Steve Melewski

Orioles missed chances early (Mancini hits three-run shot, O's lead 6-0)

April 16, 2017, 10:07am

Orioles

TORONTO - At one time this year, the Orioles as a team had a batting average that was in the high .300s when batting with runners in scoring position. They were leading the American League in that stat. They entered today's series finale in second, at .313. That had to come back down to earth, and it has the last few games here at Rogers Centre. The Orioles have had some missed chances on offense early on today, as the clubs are tied 0-0 in the fourth. The Orioles went 0-for-3 in the first...

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Orioles place Zach Britton on the 10-day disabled list

April 16, 2017, 8:14am

TORONTO - The Orioles, as expected, did make a roster move today, but one that was very unexpected. They have put All-Star closer Zach Britton on the 10-day disabled list with a left forearm strain. Right-hander Stefan Crichton has returned to the active roster. Britton is eligible to return on Wednesday April 26. The Orioles were hopeful to backdate that one day since Britton has not pitched since Friday. But since Crichton was optioned yesterday and is returning to the active roster today,...

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O's game blog: Bundy on mound as O's go for series win

April 16, 2017, 6:04am

TORONTO - The ballpark in Toronto, now Rogers Centre and once known as Skydome, has at times over the years been a house of horrors for the Orioles. But with a win today, the Orioles will have back-to-back series wins here. They took two of three in this ballpark last September and have taken two of the first three in this series. The Orioles lead the division at 7-3 by a 1/2-game over New York, while Toronto resides in last place at 2-9, already 5 1/2 games behind. On the mound this afternoon,...

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A few notes and quotes on the weekend series at Rogers Centre

April 15, 2017, 3:24pm

Orioles

A few notes and quotes on the weekend series at Rogers Centre

TORONTO - The Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays played 19 regular season games last year, with Toronto winning the season series 10-9. Then the American League wild card game went to extra innings before the Blue Jays won. The clubs have played five games this year, none decided by more than two runs. I sense a theme here. These rivals play a lot of close games. The Orioles have taken two of three in this current series by a combined 9-7 score. On the year the Orioles are 4-1 against the Jays by a...

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Asher on his start, Wilson on the finish, Showalter on loss

April 15, 2017, 1:24pm

Orioles

Asher on his start, Wilson on the finish, Showalter on loss

TORONTO - On a day that the Orioles were short-handed in the bullpen, they needed a good outing from their starter. They got one big time, but their offense produced only one run to back that up and another walk-off homer beat them in Toronto. The stakes were much less on Saturday than they were in October, but another big crowd roared its approval when Kendrys Morales hit the first pitch of the last of the ninth for the game-winning home run. Right-hander Tyler Wilson didn't bury a curveball...

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Kendrys Morales homers in ninth and Toronto wins 2-1

April 15, 2017, 11:54am

Orioles

Kendrys Morales homers in ninth and Toronto wins 2-1

TORONTO - That was one strong Orioles debut by Alec Asher. But at the end of the game, the Orioles had suffered another walk-off loss in Toronto. Asher, the 25-year-old right-hander the Orioles acquired late in spring training, proved at least for one day to be a strong pickup. But when Toronto DH Kendrys Morales homered on the first pitch of the last of the ninth off a Tyler Wilson curveball, the Blue Jays had a 2-1 walk-off win to snap a run of six straight losses. The Orioles fall to 7-3 and...

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O's game blog: O's look for an 8-2 start in Toronto

April 15, 2017, 8:47am

Orioles

O's game blog: O's look for an 8-2 start in Toronto

TORONTO - He has not been in the Orioles organization very long, in fact just over two weeks. But right-hander Alec Asher will join the club's starting rotation - at least for one day. He will start here this afternoon against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Orioles acquired Asher on March 28 from Philadelphia for a player to be named or cash. Two days later, he pitched a scoreless inning versus Detroit in a spring training game. He broke camp with Triple-A Norfolk, made the start and pitched 4 1/3...

