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Reynolds' homer saves the day as O's win at Atlanta

July 03, 2011, 12:47pm

Orioles

Reynolds' homer saves the day as O's win at Atlanta

Batting fourth for the first time all year, Mark Reynolds hit another homer, and this one helped get the Orioles a win. After the Birds blew a 3-0 lead, Reynolds' two-run blast to left off Scott Proctor in the seventh, gave the Orioles a 5-4 lead and win today by that score as they salvaged the final game of the series in Atlanta. The Orioles ended a five-game losing streak and are 36-45 at the 81-game, halfway point of the season. Reynolds, who earlier had a sac fly, went 3-for-9 in this...

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Wins have become scarce for Britton but he could get one today

July 03, 2011, 10:53am

Orioles

Wins have become scarce for Britton but he could get one today

When rookie lefty Zach Britton was 4-1 with an ERA of 2.84 at the end of April, his first month in the majors, who would have thought he'd have just six wins total with the All-Star game approaching? But Britton posted just one win in May and one win in June. It certainly wasn't because he had pitched poorly. His ERA is 3.38 through 16 starts. But when Britton took the mound in Atlanta today, he did so with just one win over his last 10 starts since a May 1 victory versus the Chicago White...

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Reynolds homers twice, but O's fall 5-4 at Atlanta

July 02, 2011, 5:52pm

Orioles

Reynolds homers twice, but O's fall 5-4 at Atlanta

Mark Reynolds hit two homers tonight in Atlanta and Nick Markakis added another for the Orioles. But, thanks in part to a play that was not made in Atlanta's fourth inning, the Orioles lost 5-4 to the Braves tonight. With two outs and none on in the Atlanta fourth, Chipper Jones doubled and Freddie Freeman walked. Then Dan Uggla hit a liner to left. Luke Scott got his glove on the ball, but could not make the catch as a run scored and the O's failed to nail down the inning's third out on...

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Josh Bell leaves Triple-A game

July 02, 2011, 3:32pm

Orioles

Orioles third base prospect Josh Bell left Game One of Triple-A Norfolk's doubleheader tonight with a left knee injury. He had just one at-bat in the Tides' 4-2 loss to Charlotte. Bell is leading all O's minor leaguers in home runs. On the year he is batting .256 with nine doubles, two triples, 13 homers, 36 RBIs and an OPS of .733. A club official did not know the severity of the injury yet but initially thought it was likely that Bell would not need to go on the minor league seven-day...

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Control and command will be important again for Arrieta tonight

July 02, 2011, 2:59pm

Orioles

Control and command will be important again for Arrieta tonight

As Jake Arrieta takes the mound tonight at Atlanta, here is an interesting Arrieta stat. He is the toughest Orioles' starter to get a base hit off of. Opponent batters hit just .233 off Arrieta while that number is .251 against Zach Britton and .263 against Jeremy Guthrie. There are some observers that feel Arrieta has the best "stuff" on the staff. He has a fastball that hits the mid-90s and a nasty slider. But he struggles with command and control and that is often a battle for him. If...

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The Orioles' All-Star

July 02, 2011, 11:29am

Orioles

When the All-Star game reserves are announced on Sunday, my guess is that Adam Jones will be selected to the American League team for the second time. He would be my pick and, in my opinion, has been the Orioles' best player this year. Until I looked it up, I almost forgot he hit just .218 in April. But in May and June, Jones hit .313 with an OPS around .850. On the year, in 78 games, he is batting .286 with 15 doubles, 13 homers, 46 RBIs and an .801 OPS. Sure he could still draw more...

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Matusz back on the mound tonight for the Orioles

June 30, 2011, 1:35pm

Orioles

When Brian Matusz throws his first few pitches tonight, most of us will turn our attention to the radar gun to check out his velocity. But, just as important for Matusz will be his command and control of his other pitches. All four of his pitches have been finding too much of the middle of the plate recently, as he has given up 14 earned runs in 11 1/3 innings over his past three starts. So watch Matusz's secondary pitches tonight and how he is commanding them. It could be just as important...

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After tough start, Davis trying to show he belongs

June 30, 2011, 12:52pm

Orioles

After tough start, Davis trying to show he belongs

Blake Davis is certainly enjoying his time in the major leagues. He has been with the Orioles since June 18 and is batting .313 (5-for-16) over five games. For Davis, he is in the majors about two years after it looked like he might make it the first time. He was having a solid spring training in March of 2009 with the Orioles and coming off a season where he hit .284 at Bowie. His stock was on the rise and he made a good impression in big league camp. But then he suffered an ankle injury...

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Wieters and Jones talk about Matusz

June 25, 2011, 7:07pm

Orioles

After he saw his pitcher, Brian Matusz, give up three homers and six runs over 4 2/3 versus the Reds, Orioles catcher Matt Wieters said some of the pitches the Reds hit looked like decent pitches from his vantage point. "Most of the balls they hit were down. Brian's stuff was probably the best it's been since he's been up which is positive," Wieters said. "The changeup is starting to come around. He's still going to keep working and get locked back in like we know he is going to. The...

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Matusz on his outing against the Reds and his fastball velocity

June 25, 2011, 6:51pm

Orioles

Matusz on his outing against the Reds and his fastball velocity

After his latest tough outing, Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz was talking again about his velocity, which has still not returned to its 2010 output. "The velocity obviously isn't there. Being my fifth start, I feel I've made a lot of progress, but just have got to continue working and get a lot better," Matusz said after giving up six runs, nine hits and three homers in 4 2/3 in Saturday's 10-5 loss to the Reds. Brian Matusz talks about his struggles in the Birds' loss to the...

