Which Lewis will Orioles see?; Rangers lineup

Which Lewis will Orioles see?; Rangers lineup
Colby Lewis is off to a fast start for the Rangers, going 3-1 with a 2.97 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in six starts. He's walked five and struck out 31 in 39 1/3 innings. The Orioles might not recognize him in Game 1. That's because Lewis is 1-3 with a 5.53 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in six career appearances against them, including four starts. He's allowed 32 hits, walked 10 and struck out 16 in 27 2/3 innings. He's also served up five home runs. Mark Reynolds is 3-for-6 with two homers and five RBIs...

Matt Lindstrom: "We need to make sure guys are not comfortable in batter's box"

Matt Lindstrom: "We need to make sure guys are not comfortable in batter's box"
Orioles relief pitcher Matt Lindstrom was asked today what the Orioles pitchers should try to do the next two nights in this series to slow this hot-hitting Texas Rangers team. "I know that people are making a big deal out of this whole hit by pitch thing and what is on purpose and what's not on purpose, but the fact of the matter is, we have to make sure that guys aren't as comfortable as they are in the batter's box," Lindstrom said. "That is just part of the game. If you are going...

Matt Wieters talks about facing Josh Hamilton and Rangers today

Matt Wieters talks about facing Josh Hamilton and Rangers today
The big question is: Can the Orioles slow down the Texas Rangers offense today when the teams play a doubleheader starting at 4:05 p.m.? It has been a while since the Orioles have done that. They have lost seven in a row against the Rangers and have been outscored 70-18 in those games, giving up 13 runs or more four times. In that stretch, Texas has 101 hits, including 23 doubles and 16 homers, along with a team batting average of .378 against O's pitching. In the two games of this series,...

Anthony Amobi: Are we seeing the real Nick Markakis?

Anthony Amobi: Are we seeing the real Nick Markakis?
As we are seven weeks into the 2012 season, the Orioles are flying high with a 19-11 record, and are a half-game out of first in the American League East. Baltimore's fast start has given players like Matt Wieters, Adam Jones and Chris Davis some national attention. However, one name that I don't see mentioned a lot happens to be right-fielder Nick Markakis. It's almost like he has become an afterthought at this point. Now, Markakis did win a Gold Glove last season, and has always been...

Tonight's game is postponed; Hunter recalled for Game 2

Tonight's game is postponed; Hunter recalled for Game 2
Tonight's game between the Orioles and Texas Rangers has been postponed due to rain. The teams will play a single-admission doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 4:05 p.m., with all gates opening at 3:00 p.m. The second game won't start before 7:05 p.m. Tickets for tonight's game may be exchanged for seats of equal value for tomorrow's doubleheader or any remaining non-prime home game during the 2012 season, subject to availability. Ticket exchanges must be made by June 30. The Oriole Park...

Hammel and Showalter talk about Hammel

Hammel and Showalter talk about Hammel
Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel is optimistic that he can avoid the disabled list if his next start is pushed back a few days. Hammel won't make tomorrow's scheduled start because of a sore right knee. An MRI didn't reveal any structural damage, but there's fluid in the knee that's required treatment. "Two or three starts, each start it's gotten progressively worse - more just fluid in my knee where it's stiff," Hammel said. "I can't really drive off my back leg. It was getting worse...

Updating Chavez during rain delay

Updating Chavez during rain delay
The tarp's on the field, it's pouring rain and the forecast is dismal. We won't start on time. Endy Chavez continues to receive treatment for a sore intercostal muscle, and it's quite possible that he goes on the disabled list. "Last night before the game, he said it was the best he's felt, but the last at-bat he felt it a little bit," manager Buck Showalter said. Showalter never confirms whether a player is unavailable because he wants the opposing manager to think he's operating...

