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Reynolds gives Orioles lead (updated)

July 03, 2011, 11:58am

Orioles

Say this about Mark Reynolds: None of his home runs are cheap ones. Nick Markakis collected his fourth hit of the day, and Reynolds collected his 18th home run of the season. It was an absolute bomb, which is typical of Reynolds. He doesn't need a gust of wind - except for the one that his swing creates. Reynolds gave the Orioles a 5-4 lead in the seventh inning. Now it's up to the Orioles' bullpen, which has been so good, to make it hold up. Reynolds is only the second player to homer...

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Britton gets another hit and a scare (Braves lead 4-3)

July 03, 2011, 11:00am

Orioles

Britton gets another hit and a scare (Braves lead 4-3)

Zach Britton is 2-for-2 today after reaching on an infield hit in the fifth inning, but he stumbled after crossing first base and looked like he injured his leg. Fortunately for the Orioles, he was laughing after returning to the bag and stayed in the game. He's the only one laughing. Britton scored on Nick Markakis' third hit, a double. Markakis' average is up to .292. Blake Davis has made two outstanding plays at second base. Adam Jones is 0-for-3 and has left six runners on base. He...

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Britton makes argument against DH (updated)

July 03, 2011, 10:18am

Orioles

Britton makes argument against DH (updated)

I mentioned earlier today that Zach Britton's .600 batting average (3-for-5) was the fourth-highest for an American League pitcher. You can add a home run to that tally. Britton gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning with his first major league home run. He pulled a pitch from Braves starter Brandon Beachy over the right field fence. An Orioles pitcher hadn't homered since Kris Benson on June 17, 2006 against the Mets. Beachy recorded five strikeouts in the first two...

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Wieters is an All-Star

July 03, 2011, 5:29am

Orioles

Catcher Matt Wieters will be the Orioles' lone representative for the July 12 All-Star Game in Arizona. Wieters is batting .262 with 13 doubles, seven homers and 33 RBIs in 71 games, but his selection is based heavily on his work defensively. Wieters leads all major league catchers in runners caught stealing (23) and in fielding percentage (.998, one error) and is the only catcher with more than 40 starts who has not been charged with a passed ball. Wieters has caught the second-most...

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Quick injury updates

July 02, 2011, 2:24pm

Orioles

I'm going to make another attempt to go off campus and watch the Orioles-Braves game, though I'm packing up the laptop in case of baseball emergency. Before I head out, I want to pass along three injury updates that manager Buck Showalter relayed to reporters in Hot-lanta. Brian Roberts could start swinging a bat early next week. He's had two good days in a row, getting through his conditioning work and limited baseball activities without headaches or dizziness. Showalter confirmed in his...

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It won't get any easier with Hudson

July 02, 2011, 10:21am

Orioles

Think the Orioles had problems at the plate last night? Now they have to deal with Braves right-hander Tim Hudson, who's 9-2 with a 2.53 ERA in 11 career starts against them. Hudson's allowed 64 hits in 74 2/3 innings, with 19 walks and 45 strikeouts. The Orioles are hitting .232 against him. This season, Hudson is 6-6 with a 3.51 ERA, 24 walks and 70 strikeouts. Hudson hasn't allowed an earned run in his last two starts covering 14 innings, with four walks and 16 strikeouts. He's...

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Viola headed to Atlanta, Rapada clears waivers

July 01, 2011, 10:06am

Orioles

Viola headed to Atlanta, Rapada clears waivers

The Orioles haven't announced the transaction, but left-hander Pedro Viola will join the team in Atlanta and be officially recalled from Double-A Bowie. Viola will replace Brian Matusz on the 25-man roster. This is a short-term move. Viola will give the Orioles an extra southpaw in the bullpen to counter the Braves' left-handed hitters, but he's not expected to stay long. Viola made one appearance with the Orioles this season, retiring all five Seattle Mariners that he faced. He joined...

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Looking back at a loss and an option

June 30, 2011, 7:37pm

Orioles

Well, so much for finishing the homestand on a high note. The Orioles tied their season high by hitting into four double plays last night, and the Cardinals completed their first road sweep of the season. Brian Matusz was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after the game, a move that couldn't have come as much of a surprise. Manager Buck Showalter wanted Matusz to work through his issues here, but he needed to see some results. Fastball command and velocity aren't where they need to be, and the...

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Matusz talks about his demotion

June 30, 2011, 7:06pm

Orioles

Brian Matusz expressed confidence tonight that he'll regain his effectiveness once he's at Triple-A Norfolk. He sounds like he's in a good frame of mind. "Absolutely," he said. "It's going to be tough. I'm not getting it done up here. It's not fair for the team. Every fifth day I go out there and make starts like this. It's just motivation for me to get down there and work with Mike Griffin, the pitching coach, and get myself back to regular form. Brian Matusz speaks to the media...

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Matusz optioned to Triple-A Norfolk (with quotes)

June 30, 2011, 6:29pm

Orioles

Matusz optioned to Triple-A Norfolk (with quotes)

The Orioles optioned left-hander Brian Matusz to Triple-A Norfolk after tonight's game. A corresponding move will be announced tomorrow. Matusz is 1-4 with an 8.77 ERA in six starts since coming off the disabled list. He allowed eight runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings tonight in the Orioles' 9-6 loss to the Cardinals. Manager Buck Showalter said he's not angry with Matusz. "I just know he's capable of better," Showalter said. Showalter also said that Norfolk will be a "better...

