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Tonight's Orioles-Braves live blog

June 16, 2012, 1:41pm

Orioles

Post your comments here tonight: Let the live blogging begin. I'll be posting some stats, notes and commentary on tonight's game in this entry throughout the Orioles-Braves game. I hope you the readers do the same. Post any comments and/or questions here and keep the dialogue going. I'll try to answer questions and keep it interesting during the game. Each time something new is added, it will appear at the top of the content right below this message and push the rest of the content down the...

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Orioles not pitching in at the plate

June 16, 2012, 8:40am

Orioles

Orioles pitchers are 0-for-9 at the plate with eight strikeouts in interleague games this year, which might seem like an obvious failing except that they were 9-for-22 (.409) last season, setting American League single-season records for most hits and highest batting average by pitchers in interleague competition. Wei-Yin Chen has struck out in both of his at-bats this season, and that's an obvious failing. He'll be the first to admit, through his interpreter, that he's a bad hitter. He had...

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Orioles trying to get it right in right

June 16, 2012, 5:37am

Orioles

Before the Orioles took the field on Thursday for the final game of their homestand, manager Buck Showalter responded to a reporter's question by confirming that Chris Davis could play first base again this season. He also noted that Davis might play third or left field as part of a double-switch, one of those moves commonly made in National League ballparks. Showalter's point was that Davis shouldn't be regarded exclusively as a designated hitter despite making 17 starts in that role, one...

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The Orioles have traded LHP Cole McCurry to Atlanta

June 16, 2012, 5:40am

Orioles

The Orioles have traded minor league left-handed pitcher Cole McCurry to the Atlanta Braves for cash. McCurry had been with the Orioles since they drafted him in round 43 of 2007. The trade was culminated late last night and came about for two main reasons. One reason is that the Braves have had interest in McCurry before, and two, the Orioles have a roster crunch with too many pitchers for too few spots right now at Triple-A. They recently added Jamie Moyer and Rich Rundles to that Norfolk...

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Davis back in right field tonight

June 16, 2012, 11:50am

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't shaking up the lineup tonight. Chris Davis is starting in right field again, with Steve Pearce in left, Mark Reyolds at first base and Wilson Betemit at third. He'd love to sneak in a designated hitter, but no chance. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Wilson Betemit 3B Steve Pearce LF Jason Hammel RHP For the Braves: Michael Bourn CF Martin Prado LF Brian McCann C Dan...

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O's bats go quiet for a night and some minor league notes

June 16, 2012, 5:10am

Orioles

O's bats go quiet for a night and some minor league notes

I heard someone say once that you can't win 'em all, and so the Orioles' five-game win streak came to an end last night with a 4-2 loss in Atlanta. There were a few differences between the O's 12-6 win on Thursday and last night's loss: The Orioles went from 16 to six hits. They went from 10 extra-base hits to just two. But maybe the biggest one was they went from 8-for-17 batting with runners in scoring position to 1-for-7. The Orioles also hit into four double plays last night after...

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Oriole Park 20th anniversary tumbler June 23 giveaway won't arrive in time

June 16, 2012, 7:42am

Orioles

Because of a vendor distribution problem, the Oriole Park 20th anniversary tumbler giveaway scheduled for Saturday, June 23 will not arrive in time to be handed out as originally planned, the Orioles announced Saturday. Instead, those eligible for the original promotion (the first 10,000 fans 15 and over) will receive a "Greetings from Birdland" T-shirt on June 23, along with a voucher to be redeemed for the tumbler once they arrive. The voucher will explain the methods of redemption, but...

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Matusz left with 1-0 deficit (Matusz done after 5 2/3)

June 15, 2012, 4:06pm

Orioles

Matusz left with 1-0 deficit (Matusz done after 5 2/3)

Before tonight, only one left-handed batter had homered off Orioles starter Brian Matusz. Move over, Curtis Granderson. Atlanta catcher Brian McCann homered with two outs in the first inning tonight to give the Braves a 1-0 lead. Lefties were batting .138 against Matusz before tonight, with four walks and 22 strikeouts. In his career, Matusz was holding lefties to a .219 average and 11 home runs. Right-handed hitters had 40 homers. McCann was a logical candidate to buck the trend. He's...

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O's get the lead after early offensive frustrations in Atlanta (Braves win 4-2)

June 15, 2012, 4:59pm

Orioles

O's get the lead after early offensive frustrations in Atlanta (Braves win 4-2)

The Orioles used a double and two Braves errors to get two runs in the top of the fourth at Atlanta tonight to take a 2-1 lead after three and a half innings. That followed some frustration on offense tonight in the early innings in Atlanta. They hit three rockets off Tommy Hanson in the top of the first, but one went for a groundout and another, by Chris Davis, went for an inning-ending double play. In the second, they got an Adam Jones double and two walks to load the bases, but then Brian...

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Matusz looking to end interleague streak

June 15, 2012, 9:50am

Orioles

Matusz looking to end interleague streak

Left-hander Brian Matusz is starting tonight for the Orioles after being pushed back two days following his bunting mishap, and he's got a score to settle with the National League. Matusz has never faced the Braves, but he's 0-5 with a 7.49 ERA in six career interleague starts, with 28 earned runs allowed in 33 2/3 innings. He's also hitless in four major league at-bats. It's probably safe to assume that Matusz isn't a huge fan of interleague baseball. That's most definitely true of...

