Showalter speaks after 6-2 win

Showalter speaks after 6-2 win
Jeremy Guthrie was 1-7 with a 4.62 ERA in 15 career starts against the Red Sox before tonight, but he held them to two runs in seven innings. Only three Orioles starters have completed seven innings in the last 32 games. Guthrie has done it twice. Guthrie had allowed 12 runs and 14 hits in his last two starts covering 10 innings. So what was the difference tonight? "Locating the fastball," manager Buck Showalter said. "I'm sure he's got a lot of different things that went on. Obviously,...

Pregame notes and Red Sox lineup

Pregame notes and Red Sox lineup
I'll admit that they're scarce today. There wasn't much news coming out of manager Buck Showalter's pregame session with the media. Showalter indicated that reliever Jim Johnson could get a few starts late in the season, depending on the composition of the rotation past the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline and the Aug. 31 deadline for teams to set their playoff rosters. Johnson hasn't thrown enough pitches and innings in his relief appearances to immediately take on a starter's...

Orioles lineup vs. the Red Sox

Orioles lineup vs. the Red Sox
Matt Wieters is serving as the designated hitter and batting fourth in today's sweltering heat. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters DH Derrek Lee 1B Mark Reynolds 3B Nolan Reimold LF Robert Andino 2B Craig Tatum C Jake Arrieta RHP

One win, three stars

One win, three stars
For a change it had to be nice for the Orioles fans in the crowd of 32,314 to watch those in red walk out of Camden Yards unhappy. If this were hockey, my three stars from the Orioles 6-2 win Tuesday night over Boston would be Matt Wieters (third star), Jim Johnson (second star) and Jeremy Guthrie (first star). Wieters scored two runs and his clutch, two-out RBI hit in the third gave the Orioles a 3-0 lead. In the seventh, he threw out Marco Scutaro trying to steal second. He was trying to...

Daniel Moroz: Understanding what stats mean is at the heart of diamond analysis

Daniel Moroz: Understanding what stats mean is at the heart of diamond analysis
I started writing about the Orioles way back before the 2008 season (at the suggestion of my friend, who isn't a fan and so was probably tired of listening to me talk about baseball), and it's been a fun and rewarding experience. No way did I ever expect to be invited to participate in something like this, but I'm grateful to MASNsports.com for the opportunity. Since my analysis tends to come more from a statistical perspective, I thought by way of an introduction, I'd discuss that a bit....

Guthrie: "This is a win that makes me feel really good"

Guthrie: "This is a win that makes me feel really good"
Jeremy Guthrie had lost seven straight games to the Red Sox. He had one victory this season since May 21. He needed tonight's win. He needed it badly. "It feels really good," he said. "Good game there. The late runs were huge for us and we played great defense. This is a win that makes me feel really good and I think the team feels good about it. "Throwing strikes obviously was the biggest difference, getting ahead of guys, being able to use the fastball to get people out as well as...

Guthrie on his game, pitches Orioles past Boston

Guthrie on his game, pitches Orioles past Boston
Prior to tonight, the Boston Red Sox had hit .350 and scored 47 runs in their last five games against the Orioles. But tonight, Jeremy Guthrie held that team to just two runs over seven innings as the Orioles beat Boston 6-2, to end a seven-game losing streak against the Red Sox. Guthrie, who had given up 12 runs in his last two starts over 10 innings, allowed eight hits and two runs, throwing 110 pitches. Jeremy Guthrie tells the media what he did to cool off the Red Sox hitters in the O's...

Jim Johnson returns for ninth, no longer save situation (O's win)

Jim Johnson returns for ninth, no longer save situation (O's win)
Manager Buck Showalter was going to bring in Koji Uehara to close tonight with the Orioles holding a 3-2 lead. Uehara was warming while the Orioles batted in the bottom of the eighth. It would have been a debatable move, considering that Jim Johnson got three ground balls in the eighth inning against the top of the Red Sox lineup. Jacoby Ellsbury grounded to second, Dustin Pedroia grounded to first and Adrian Gonzalez grounded to second on an 87 mph changeup. Johnson only threw 12 pitches. A...

Guthrie through six (updated)

Guthrie through six (updated)
For the fourth time in the last 21 games, an Orioles starting pitcher has completed six innings. Have yourself a night, Jeremy Guthrie. Guthrie has allowed two runs, both in the fifth inning, and seven hits, with one walk and three strikeouts. He's thrown 97 pitches, and he's coming back out for the seventh. In his last two starts, Guthrie had allowed 12 runs and 14 hits, with seven walks, over 10 innings. Update: Guthrie made it through seven. He allowed a two-out single to No. 9 hitter...

Some quick in-game O's and Sox notes

Some quick in-game O's and Sox notes
A quick note or two on tonight's game. * When Matt Wieters gave the Orioles a 3-0 lead with a third-inning single, he improved his average on the year to .381 when batting with runners in scoring position. He hit just .213 with RISP last year. * Mark Reynolds' RBI double in the second inning gave the O's a 1-0 lead and was his 50th RBI. It snapped a 3-for-27 stretch and 11-game RBI drought for Reynolds. He also has gone 11 games without hitting a homer. * Jeremy Guthrie has just one win...

