Tillman on his outing, Seth Smith on the go-ahead homer

July 17, 2017, 7:08pm

Orioles

Chris Tillman on his outing, Seth Smith on the go-ahead homer

He didn't get the win tonight, but his outing was big. Chris Tillman allowed one run over six innings in the Orioles' 3-1 win over Texas. It snapped a stretch of 10 straight games without a quality start by Orioles starting pitchers. His outing also followed a weekend where the club's starters allowed 21 runs in 11 1/3 innings against the Cubs. Did Tillman think about trying to be the pitcher to get it turned around tonight? "I didn't think about it," he said after his 95-pitch...