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Fox talks about Bergesen and his home run

May 14, 2011, 3:24pm

Orioles

Fox talks about Bergesen and his home run

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - It looks like the Orioles can turn in a quality start with Jake Fox behind the plate. Just when you think you've got this game figured out... Brad Bergesen shut out the Rays on four hits, retiring 20 of the last 22 batters he faced in a 6-0 victory. The Rays didn't have a hit after Sam Fuld's single with one out in the third inning. Jake Fox talks about his big 2-run HR and how he battled within that at-bat "I think Brad showed what he's capable of tonight,"...

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Bergesen blanks Rays

May 14, 2011, 2:43pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Brad Bergesen escaped jams in the first three innings, retired 11 in a row and won his first game of the season, 6-0, over the Rays at Tropicana Field. Bergesen retired 17 of 18 going into the bottom of the ninth. He walked leadoff hitter Ben Zobrist on four pitches, but retired the next three batters. He allowed four hits, walked one and struck out five. He threw 103 pitches, 68 for strikes. The Orioles had lost the last nine games that Bergesen pitched, including a...

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The Fox and the Home Run

May 14, 2011, 1:46pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Jake Fox has taken his share of heat, but he's catching a shutout and padding a lead today. Fox is giving the signs to Brad Bergesen, who's blanking the Rays on four hits over six innings. And he gave the Orioles a 4-0 lead with a two-run homer in the sixth that drove Rays starter Wade Davis from the game. Fox won a 10-pitch battle with Davis by launching his first home run since April 16 in Cleveland. It was a no-doubter. Davis had allowed two homers in seven career...

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Bergesen's escape route (updated)

May 14, 2011, 12:59pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Brad Bergesen has held the Rays scoreless through three innings, though he's allowed four hits and a few loud outs. Ben Zobrist doubled and Johnny Damon singled in the first, but Evan Longoria grounded into a 5-4-3 double play on the next pitch. B.J. Upton doubled with one out in the second, but Casey Kotchman grounded out on a changeup and Reid Brignac flied to the warning track in center on another changeup. Sam Fuld singled and stole second base with one out in the...

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Leading off with Roberts item

May 14, 2011, 11:22am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - If second baseman Brian Roberts is going to bust out of his slump, he'll do it from atop the order. No big surprise here. Roberts is the club's leadoff hitter and there aren't many options if manager Buck Showalter wants to lower him. J.J. Hardy would be the likely replacement. Felix Pie has speed, but he doesn't play every day and he doesn't steal bases. It's a moot point. Showalter has dropped Mark Reynolds to ninth and he's willing to make other changes, but...

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Big day for the battery

May 14, 2011, 5:59am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles and Rays have a 4:10 p.m. start today, which means staying in bed a little longer and getting out of the ballpark a little earlier. It's a win-win situation. I'm a huge fan of the late-afternoon games. Wish there were more of them on the schedule. I won't suggest that jobs will be kept or lost based on today's outcome, but Brad Bergesen needs to steer away from the rocks and Jake Fox needs to guide him. Another crash won't do them any favors. Matt...

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Guthrie: No run support, no excuses

May 13, 2011, 6:26pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles have scored in one of their last 23 innings. Naturally, it didn't happen tonight with Jeremy Guthrie on the mound. You should have it all memorized by now. The Orioles haven't scored in five of Guthrie's last seven starts while he's been in the game. They've totaled six runs in his last seven starts while he's been on the mound. It's nothing personal. It's nothing they can control. It just keeps happening. Jeremy Guthrie talks about his complete...

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Jones talks about Hellickson and Guthrie

May 13, 2011, 6:14pm

Orioles

Jones talks about Hellickson and Guthrie

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles center fielder Adam Jones described Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson as "a little different." It was the result that looked familiar. Another pitcher flattened the Orioles' bats. Hellickson went the distance tonight, shutting out the Orioles on four hits, walking one and striking out three. Adam Jones talks about the difficulties the O's had hitting Jeremy Hellickson "He threw everything - first-pitch strikes, curveball, changeup," Jones said. "He just...

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Showalter: "We've got to figure it out"

May 13, 2011, 6:05pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles won last night despite being shut out for the first 11 innings and falling behind by a run in the 12th. They didn't score through nine innings tonight and weren't nearly as fortunate. "We've got to figure it out. Just because we're facing good pitching...that's why they call it the major leagues. You've got to figure it out," said manager Buck Showalter. Gary Thorne asks Buck Showalter about the O's tough 3-0 loss to the Rays Jeremy Guthrie turned...

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The game within the game (updated)

May 13, 2011, 5:00pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter ordered an intentional walk to Rays left fielder Matt Joyce with first base open and two outs in the sixth inning. Another left-handed hitter, Casey Kotchman, stood on deck, but Showalter didn't want the Guthrie-Joyce matchup in that situation. Here's why it made sense: Joyce homered and singled tonight, making him 8-for-20 lifetime against Jeremy Guthrie. Joyce also led the American League in batting before tonight with a .358...