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Davis in right field tonight

June 15, 2012, 12:28pm

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter is keeping Chris Davis in the lineup tonight by starting him in right field. Davis has never played the outfield in the majors. He's been a corner infielder and emergency reliever (once). Davis played two games in right field with Single-A Spokane in 2006. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Wilson Betemit 3B Steve Pearce LF Brian Matusz LHP For the Braves: Michael Bourn CF Martin Prado 1B Brian...

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Aberdeen's roster, Bowie's hot streak and draft notes

June 15, 2012, 8:04am

Orioles

Aberdeen's roster, Bowie's hot streak and draft notes

The short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds begin a new season on Monday at Hudson Valley and then open at home at Ripken Stadium next Wednesday against that same team. Aberdeen's manager is Gary Allenson, the Orioles' Triple-A skipper the last five seasons at Norfolk. His pitching coach is former Oriole Alan Mills and the batting coach is former Double-A Bowie skipper Brad Komminsk. Right-hander Sebastian Vader, the Orioles 18th-round pick in 2010, is going to be the IronBirds' opening...

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Bullpen's production has been a huge relief

June 14, 2012, 9:01pm

Orioles

Bullpen's production has been a huge relief

The Orioles began last night's game against the Pirates with the lowest bullpen ERA in the majors at 2.40. Darren O'Day gave them a scoreless seventh inning, retiring the side in order. Dana Eveland allowed a run in two innings, which the Orioles didn't mind conceding in a 12-6 victory. Tommy Hunter collected his first win since April 24 because the Orioles showered him with runs and the 'pen protected his lead. The unit hasn't fallen out of step without Matt Lindstrom, who posted a 1.29...

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Hearing from Pearce, Wieters and Hunter

June 14, 2012, 7:19pm

Orioles

Steve Pearce is batting .320 with eight RBIs in seven games with the Orioles. He'd probably like a few more against the Pirates, who watched him homer and drive in five runs tonight after he went 2-for-3 with an RBI last night. "It's nice playing against the Pirates. It just feels good having a great game and helping contribute to this win," he said. "I'm just looking for the opportunity. The biggest thing with me over the years was I just wasn't able to stay healthy, I earned playing...

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The offense came to life at home, now can the O's take it on the road?

June 14, 2012, 9:52pm

Orioles

The offense came to life at home, now can the O's take it on the road?

Here is an interesting contrast in stats for the Orioles' offense. They scored just 25 runs during a nine-game road trip that preceded the homestand that ended last night. But they scored 44 runs during the six games at Camden Yards. In the three-game series against Pittsburgh, the Orioles scored 27 runs on 44 hits with a .396 team batting average along with 12 doubles and seven homers. In the six games during the homestand, they batted .310 with 71 hits including 16 doubles and 11 home...

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Matthew Taylor: Before last night, Bedard had been at his best in interleague play

June 15, 2012, 5:25am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Before last night, Bedard had been at his best in interleague play

The Orioles tagged Erik Bedard for seven earned runs in 3 1/3 innings Thursday night, hanging a rare interleague loss on the former O's lefty. For his career, Bedard was 9-3 with a 1.86 ERA, 1.011 WHIP and 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings in interleague play prior to last night's game. Some of his finest interleague outings came in Baltimore, including a dominating run through the senior circuit in 2006. Bedard went 3-0 against the National League in 2006 with a 1.29 ERA, 0.714 WHIP, and...

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Showalter speaks after 12-6 win

June 14, 2012, 7:01pm

Orioles

The Orioles have won five games in a row for the third time this season. They've won seven of their last nine games and have taken their last three series. The Orioles scored a season-high 12 runs tonight, giving them 27 in this series, and Steve Pearce delivered a career-high five against his former team. What kind of impression is Pearce making on manager Buck Showalter? "Good one," Showalter said. "Taking advantage of the opportunity, providing some versatility, putting some good...

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Chris Davis adapts to the DH role as his bat stays hot

June 14, 2012, 1:06pm

Orioles

Chris Davis adapts to the DH role as his bat stays hot

Whether he plays in the field or starts as the designated hitter, Chris Davis has been doing some major damage at bat recently for the Orioles. He is 9-for-24 with three homers and eight RBIs during a six-game batting streak. Over a longer stretch, his past 21 games, he is batting .350 with seven homers and 16 RBIs. Davis' last 10 starts have come as the DH and he hasn't started at first base since May 28. He says manager Buck Showalter has not given him a reason for that. "He hasn't,"...

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Steve Tolleson made a U-turn in Norfolk back to Baltimore

June 14, 2012, 1:47pm

Orioles

Steve Tolleson made a U-turn in Norfolk back to Baltimore

Steve Tolleson has had a few interesting and active days recently. Sunday: Hits a game-tying, three-run homer against Cliff Lee in an extra-innings win over the Phillies. Monday: Finds out he is being optioned back to Triple-A Norfolk by the Orioles. Wednesday: Drives with his wife and young daughter from Baltimore to Norfolk, arriving there at 4 p.m. and then they unpacked their bags. Today: Gets called to come back to the Orioles, pack the bags again and drive back to Baltimore as he...

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Lindstrom nearing return to mound

June 14, 2012, 1:05pm

Orioles

Reliever Matt Lindstrom, on the disabled list since May 11 with a slightly torn ligament in his right middle finger, played catch from 60 to 100 feet today at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. He's scheduled to throw batting practice on Saturday and pitch in at least two Gulf Coast League games. He also could report to Double-A Bowie before finally being activated. The Orioles are hopeful that he returns before the All-Star break that begins July 9. Joel Pineiro (shoulder) threw four innings...