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Showalter's glowing praise for his closer (plus game update)

April 15, 2017, 8:30am

Orioles

Showalter's glowing praise for his closer (plus game update)

TORONTO - To say the least, Orioles closer Zach Britton has set the bar sky high. He went 2-1 with an ERA of 0.54 last year and saved 47 games in 47 chances. His current saves streak - which has reached 54 in a row - is tied with Tom Gordon for the second-best in baseball history. They trail only Eric Gagne, who saved 84 in a row from 2002-2004. Britton was so good last year that he allowed one earned after April. From May 1 to the end of the regular season, he allowed one earned run over 58...

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Alec Asher on today's start, J.J. Hardy on Friday's win

April 15, 2017, 5:49am

Orioles

Alec Asher on today's start, J.J. Hardy on Friday's win

TORONTO - Right-hander Alec Asher has had a whirlwind last couple of weeks. The Orioles acquired him in a March 28 trade with Philadelphia. Two days later, he pitched a scoreless inning versus Detroit in a spring training game. Then he broke camp with Triple-A Norfolk and made a start for the Tides on Monday against Gwinnett. He pitched 4 1/3 scoreless, allowing four hits with no walks and six strikeouts, throwing 74 pitches. Now here he is back in the major leagues but for a new team. The...

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Adam Jones on Jackie Robinson Day

April 14, 2017, 9:01pm

Orioles

TORONTO - In recognition of the 70th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball, the Orioles will honor Robinson's legacy during today's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. All Orioles uniformed personnel will wear No. 42, Robinson's retired number, joining all other MLB teams in honoring Robinson's historic achievement. No doubt this is a very special day in baseball. But several national stories the last few days have pointed out one concerning...

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O's use homer power to rally past Jays, go to 7-2 (with quotes)

April 14, 2017, 6:30pm

Orioles

O's use homer power to rally past Jays, go to 7-2 (with quotes)

TORONTO - The struggling Toronto Blue Jays, seeking to break a six-game losing streak, worked their way into a 3-1 lead through four innings tonight. But the Orioles, a club that can suddenly hit homers in bunches, then did just that. They hammered three out over the fifth and sixth innings and added a fourth in the ninth to rally to a 6-4 victory over the Blue Jays in front of 39,547 at Rogers Center. The first-place Orioles are off to a 7-2 start while last-place Toronto falls to 1-9 and has...

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Showalter on Schoop, plus game update from Rogers Centre

April 14, 2017, 4:18pm

Orioles

Showalter on Schoop, plus game update from Rogers Centre

TORONTO - Before today's game, Orioles manager Buck Showalter expressed confidence in second baseman Jonathan Schoop. After batting .105 through the season's first two games, the second baseman has gone 4-for-7 over the last two games with two doubles, a homer and three RBIs. "Jon's got a little track record now," Showalter said. "He brings defensive things that contribute on a night he might not get two or three hits. We have a lot of confidence because we have some history with him. I...

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O's add pitcher Paul Fry; Tillman on track for Monday at Bowie

April 14, 2017, 2:43pm

Orioles

O's add pitcher Paul Fry; Tillman on track for Monday at Bowie

TORONTO - It happened again. The Orioles have acquired yet another pitcher, this time adding 24-year-old lefty Paul Fry from Seattle. The Orioles acquired Fry in exchange for 2016-17 international signing bonus slot No. 105. To make 40-man roster room, right-hander Parker Bridwell was designated for assignment. Fry made one appearance this year for Seattle's Triple-A Tacoma club on April 10. He pitched two innings, allowing six hits and four runs. Last year for Tacoma, he made 48 appearances...

