Down four early vs. Lester (Aberdeen note)

Down four early vs. Lester (Aberdeen note)
Maybe the Orioles have taken this come-from-behind to win thing too far. They spotted Jon Lester a 4-0 lead after one inning and now trail by that margin in the fourth inning at Fenway Park. Even the most loyal fan must be feeling like this one is lost already. The O's have not beaten Lester, who is 11-0, 2.06 in 14 career starts against them and came into this start having pitched 12 scoreless vs. Baltimore already this year. In six starts vs. the Birds since the start of last season,...

Close to another minor league no-hitter

Close to another minor league no-hitter
The Orioles have had minor league no-hitters pitched this year by Norfolk's Chris Tillman in April and on Wednesday night by Nate Moreau in his Frederick Keys debut. Friday night, the Aberdeen IronBirds took a no-hitter into the last of the eighth of their game at Hudson Valley, but settled for a one-hitter and 5-0 win over the Renegades. Aberdeen starter Justin Moore, a 20-year-old right-hander, pitched six no-hit innings to get it started. He walked three and fanned two. Then Jason Gurka...

Tough break for Bergesen as O's lose 3-2 at Fenway

Tough break for Bergesen as O's lose 3-2 at Fenway
What was it Brad Bergesen said in that article I posted earlier today. Something about Rick Kranitz saying he really liked his arm angle during his last start. Tonight Bergesen had a good arm angle and good results. But moments after he left the game he and the O's suffered a tough break. Bergesen gave up a two-out double to Marco Scutaro in a 2-2 tie game in the last of the eighth. The O's then went to the bullpen for Will Ohman and he faced pinch-hitter Daniel Nava. He lifted a high...

Going, Going, Gonzo (updated)

Going, Going, Gonzo (updated)
Michael Gonzalez gave up a home run in his second straight injury rehab game, this time in Double-A Bowie. Gonzalez retired the first Akron batter he faced to end the fifth inning, but he served up a two-out homer in the sixth and came out of the game. He recorded two outs on fly balls and one on a grounder. Gonzalez surrendered a two-run homer against Brooklyn in his most recent appearance with short-season Single-A Aberdeen. Update: Felix Pie went 1-for-4 with a triple, walk and two...

Boston's version of Jeffrey Maier (Markakis goes deep)

Boston's version of Jeffrey Maier (Markakis goes deep)
I hate to even invoke that name in any discussion, ever. But what happened in Boston in the bottom of the second tonight did remind one of that kid who played almost as big a role as Derek Jeter or any Yankee in helping New York beat the O's in the ALCS in 1996. When J.D. Drew homered to left center in the second, a fan seemed to reach over the top of the Green Monster and deflect the ball off the very top of the wall. The umpires ruled home run and Boston leads the game 1-0. Unlike Maier,...

O's now face tough ten-game road trip

O's now face tough ten-game road trip
Despite last night's dismal O's performance and blowout loss, the club has won five of its last seven games. But that was against the Marlins, Nats and A's. Tonight they begin a ten-game road trip vs. Boston (47-32), Detroit (41-36) and Texas (47-31). Let's see how the O's fare vs. these winning teams. Play anything like they did last night and they will get smoked on this trip. The Orioles are 8-25 vs. the AL East this year. That includes a 5-4 record vs. tonight's opponent, the...

O's Anniversary Auction ends soon

O's Anniversary Auction ends soon
Following the O's 1970 World Series 40th Anniversary game, all members of the Orioles and Nationals autographed the jerseys and hats they wore during that game, with Orioles players also signing their game-used batting helmets as well. Those items were then put up for auction on Orioles.com for O's and Nats fans to bid on and take home - but the auction ends soon, at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, July 5. Also look for jerseys worn by the members of the 1970 World Series championship team who...

June's 'Where in the Yard?' Winner

June's 'Where in the Yard?' Winner
Before we jump into Fourth of July weekend, we have to celebrate another 'Where in the Yard?' winner here in the O's Buzz. During the month of June, this O's fan identified every image correctly and collected a handful of bonus points by providing extra O's trivia facts and being the first fan to guess correctly come a Monday morning or two. Congrats to Scotty B for winning June's round of 'Where in the Yard?' here in the Orioles Buzz. Scotty's victory makes for four different...

Bergesen battles to regain form from last season

Bergesen battles to regain form from last season
This time last year, O's pitcher Brad Bergesen was 5-2 with an ERA of 3.53. He was a rookie pitcher on a roll. Now he is 3-4, 6.83 and struggling to find consistent mechanics and solid results. Twice this year he has been sent back to Triple-A to try to find his sinker and iron out his mechanics. Riding the Norfolk-to-Baltimore-and-back shuttle is not what he had in mind for this season. "It's been very tough," Bergesen said. "It's something that I've had to deal with for the first...

Minor league notes on Hobgood, Snyder & Moreau

Minor league notes on Hobgood, Snyder & Moreau
Last year's Orioles first-round draft pick, right-hander Matt Hobgood, will make his next start this coming Monday for the Delmarva Shorebirds. Hobgood has been out since June 11 with shoulder soreness. The injury is not serious but since he has missed some time, Hobgood will be on a pitch count and his innings will be limited in that first start back. The 19-year-old is 3-6, 4.48 in 12 starts for Delmarva. Over 64 1/3 innings, he has allowed 63 hits with 30 walks, 42 strikeouts and a .261...