Tolleson headed here; Hammel will be skipped (Phillips optioned)

Tolleson headed here; Hammel will be skipped (Phillips optioned)
Another day at Camden Yards brings another batch of news. The Orioles are purchasing infielder Steve Tolleson's contract from Triple-A Norfolk and will announce the corresponding roster move once the reliever is told that he's being optioned. Manager Buck Showalter will speak to him during batting practice. Tolleson, who will wear No. 6, is expected to arrive at Camden Yards about an hour before the first pitch. This move is being made because Endy Chavez continues to be bothered by a sore...

Brandon Snyder and Chris Davis talk about Josh Hamilton

Brandon Snyder and Chris Davis talk about Josh Hamilton
Former Oriole Brandon Snyder, now with Texas after being sold to that club by the Orioles in a cash transaction in January, had a good view of Josh Hamilton's historic four-homer game here on Tuesday night. "It was awesome," Snyder said. "I got to the see the first two from the dugout and actually the last two from the bullpen. We were sitting there saying 'wouldn't it be cool if he hit three.' Then he hit four. It was unbelievable. "He's one of the best players in this game for a...

Orioles and Rangers lineups

Orioles and Rangers lineups
Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty is leading off and starting in left field tonight. Mark Reynolds is at first base. For the Orioles: Ryan Flaherty LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis DH Mark Reynolds 1B Robert Andino 2B Wei-Yin Chen LHP For the Rangers: Ian Kinsler 2B Elvis Andrus SS Josh Hamilton LF Adrian Beltre DH Michael Young 1B Nelson Cruz RF Yorvit Torrealba C Brandon Snyder 3B Craig Gentry CF Colby Lewis RHP Last night's game...

O's unveil Birdland Passport Program

O's unveil Birdland Passport Program
If you're one of those fans who enjoys seeing the Orioles of the future as much as you do heading to Camden Yards for the O's of the present, you'll be interested in the new Birdland Passport Program. The program, unveiled today, rewards fans who visit Camden Yards and the O's minor league affiliates - Triple-A Norfolk, Double-A Bowie, Single-A Frederick, Single-A Delmarva and short-season Single-A Aberdeen. "The program is designed to encourage our fans to frequent not only Oriole Park...

If you think four homers is impressive, what about six?

If you think four homers is impressive, what about six?
A four-homer game is pretty impressive. Josh Hamilton did that last night at Camden Yards. A six-homer game is not bad, either. That happened in the college ranks 13 years ago today and there are some similarities between the two players that hammered all those longballs. Josh Hamilton hit four homers on May 8, 2012 in Baltimore. Marshall McDougall hit six homers on May 9, 1999 in College Park, Md. In the same state where Hamilton hit four last night, McDougall of the Florida State...

Neal Shaffer: The top five players of the losing era

Neal Shaffer: The top five players of the losing era
If there's one thing the Internet loves, it's a list. So, what the hell, I'm game. I got to thinking, after the recent unveiling of the Frank Robinson statue at Camden Yards, about great Orioles of the past and how cool it is to be able to look back on their legacies and claim them for our city. That, naturally enough, led to thinking about the modern Orioles. History looks more kindly on success than on failure, which tends to obscure the achievements of players who toil on losing teams....

Hamels' old-school opinion an insult to intimidating pitchers

Hamels' old-school opinion an insult to intimidating pitchers
Before we move on from the new-found and legitimate Nationals-Phillies rivalry, there's one question that has to be clarified: What does Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels mean when he says he was bringing back old-fashioned baseball by drilling Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper in the back? Hamels hasn't said a word since he was suspended. Hamels, who deserved the five-game suspension that he received from Major League Baseball, is confused on the term. In old-school baseball, pitchers never...

Not Josh-ing about a four-homer night

Not Josh-ing about a four-homer night
Thanks to Philip Humber of the Chicago White Sox and Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers, the 2012 season has become the first in major league history to feature both a perfect game and a four-homer game. To think, in his first five plate appearances Monday night, Hamilton went 0-for-3 with two walks. But since the ninth inning of that game, he is 6-for-6 with a double, five homers and 10 RBIs. That is beyond ridiculous. The Orioles fans at Camden Yards were very classy to give Hamilton a...