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Pregame notes with Crichton, Asher and Schoop

April 14, 2017, 1:14pm

Orioles

Pregame notes with Crichton, Asher and Schoop

TORONTO - Taken by the Orioles out of Texas Christian in the 23rd round of the 2013 draft, right-hander Stefan Crichton's climb to reach the majors leagues is at hand. He was activated by the Orioles yesterday and awaits the chance to pitch in a game and make his major league debut. He found out from Triple-A Norfolk manager Ron Johnson just before midnight Wednesday night that he would join the Orioles here yesterday. "It's hard to kind of put what I am thinking into words, but very, very...

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O's game blog: Wade Miley gets start in Game 2 at Toronto

April 14, 2017, 11:28am

Orioles

O's game blog: Wade Miley gets start in Game 2 at Toronto

TORONTO - Through Thursday's games, the Orioles held the best record in baseball, a .750 winning percentage at 6-2. A 4-0 record in one-run games was a huge help for a team that has outscored its opponents by just two runs while winning six of eight games. The Orioles are still looking to get their offense going, pulling out a 2-1 victory last night on just five hits. Orioles batters walked just twice and struck out 15 times. But they continue to get some clutch hits, even when they don't...

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A look at the latest win and latest pitcher to join the bullpen

April 13, 2017, 9:49pm

Orioles

A look at the latest win and latest pitcher to join the bullpen

TORONTO - Don't blink during this 2017 Orioles season or you could miss something. Like a close game, another win, another trade, a standing of first place in the American League East. So it hasn't been boring, right? You think close games are not important? Well, the Orioles are 4-0 in one-run games and lead the division at 6-2. The Blue Jays are 0-4 in one-run games and are in last place at 1-8. The Orioles own the best current record in the American League and Toronto has the worst. The...

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Showalter, Gausman and Britton after O's hold off Jays 2-1

April 13, 2017, 7:34pm

Orioles

Showalter, Gausman and Britton after O's hold off Jays 2-1

TORONTO - In the end, all the Toronto Blue Jays needed was a sac fly with one out or bloop single with two outs and they could have pinned a blown save and/or a loss on Orioles closer Zach Britton. But they couldn't get that and Britton recorded his 53rd consecutive save tonight as the Orioles beat Toronto 2-1. The Orioles are now 6-2 on the year, 3-0 versus Toronto and 4-0 in one-run games. Jonathan Schoop's RBI double and J.J. Hardy's RBI single in the fifth had given them a 2-0 lead that...

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Showalter on Drake's DFA (Orioles win 2-1)

April 13, 2017, 4:14pm

Orioles

TORONTO - Before tonight's game, the Orioles selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Stefan Crichton from Triple-A Norfolk, adding him to the 25- and 40-man rosters. To make roster room, right-hander Oliver Drake was designated for assignment. This could mean the end of Drake's Orioles career. He has been in the organization since the Orioles selected him in the 43rd round out of the Naval Academy in 2008. He has pitched for several affiliates on the farm, putting together strong...

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O's game blog: Kevin Gausman starts series opener at Rogers Centre

April 13, 2017, 3:02pm

Orioles

O's game blog: Kevin Gausman starts series opener at Rogers Centre

TORONTO - The Orioles have returned to Rogers Centre tonight to begin a four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Orioles' 2016 season ended here with a 5-2 loss in 11 innings last Oct. 4 in the American League wild card game. The Birds begin the night with a 5-2 record and leading the AL East. Toronto is 1-7 for its worst eight-game start in team history. The Blue Jays have lost five in a row. The Orioles were 9-10 last season against Toronto including a 4-6 mark in this ballpark....

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Showalter on addition of Crichton, decision to start Asher Saturday

April 13, 2017, 2:31pm

Orioles

Showalter on addition of Crichton, decision to start Asher Saturday

TORONTO - The thought process was that the Orioles might remove a pitcher from their roster to get right-hander Alec Asher active to make a start here on Saturday against Toronto. Well, there were two pitching moves today, even before the Orioles have to make a roster move to add Asher. The Orioles today selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Stefan Crichton from Triple-A Norfolk, adding him to the 25- and 40-man rosters. To make roster room, right-hander Oliver Drake was designated for...