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Olivia Witherite: No better month than April

April 09, 2012, 4:25am

Orioles

Olivia Witherite: No better month than April

I don't even remember a winning season. Ever since I became a fan of the Orioles and of baseball in general, I have watched the team play to a sub-.500 record. The last time they had a winning season, it was 1997, and I was much too young to process or remember it. However, the game is so much more than wins and losses. While obviously I will be completely enthralled when the team makes it into a pennant race, I still am just as loyal today as I will be when that day comes. And to be an...

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No-hit bid comes up short, but Hammel pitches O's to sweep of Twins

April 08, 2012, 11:50am

Orioles

No-hit bid comes up short, but Hammel pitches O's to sweep of Twins

After the starting pitching the Orioles got the first two days of this series, you had to figure it would be hard for Jason Hammel to top what Jake Arrieta and Tommy Hunter had done. But for the first seven innings this afternoon, the 29-year-old right-hander was nearly perfect. He took a no-hitter on two walks into the eighth before back-to-back doubles by Justin Morneau and Josh Willingham ended his bid for O's history. The Orioles won the game, 3-1 over Minnesota, completing a three-game...

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Matt Wieters and Rick Adair talk about Jason Hammel

April 08, 2012, 1:30pm

Orioles

Matt Wieters and Rick Adair talk about Jason Hammel

Here are comments from Orioles catcher Matt Wieters and pitching coach Rick Adair on Jason Hammel's near no-hitter today at Camden Yards. Wieters on Hammel's outing: "He threw the ball well. He was able to get a lot of ground balls and use all his offspeed. In spring training, you could tell he had good stuff, but you are always constantly working on things. He did a great job of pitching to his strengths and getting a lot of groundballs. I thought we had a chance today with the stuff he...

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More from Showalter

April 08, 2012, 9:35am

Orioles

Here are a few more pregame comments from manager Buck Showalter: On whether he anticipates Brian Matusz being amped up for Monday's start vs. the Yankees: "He did that a little bit this spring as far as, first time out it was like he was running pretty fast. There were a lot of hamsters running around pretty quick there. He slowed them down. I expect it. That's part of it. All of these guys had it and got back in control. That's part of it. It'll happen till the day he quits playing. It...

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Hammel through seven innings (no-hitter ends)

April 08, 2012, 11:24am

Orioles

Hammel through seven innings (no-hitter ends)

Jason Hammel has allowed two baserunners in seven innings today, walking Josh Willingham in the second and Justin Morneau leading off the fifth. He's faced the minimum number of batters because he's gotten two double plays. The Twins are beating the ball into the ground. Hammel has induced 14 ground balls for 16 outs, counting the double plays. He's also struck out three. That leaves two fly balls - none since the second inning. The Orioles continue to lead, 3-0, as Hammel takes the mound...

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More power to the Orioles (Hammel through sixth)

April 08, 2012, 9:55am

Orioles

J.J. Hardy homered off his former team in the bottom of the first inning to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead. Twins right-hander Anthony Swarzak went curveball, fastball, curveball, fastball to Hardy, who detected a pattern and easily cleared the left field fence. Swarzak is starting for Liam Hendricks, who was hospitalized with a bad case of food poisoning. Now who feels sick? The Orioles have five home runs off the Twins in this series, including two from Nick Markakis, who's on pace for 162....

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Once again, the Orioles score first against Minnesota

April 08, 2012, 10:25am

Orioles

The Orioles jumped out to another lead against the Twins this afternoon when J.J. Hardy hit a 2-1 pitch from Anthony Swarzak for a solo homer to left center in the last of the first today. The Orioles still hold that 1-0 lead in the fourth and have outscored the Twins 6-0 in the first three innings of the games this weekend. The Orioles began last year with a starting pitching-led three-game sweep at Tampa Bay and so far in this series have gotten excellent starting pitching. Jake Arrieta,...

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An early look at the minors

April 08, 2012, 8:22am

Orioles

The four Orioles full-season minor league affiliates are underway in their seasons with a combined record of 5-6 so far. * Triple-A Norfolk is 1-2, averaging 4.0 runs per game with a 5.57 ERA. * Double-A Bowie is 1-2, averaging 3.0 runs per game with a 6.00 ERA. * Single-A Frederick is 1-1, averaging 8.5 runs per game with a 5.00 ERA. * Single-A Delmarva is 2-1, averaging 6.3 runs per game with a 4.50 ERA. Among individual players, Manny Machado is batting .273 for Bowie, going 3-for-11 so...

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Hearing from Reynolds and Showalter

April 08, 2012, 8:13am

Orioles

Mark Reynolds didn't roll up his pant leg while sitting at his locker, so I'll take him at his word that he's got a bruised left calf. Reynolds said he's fine, and it's apparent that he wants to be in the lineup. He wasn't his usual jovial self after manager Buck Showalter excluded him. "He just told me I wasn't playing," Reynolds said. "I'm fine. There's nothing wrong." Asked if he expects to play tomorrow, Reynolds said, "You've got to ask Buck. I don't know." Is his leg...

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Mark Reynolds talks about his defense

April 08, 2012, 7:48am

Orioles

It is safe to say that Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds has not gotten off to the start on defense that he wanted. After leading the American League with 31 errors last season, he made an errant throw on opening day but first baseman Chris Davis saved him with a nice stretch and catch. Last night, Reynolds made an error in the eighth that led to both Twins runs that inning being unearned. "That was a tough play last night. A lefty hit a slicing cue off the end (of the bat) down the...