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Reds win homer-filled contest, 10-5, at Camden Yards

June 25, 2011, 6:06pm

Orioles

Reds win homer-filled contest, 10-5, at Camden Yards

It was not a home run derby contest tonight at Camden Yards although it looked like it at times. On a night when left-hander Brian Matusz struggled again, Cincinnati beat the Orioles 10-5 in a game that featured nine homers. All but one run scored in the game came via a homer as Cincinnati hit five and the Orioles hit a season-high four in front of 38,976 at Camden Yards. Matusz gave up three homers among nine hits and six runs in just 4 2/3 innings as he falls to 1-3 with an ERA of 6.85 in...

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MacPhail talks contract and Showalter talks Roberts with season-ticket holders

June 25, 2011, 1:33pm

Orioles

MacPhail talks contract and Showalter talks Roberts with season-ticket holders

At the "State of the Orioles" address this afternoon with season ticket holders here at Camden Yards, O's president of baseball operations Andy MacPhal was asked by a fan about his contract. He is in the last year of his deal and the fan wanted to know if he will be staying with the Orioles. "I have always taken the position, unlike one my good friends in the game Jim Riggleman, let's just see how we do," MacPhail said. "Let's get to the end of the year and see how we do and take it...

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MacPhail addresses international spending with season-ticket holders

June 25, 2011, 1:15pm

Orioles

MacPhail addresses international spending with season-ticket holders

Orioles president Andy MacPhail and manager Buck Showalter just spent about 30 minutes taking fans questions here at Camden Yards as part of the latest "State of the Orioles" address with season ticket holders. MacPhail was asked by a fan why the club seems to be outbid by some other clubs in the international market. "We did spend more last year then we did the year before and we'll probably spend more this year than last year. We are actually making progress in that market based on what...

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D-Lee delivers the walk-off for the Orioles

June 24, 2011, 8:06pm

Orioles

After that recent stretch where he went 11-for-18, it was clear Derrek Lee's bat was coming to life. Tonight he provided another example with that clutch, walk-off homer to left, leading off the last of the 12th as the Orioles beat the Reds 5-4. Lee entered tonight batting just .128 on the year, going 6-for-47, when batting with runners in scoring position. He is a career .279 hitter with RISP. That homer did not come with RISP, of course, but it was pretty clutch. It kept the Orioles from...

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Matthew Taylor: Seeking the silver linings in a difficult stretch

July 08, 2011, 5:14am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Seeking the silver linings in a difficult stretch

Things have been pretty bleak of late for the Orioles and their fans, but it can't possibly be all bad news for the Birds, can it? Let's look at some of the facts and locate the elusive silver lining for the orange and black. The Orioles allowed six home runs in a 10-3 loss in Boston on Thursday. The good news is they didn't give up six runs in the ninth inning at Fenway. The Texas Rangers scored a combined 30 runs in a three-game set with the Orioles earlier this week. The good news is...

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From bad to embarrassing (O's lose 10-4)

July 07, 2011, 5:48pm

Orioles

From bad to embarrassing (O's lose 10-4)

The bullpen isn't doing any better than the rotation tonight. The Red Sox have hit six home runs, the last four off Orioles relievers. Jacoby Ellsbury took Jason Berken deep in the sixth inning. Pedro Viola replaced him in the seventh and gave up consecutive bombs to David Ortiz, Josh Reddick and Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Red Sox 10, Orioles 3. I guess this is rock bottom. Viola walked the next batter and was gone. He didn't record an out. It was the first time that the Orioles...

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Shocking developments in first inning (updated twice)

July 07, 2011, 3:28pm

Orioles

Shocking developments in first inning (updated twice)

I'm not sure what rates higher on the Shock Scale. You can decide. The Orioles got a hit with a runner in scoring position. Adam Jones singled to score J.J. Hardy, who led off the game with a single off the Green Monster and advanced to second on Nick Markakis' single. Red Sox pitcher Andrew Miller deflected the ball, but couldn't stop it from rolling into right field. The Orioles were 4-for-37 with runners in scoring position before tonight. Matt Wieters walked with two outs and stole...

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Not expecting a repeat of last season for the Orioles

July 07, 2011, 12:34pm

Orioles

Can lightning strike twice for the Orioles? Last year they went to Texas for the last series before the All-Star break and swept that four-game series. Tonight they begin a four-game series in Boston that leads into the break. I'm pretty sure most fans are not expecting four O's wins over the next four days, but last year's team did lose six of seven before that Texas sweep. This club has now lost eight of nine and is 6-17 over the past 23 games. In that stretch the team ERA is 5.78, the...

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Jones falls short in The Final Vote for All-Star Game

July 07, 2011, 2:13pm

Orioles

Jones falls short in The Final Vote for All-Star Game

If Adam Jones is going to go to the All-Star Game in Phoenix, it will have to be as an injury replacement. The Orioles center fielder finished fourth of our five participants in The Final Vote, a competition which yielded White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko as the final member of the American League All-Star team. Konerko was followed in the fan voting, which concluded at 4 p.m. Eastern time, by Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez, Royals left fielder Alex Gordon, Jones and Rays second...

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Is there a silver lining at Fenway Park?

July 07, 2011, 10:50am

Orioles

Is there a silver lining at Fenway Park?

I would never suggest that the Orioles are catching a team at a good time. Not the way they're playing. But they won't have to face Boston starters Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz, and they won't have to pitch to Carl Crawford. Crawford is expected to be activated from the disabled list on July 18, when the Red Sox visit Camden Yards. All good things must come to an end. Adrian Gonzalez, the American League's Player of the Month for June, missed last night's game with a stiff neck, but...