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Pregame Showalter

May 13, 2011, 2:19pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter said his bullpen is in "pretty good shape, all things considered." Unfortunately, he still had to use it last night despite getting nine scoreless innings from rookie Zach Britton. "I've got a couple guys I'll stay away from tonight if I can," Showalter said. One of them is closer Kevin Gregg, who's been used in the last three games. "Kevin's reminded us that he's pitched nine out of 10 days (in the past)," Showalter said. "Somebody...

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Matusz ready for rehab start

May 13, 2011, 12:53pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Brian Matusz said he felt "real good" during today's bullpen session, and he's looking forward to Monday's injury rehab start at Single-A Frederick. Matusz threw three innings Wednesday in an extended spring training game before joining the Orioles today at Tropicana Field and throwing on the side for bullpen coach Rick Adair. He'll fly to Baltimore on Sunday and pitch the following night for the Keys. "I felt really good. I felt loose and I was hitting my...

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Matusz completes bullpen session

May 13, 2011, 11:04am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz threw his bullpen session earlier this afternoon at Tropicana Field after driving over from the minor league complex in Sarasota. Matusz threw 38 pitches, with bullpen coach Rick Adair keeping a close watch. Adair is serving as pitching coach again tonight while Mark Connor attends his son's graduation from the University of Tennessee law school. Manager Buck Showalter came onto the field to watch the last half of Matusz's...

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Trop of the morning to you

May 12, 2011, 5:54pm

Orioles

I must say, 4:45 a.m. arrived pretty early this morning. That makes sense, right? Why am I up at 4:45 a.m.? Because I have a 7:45 a.m. Southwest flight to Tampa that's not going to wait for me, unless the pilot is a big fan of the blog. (I know there's an "upright and locked position" joke in there, but we'll leave it alone.) I'm covering the three-game series at Tropicana Field. Jeremy Guthrie vs. Jeremy Hellickson tonight (all Jeremy's get in for half-price), Brad Bergesen vs....

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Showalter speaks after 2-1, 12-inning win

May 12, 2011, 6:47pm

Orioles

Showalter speaks after 2-1, 12-inning win

Just another night at the office. The game officially ended with one out in the 12th inning when pinch-runner Jake Fox followed Derrek Lee across the plate on J.J. Hardy's single into center field. Showalter toyed with the idea of using pitcher Jeremy Guthrie as a pinch-runner for Vladimir Guerrero at second base, which might not have brought the desired result after Mariners shortstop Luis Rodriguez made a diving stop with the bases loaded to rob Matt Wieters. "We had a running bet...

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Quick trivia question (with answer & final update)

May 12, 2011, 5:15pm

Orioles

Quick trivia question (with answer & final update)

Name the last Orioles pitcher to throw nine scoreless innings and get a no-decision. I'll trust you not to look up the answer. And no, you can't say Zach Britton. I mean before him. Kevin Gregg walked the leadoff hitter in the top of the 10th. That's never good. The Mariners didn't get a runner to second base until the 10th, but Mike Wilson bounced into a double play to bail out Gregg. Answer: Mike Morgan on April 16, 1988. Here's another one for you: Name the last major league...

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Britton through, yes, nine innings (updated twice)

May 12, 2011, 4:51pm

Orioles

Britton through, yes, nine innings (updated twice)

Zach Britton has completed eight innings, and the Mariners are stuck on three hits and no walks. No runs, either. Britton has struck out four, and he's the first Orioles starter to finish eight innings since Jeremy Guthrie on opening day. Unfortunately, the Orioles haven't scored for him tonight. Britton has thrown 98 pitches, including 69 for strikes. He needed only eight pitches to complete the eighth, getting a fly ball, line drive and grounder up the middle that Brian Roberts...

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Roberts' early hitting already pays off

May 12, 2011, 3:20pm

Orioles

Brian Roberts singled into center field leading off the bottom of the first inning. And you wanted him benched tonight! Roberts snapped an 0-for-26 slump. He hadn't collected a hit since May 4 in Kansas City. Roberts is 3-for-37 this month, so he still has some catching up to do. And speaking of catching... A male fan caught two fouls balls from Chone Figgins during the same at-bat in the first inning. It pays to bring your glove. The fan was standing behind the last row of seats in...

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Just the facts

May 12, 2011, 12:34pm

Orioles

Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz will likely make two injury rehab starts before the Orioles consider activating him from the disabled list. Matusz is scheduled to throw a bullpen session tomorrow afternoon at Tropicana Field, fly back to Baltimore and start Monday night at Single-A Frederick. He will probably join Triple-A Norfolk and start the May 21 game against Louisville at Harbor Park. Manager Buck Showalter said the only way Matusz could be activated after one minor league game is if...