Showalter speaks after 10-3 loss

Showalter speaks after 10-3 loss
Too much Josh Hamilton tonight. That pretty much sums up the Orioles' 10-3 loss to the Rangers before an announced 11,263 at Camden Yards. The Orioles outscored the Rangers, 3-2, without Hamilton's four home runs and eight RBIs. Maybe they've found a loophole. So ... too much Josh Hamilton? "Yep," manager Buck Showalter said. "We didn't score many runs, either. I think you've got to tip your hat to their pitching staff, too. We've obviously given up a lot of runs in a couple nights...

Hearing from Hamilton, Arrieta and O'Day

Hearing from Hamilton, Arrieta and O'Day
Josh Hamilton had never hit three home runs in the same game before tonight, the thought crossing his mind after No. 2 cleared the fence. He had no idea what was coming next. Hamilton became the 16th player in major league history to hit four homers in the same game. "Obviously it's, other than being in the World Series, the highlight of my big league career," he said. "I was saying after I hit two that I've never hit three in a game before, and what a blessing that was. And then to...
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Josh Hamilton's stunning power display carries the Rangers to victory

Josh Hamilton's stunning power display carries the Rangers to victory

Josh Hamilton put on a remarkable show tonight at Camden Yards. The Orioles have now lost the first two games of their series against division-leading Texas. Hamilton became the 14th major leaguer with four homers since 1918 and led Texas to a 10-3 romp over the Orioles.Hamilton went 5-for-5 with a double, four homers and eight RBIs as the Rangers won the first two games of this series by a combined scored of 24-6. The Orioles had won their previous five games at New York and Boston by a combined 35-13 score.Hamilton actually hit five homers in a six at-bat stretch after hitting a two-run homer in the ninth last night. Tonight, he hit a two-run homer in the first and third innings, added a double in the fifth then hit two more two-run homers in the seventh and eighth innings.Hamilton's 18 total bases are an American League record.It's the first four-homer game since Carlos Delgado in 2003. Hamilton's 18 total bases and five extra-base hits are Rangers club records.The Orioles lost for the second time in a row after the five-game win streak and for the fourth time over the last 15 games. They fall to 19-11 on the season.Losing pitcher Jake Arrieta gave up six runs and nine hits over 6 1/3 to fall to 2-3 with an ERA of 4.23.Orioles starters have now given up 18 earned runs in 15 2/3 over their past three games after pitching to an ERA of 1.99 over a 12-game stretch.The Orioles got back-to-back solo homers in the last of the eighth from J.J. Hardy and Nick Markakis, who earlier had a RBI single.In Game Three of this series tomorrow night, it's Wei-Yin Chen (2-0, 2.76) against Colby Lewis (3-1, 2.97).

Stop pitching to Josh Hamilton (That's four home runs tonight!)

Stop pitching to Josh Hamilton (That's four home runs tonight!)
The Orioles tried to get back into tonight's game. Too bad they tried to pitch to Josh Hamilton again in the seventh inning. With his team trailing, 5-1, manager Buck Showalter removed Jake Arrieta and brought in left-hander Zach Phillips to pitch to Hamilton with one on and one out. Hamilton promptly launched his third home run of the night, giving him six RBIs and giving the Rangers a 7-1 lead. Left-handed batters were 2-for-20 against Phillips last season, but Hamilton must not have read...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
For fans and media types who are freaking out over the rotation's poor showing the past two games, second baseman Robert Andino offers a little reminder. "Our pitchers aren't machines, either," he said. "It's a grind. You're going to have your ups and downs, but we'll come back out tomorrow and play again. You can't stress one game." Baseball doesn't offer mulligans, but I'm giving one to the Orioles last night after their 17-inning game on Sunday. "No one here is going to make...