Bell talks about his first Major League game (plus Arrieta and Patterson quotes)

Bell talks about his first Major League game (plus Arrieta and Patterson quotes)
The game was without too much drama, but it was an eventful night for Josh Bell. The 23-year-old third baseman made his Major League debut which included his first hit and his first error in the field during Oakland's 8-1 win over the Orioles on Thursday night. "Amped up a little bit. I didn't think I put that much on it. But, just getting out there was a good thing," Bell said about his fifth-inning throwing error. After ground outs in the second and fifth, Bell singled to left on a...

A's romp 8-1 over O's in series finale

A's romp 8-1 over O's in series finale
The O's wanted to cap off a good homestand with a win and they also had a chance to win back-to-back series for the first time all year. But Trevor Cahill had other thoughts. He shut down the Birds over seven innings as Oakland beat the Orioles 8-1, in front of 15,712 at Camden Yards on Thursday night. The O's went 5-4 on the homestand and now head to Boston. Cahill, now 8-2, 2.74 gave up just one run on four hits over seven innings, throwing 95 pitches. He shut down an Orioles club that...

Will the O's get to Cahill?

Will the O's get to Cahill?
The O's offense, one night after scoring nine runs, has a tall order tonight in taking on Trevor Cahill. The A's right-hander is 7-2, 2.88 on the season and over his last eight starts is 6-0, 2.24. So it's a hot pitcher vs. a team that has scored 48 runs during the eight games on this homestand. Cahill's winning percentage of .778 is 4th best in the AL and he is 2-1, 2.84 in three career starts vs. the Orioles. They did do something vs. Cahill that no team had done all year - score a run...

Pie back in Baltimore for a day at least (MacPhail on Bell's progress)

Pie back in Baltimore for a day at least (MacPhail on Bell's progress)
One reason Josh Bell did join the Orioles today is because the club feels Felix Pie, out since April 15 with a back injury, is just not ready to return yet. Pie has played seven games in the minors with Bowie, Frederick and the Gulf Coast League O's. Pie was in the O's clubhouse today, but not to be activated as he will play at least a few more games in the minors. Pie said today that he will fly to Detroit on Sunday to join the O's for the second leg of their upcoming road trip although...

Josh Bell: "I'm ready to get after it."

Josh Bell:  "I'm ready to get after it."
Josh Bell found out last night that he would be heading for Baltimore to make his Major League debut with the Orioles. He told reporters in the O's clubhouse a few moments ago he was not expecting to get this call so soon. "Not at all. It's a blessing, I guess. I'm ready. I found out last night when we got back in from Charlotte. My manager called me in and told me about Luke (Scott). He said they are going to need somebody and to head up." Josh Bell discusses getting called up...

Where in the Yard? (Updated w/Answer)

Where in the Yard? (Updated w/Answer)
On another Monday off day for the O's, we take a closer look at another piece of the Yard before the Birds finish up their nine-game homestand and fly north to Boston for the weekend. This week, you'll see a familiar image, but with the text that would have given the picture's identity away removed and/or blurred out of the photo. But as usual, take a look at the photo below and let me know what the item is and where it's located in or around Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Don't forget...

Some stats on Bell

Some stats on Bell
Here are some stats on Josh Bell, who was recalled from the minors today. He is batting .266-10-44 on the season and has 24 doubles. Bell vs. lefty pitching: .233-0-6, .652 OPS Bell vs. righy pitching: .277-10-38, .804 OPS Bell by month: April: .238-3-10, .661 OPS May: .282-3-15, .780 OPS June: .272-4-19, .840 OPS Bell is hitting .314 with runners in scoring position. On Tuesday at Charlotte, he went 2 for 5 with two homers and 6 RBI and last night went 2 for 4.

Arrieta looks to regain winning form

Arrieta looks to regain winning form
When he takes the mound tonight at home vs. Oakland, Jake Arrieta will look to return to the form he showed in his first two outings as he makes his fifth Major League start. After going 2-0, 2.77 in his first two starts vs. the Yankees and San Francisco, Arrieta went 0-1, 12.27 over his past two vs. San Diego and Washington. Arrieta said he has a good feeling for what was different for him over the last two starts. "I still had good stuff. I feel like I've had good stuff pretty much every...

More notes and quotes from the 9-6 win over Oakland

More notes and quotes from the 9-6 win over Oakland
Checking in with more notes and quotes after the Orioles latest comeback win, 9-6 on Wednesday night over Oakland. Nice change: The Orioles had lost 16 of the last 19 games with the A's before rallying to win the second game of the series. After falling behind 6-4 after four, they scored the game's final five runs. Kevin Millwood, who gave up 5 ER over five innings, talked about Oakland's 6-run 4th, which featured two O's errors. "It was strange. I had some chances to get out of it,...

Luke Scott thinks he is DL bound

Luke Scott thinks he is DL bound
During a season where a lot has gone badly for the Orioles tonight a player hit a go-ahead home run but pulled his hamstring running the bases. It happened when Luke Scott followed Ty Wigginton's two-run shot in the seventh with a solo homer for a 7-6 lead in a game that the Orioles won 9-6 over Oakland for their fifth win in six games, all via a comeback. Now Scott could be bound for the disabled list. "Right now it doesn't look good. Any time you deal with a pulled hamstring, it's...