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More on Simon, Berkman and the farm (updated)

June 30, 2011, 5:26pm

Orioles

More on Simon, Berkman and the farm (updated)

Tonight's attendance: 28,340 Alfredo Simon had retired eight of nine batters before Lance Berkman led off the top of the seventh inning with his second home run of the night and his 20th this season. David Freese followed with a double, and Simon was out of the game. Michael Gonzalez walked Colby Rasmus to put runners on first and second with no outs, but he escaped the jam without another run scoring. Berkman is the first Cardinals player to homer from both sides of the plate since...

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Another short night for Matusz (updated twice)

June 30, 2011, 4:28pm

Orioles

Another short night for Matusz (updated twice)

Brian Matusz's sixth start didn't bring any comfort to the Orioles or the young left-hander. Matusz allowed eight runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings, with one walk, two strikeouts and two home runs. He threw 70 pitches, the last resulting in Jon Jay's three-run homer. Alfredo Simon replaced Matusz, who has surrendered 14 runs and 18 hits in his last two starts covering eight innings. Rick Adair and catcher Matt Wieters both made trips to the mound in the fourth - Adair after No. 9...

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Showalter talks about Matusz (O's trail 4-0)

June 30, 2011, 3:09pm

Orioles

Showalter talks about Matusz (O's trail 4-0)

Manager Buck Showalter was asked what he needs to see from Brian Matusz tonight to be convinced that the left-hander is moving in the right direction. It won't be velocity. "I know what everybody's going to be looking at the first time he throws a fastball - second time, third time," Showalter said. "I think command and his secondary pitches, so that thick or thin he'll be able to defend himself. Going back through the tape and stuff, you see a lot of those pitches were center cut. That...

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Showalter talks about Reimold (plus minor league note)

June 30, 2011, 1:22pm

Orioles

Showalter talks about Reimold (plus minor league note)

As soon as the Cardinals announced that left-hander Jaime Garcia would make tonight's start for the Cardinals instead of right-hander Jake Westbrook, you knew that Nolan Reimold would crack the Orioles' lineup for the first time since June 19. It's not like Reimold is being eased back into the competition. Not with Garcia on the mound. "Well, like he said, it beats (Triple-A) Norfolk," manager Buck Showalter said. "First of all, there aren't many left-handers in the big leagues who...

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Britton falls behind, 3-0

June 28, 2011, 3:41pm

Orioles

Zach Britton got into a jam in the second inning when David Freese reached on an infield hit and Colby Rasmus walked with one out. He fell behind, 1-0, to Yadier Molina, and catcher Matt Wieters called time and headed to the mound for a brief conference. I don't know what Wieters said, but Britton retired Molina on a fly ball to right and got ahead of Mark Hamilton, 1-2. It looked like the game would remain scoreless. Wrong. Hamilton, Nick Punto and Ryan Theriot strung together three...

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Pregame notes from Showalter

June 28, 2011, 12:30pm

Orioles

Alfredo Simon reported to Single-A Frederick today, but manager Buck Showalter told reporters that it's "more likely than less likely" that the reliever is activated from the disabled list before tomorrow night's game against the Cardinals. Showalter said the club will make a decision early tomorrow afternoon whether Simon pitches for the Keys or comes off the disabled list. Look for Simon to join the 25-man roster. The Orioles haven't ruled out making Simon a starter down the road, but...

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Simon won't be activated today

June 28, 2011, 10:26am

Orioles

The Orioles have decided not to activate reliever Alfredo Simon from the disabled list, delaying their next roster move for at least 24 hours. It's possible that Simon will return to the 25-man roster before tomorrow night's game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Camden Yards. Simon is on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. He threw two scoreless innings Sunday at Double-A Bowie, allowing one hit, walking one and striking out three. Simon is 1-1 with a 3.14 ERA in five appearances...

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Dealing with Cards

June 27, 2011, 7:02pm

Orioles

The interleague fun continues tonight with the Cardinals coming to Baltimore for the first time. Before last night, the Cardinals ranked second in the majors with a .269 average and fifth in runs scored with 369. Tonight marks the return of Joe Strauss to Camden Yards. We were on the beat together at The Sun starting in 1997 - the wire-to-wire season - before he left for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He's one of the best reporters in the country. Too bad more of his talent didn't rub off...

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Rotation, Reimold and a reheated leftover

June 27, 2011, 9:39am

Orioles

Rotation, Reimold and a reheated leftover

A reader asked earlier today about the Orioles' rotation for the Cardinals series that begins tomorrow night at Camden Yards. Zach Britton, Chris Jakubauskas and Brian Matusz are the scheduled starters. Jakubauskas will work on normal rest and take Jake Arrieta's turn. Arrieta, as you'll recall, is slated to throw another bullpen session on Wednesday and make Saturday night's start in Atlanta. The Cardinals are batting .276 against right-handers and .247 against left-handers. They're...

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Seeing All-Stars (and more)

June 26, 2011, 8:29pm

Orioles

It's another off-day in June for the Orioles. We're up to five, in case you're scoring at home. And if you're scoring at home, you're probably not reading this blog. I didn't realize until checking yesterday's postgame notes that J.J. Hardy has homered in eight consecutive series. He's reached base safely in 29 of 32 games since May 21. Derrek Lee is batting .375 with four doubles, two homers and seven RBIs in his last nine games. Mark Reynolds is batting .450 with two doubles, two...