Reynolds comes through with RISP (updated)

Reynolds comes through with RISP (updated)
The Orioles put runners on the corners with no outs in the second inning on singles by Adam Jones and Matt Wieters. Derrek Lee, batting .162 with runners in scoring position, flied to shallow right field. One out, still no runs on the board. Mark Reynolds came to the plate batting .192 with RISP and mired in a 3-for-27 slump. He lined a double into left field, scoring Jones for a 1-0 lead and moving Wieters to third base. The double upped Reynolds' RBI total to 50 on the season. Wieters...

More notes and quotes before tonight's game

More notes and quotes before tonight's game
According to reports given to manager Buck Showalter, Single-A Frederick pitcher Bobby Bundy was topping out at 96 mph last night and routinely sat at 93 mph while going the distance in the Keys' victory over Salem. Bundy, the brother of first-round pick Dylan Bundy, allowed one earned run (two total) and three hits, with one walk and nine strikeouts. He's 9-5 with a 3.11 ERA. Closer Kevin Gregg threw a simulated game today while continuing to serve his three-game suspension. Cesar...

Simon back from restricted list, Bell sent to Norfolk, Roberts to 60-day DL

Simon back from restricted list, Bell sent to Norfolk, Roberts to 60-day DL
The Orioles have reinstated right-hander Alfredo Simon from the restricted list and sent third baseman Josh Bell to Triple-A Norfolk. To make room for Simon on the 40-man roster, the club transferred second baseman Brian Roberts to the 60-day disabled list. Luke Scott will not be activated from the disabled list today. Scott said he is still experiencing discomfort in his shoulder, though no sharp pain. Scott will play in at least another couple of minor league rehabilitation games, though his...

Orioles' fourth-round pick reports to Aberdeen

Orioles' fourth-round pick reports to Aberdeen
The Orioles 2011 fourth-round draft choice, pitcher Kyle Simon, has been added to the short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds roster. Catcher Kyle Moore has also been transferred from the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds to Aberdeen. Simon just wrapped up his junior season at the University of Arizona. He was an All-Pac-10 honoree after going 11-3 with a 2.72 ERA and an 86-to-11 strikeout to walk ratio. Here are a couple of other notes about the IronBirds who are hosting Vermont tonight. Since...

Luke Scott is still trying to play through the pain

Luke Scott is still trying to play through the pain
The torn labrum in Luke Scott's right shoulder it seems, is not getting better and for now will not allow Scott to come off the disabled list and rejoin the Orioles. He played two games for Double-A Bowie the last two days, going 2-for-6 with a homer, two walks and two strikeouts. He could have been activated today, but will not and appears headed back for more minor league rehab games, though nothing is set at this point. "It's been like this since May, I haven't been myself," Scott...

Not a pretty picture: Orioles against Boston stats

Not a pretty picture: Orioles against Boston stats
Since the start of their series with the Orioles in Fenway Park on July 7, Boston has won five of five games between these teams, scoring 47 runs in that time. In those five games, the Red Sox are batting .350 as a team against Baltimore pitching with 14 doubles, two triples and 13 homers. They are batting .348 with runners in scoring position in those games in which they have scored 10, 10, 4, 8 and 15 runs. Leading Red Sox hitters this year against the Orioles: .487 - Jacoby Ellsbury at...

Hard-luck Guthrie would benefit from a change of scenery

Hard-luck Guthrie would benefit from a change of scenery
Now that the Orioles have shortstop J.J. Hardy signed for another three years, their best trade chip before the July 31 deadline is pitcher Jeremy Guthrie. Guthrie is the classic case of a pitcher that needs a change of scenery. He's been a hard-luck pitcher since coming to the Orioles in 2007. His career has been defined by a lack of run support. Scouts everywhere know that he's a much better pitcher than his career 41-61 record. His 4.19 ERA is impressive. But Guthrie looks beaten down....

Hobgood's comeback trail is continuing at Aberdeen

Hobgood's comeback trail is continuing at Aberdeen
Matt Hobgood's next start for the short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds is scheduled for Thursday at Brooklyn. The 20-year-old, 2009 first-round pick remains on the comeback trail from a strained rotator cuff. He spent most of this season rehabbing in Florida until joining the Gulf Coast League Orioles in mid-June. In five games there, over 10 1/3 innings, he gave up 10 hits, five earned runs and three walks and had nine strikeouts. In his first Aberdeen start, last Saturday at Vermont,...

Orioles acquire LHP Phillips, Spoone DFA

Orioles acquire LHP Phillips, Spoone DFA
The Orioles made a minor trade today, acquiring left-hander Zach Phillips from the Texas Rangers organization for infielder Nick Green and cash. Phillips will be added to the 40-man roster and assigned to Triple-A Norfolk. To make room for him, the Orioles designated Double-A Bowie pitcher Chorye Spoone for assignment. Phillips was 1-3 with a 4.43 ERA in 33 games with Triple-A Round Rock. The former 23rd-round pick out of Sacramento City C.C. allowed 50 hits, walked 21 and struck out 38 in...

Updates on Scott, Roberts, Duchscherer, Izturis and more

Updates on Scott, Roberts, Duchscherer, Izturis and more
The Orioles are shutting down Luke Scott for a few days while he deals with more discomfort in his right shoulder related to the labrum tear. Scott could continue his injury rehab assignment and perhaps be activated later in this homestand, which concludes on Sunday. Surgery remains an option, and it seems inevitable at some point. Scott said he's about 70 percent right now. He also noted that the tear is bigger than he first realized. Brian Roberts was bothered by headaches yesterday, but...