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Reynolds out of lineup

April 08, 2012, 6:57am

Orioles

Third baseman Mark Reynolds isn't in the lineup for today's game against the Twins at Camden Yards. Wilson Betemit is playing third. Reynolds fouled a ball off his left calf last night, but he said it's fine and he could have played. He has a bruise, but no X-rays were taken. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Nick Johnson DH Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis 1B Robert Andino 2B Jason Hammel RHP

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Just like last year, a good start for the starters

April 08, 2012, 5:13am

Orioles

Just like last year, a good start for the starters

Yes, it's only been two games and no one will confuse this Minnesota lineup with the Yankees. But the back to back solid starting pitching outings by Jake Arrieta and Tommy Hunter may remind you of how the O's starters started last year. In the first series of the 2011 season, the Orioles swept the Rays in Tampa Bay as Jeremy Guthrie, Chris Tillman and Zach Britton combined to pitch 20 innings and allow just six hits and one run in that three-game sweep. The next game was the home opener...

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Showalter speaks after 8-2 win

April 07, 2012, 6:29pm

Orioles

Third baseman Mark Reynolds fouled a ball off his instep, which is why Ryan Flaherty replaced him at third base in the ninth inning. Showalter says Reynolds should be fine. The Orioles will go for their first sweep of the Twins in Baltimore since August 2002. Nick Markakis is 5-for-7 to start the season. "I see the things Nick plays through that a lot of people ... you really get his attention when you don't write him in there," manager Buck Showalter said. "And he's such a great...

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Postgame comments from Hunter, Andino and Paulino

April 07, 2012, 6:46pm

Orioles

For Tommy Hunter, it was just a matter of doing what he is expected to do. "Starting pitchers are supposed to go deep into the game, give your team a chance to win," he said after a strong seven-plus innings as the Orioles beat Minnesota 8-2 to improve to 2-0. "Just throw strikes and let the defense play. They made some plays all night behind me," he said after giving up six hits and two unearned runs. Hunter and Jake Arrieta have combined to pitch 14 innings without allowing an earned...

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Bottom-of-the-order offense (Markakis, Wieters homers make it 8-0)

April 07, 2012, 4:59pm

Orioles

Bottom-of-the-order offense (Markakis, Wieters homers make it 8-0)

The middle of the Orioles batting order delivered some key offense for the Orioles in their season-opening win, with Nick Markakis producing a homer and three RBIs. Tonight, the bottom of the order has contributed five hits, four runs and two RBIs between Ronny Paulino and Robert Andino. The Paulino-Andino combo has been retired just once tonight by Twins pitching. After Adam Jones' homer in the second gave the O's a 1-0 lead, Paulino and Andino both singled and scored in the third and...

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Tommy Hunter and the longball lead Orioles past Twins 8-2

April 07, 2012, 5:45pm

Orioles

On a night the Orioles broke out some big offense, another excellent outing by a starting pitcher set the tone for a second straight win over the Minnesota Twins. Tommy Hunter followed up Jake Arrieta's outstanding opening day performance by pitching seven-plus strong innings tonight in the Orioles' 8-2 win over Minnesota in front of 31,532 at Camden Yards. Tommy Hunter talks about his strong start in the Orioles' 8-2 win Hunter took a shutout into the eighth but left the game when...

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Updating Wada

April 07, 2012, 12:39pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter laid out Tsuyoshi Wada's pitching schedule during his pregame session with the media. Wada will start an extended spring training game Monday against the Twins in Fort Myers and another extended spring game April 14 against the Rays in Port Charlotte. Assuming that Wada's health is good, he'll join one of the affiliates and make a rehab start April 19. Wada is eligible to come off the disabled list Thursday, but it's going to be later. The Orioles want...

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It all starts with starting pitching (Hunter done)

April 07, 2012, 4:53pm

Orioles

It all starts with starting pitching (Hunter done)

It may sound like a cliche, but it's so true. The Orioles won't improve until their starting pitching does, and it's been outstanding for the first two games of the 2012 season. Yesterday, Jake Arrieta blanked the Twins on two hits over seven innings. Tonight, Tommy Hunter is blanking the Twins on four hits over six innings. It hasn't been easy for Hunter. He gave up an infield hit in the first inning, an infield hit and a clean single in the second, and a leadoff double in the fourth....

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Jones homers in second inning (O's lead 6-0)

April 07, 2012, 3:39pm

Orioles

Jones homers in second inning (O's lead 6-0)

Adam Jones gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the second inning with his first home run of the season. Jones went to the opposite field against Twins starter Francisco Liriano, who struck out the side in the first inning. Jones has two homers in eight career at-bats against Liriano. Liriano has four strikeouts in two innings tonight. Orioles starter Tommy Hunter has allowed three hits in two innings, though his line includes two infield singles and a ground ball up the middle that barely eluded...

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After surgery, Arrieta's improved breaking pitches were on display in opener

April 07, 2012, 1:03pm

Orioles

After surgery, Arrieta's improved breaking pitches were on display in opener

At FanFest, Jake Arrieta was saying that having the bone spurs removed from his right elbow last August was going to provide a new-found flexibility and range of motion with his arm. He specifically felt that would most benefit his ability to throw more quality breaking balls. Then he went out on opening day and saw that unfold during his outing. Arrieta threw many quality pitches over seven innings of two-hit shutout ball. But he said he may have thrown some of the best breaking pitches that...