Notes on Bundy, Bleier, Hays, Sisco and more (O's lead 5-1)
Notes on Bundy, Bleier, Hays, Sisco and more (O's lead 5-1)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
A day after Orioles starter Dylan Bundy raised some concerns over his decline in velocity and poor command, the sense within the organization remains that he isn't hurt. "I feel fine physically and that's the most important thing," Bundy said this morning. Manager Brandon Hyde checked again on Bundy this morning. "His velo was down a little bit all game long," Hyde said. "What we saw, and I talked to him about it - he understood totally, too - in the fifth inning there his velo dropped a...
Scherzer thrilled for former teammate Parra's big hit
Scherzer thrilled for former teammate Parra's big hit
Byron Kerr
Nationals
LOS ANGELES - Right-hander Max Scherzer earned his second win of the season Saturday night thanks to a former teammate. Scherzer played alongside new National Gerardo Parra in Arizona in 2009. Parra delivered a grand slam Saturday night lifting the Nationals to a 5-2 win over the Dodgers. Scherzer said Parra had a flair for the dramatic even back then. "It's been 10 years since I played with him. He was a little kid when he came up," Scherzer said. "I told him I remembered when you hit that...
Orioles lineup vs. Angels
Orioles lineup vs. Angels
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Chris Davis has risen to the cleanup spot for today's series finale against the Angels. Dwight Smith Jr. is batting second and Trey Mancini is lowered to third. Hanser Alberto is playing second base and Jonathan Villar is moving back to shortstop with Richie Martin on the bench. Renato Núñez is the designated hitter after sitting out yesterday's loss. Stevie Wilkerson continues to play center field. For the Orioles Jonathan Villar SS Dwight Smith Jr. LF Trey Mancini RF Chris Davis 1B...
Parra pulls off dramatic grand slam for 5-2 comeback win in L.A.
Parra pulls off dramatic grand slam for 5-2 comeback win in L.A.
Byron Kerr
Nationals
LOS ANGELES - Hey, check out the new guy. Down in the late innings and a capacity crowd of 53,647 roaring, the Nationals pulled off one of their most dramatic comeback victories of the season thanks to their all everything super-utility signee from two days ago. Outfielder/first baseman Gerardo Parra crushed a 2-2 four-seam fastball off Dodgers reliever Dylan Floro with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth inning and his team down 2-1. The baseball sailed deep over the right-center field...
A look at Dylan Bundy's outing and more, plus farm notes
A look at Dylan Bundy's outing and more, plus farm notes
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy was pulled after five innings and 80 pitches last night in a game the Los Angeles Angels would win 7-2. Bundy's four-seam fastball averaged 89.8 mph for the game and that was the lowest of his career. But remember this is a pitcher that is usually 90 to 92 mph, so this was not well below his norm. There was no concern from the pitcher after the game, but there seemed to be some from his manager. "In the fifth, we saw the velo drop and a bunch of 87s on the...
Means ready for latest challenge
Means ready for latest challenge
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles left-hander John Means continues his series of firsts in the majors today with his initial up-close looks at the Angels' Mike Trout and Albert Pujols. Means has pitched to Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez. He's faced Khris Davis. His first three games in 2019 were against the Yankees. He's wandered into baseball's mine fields. Trout and Pujols present another dangerous situation. But one that doesn't seem to rattle him. "It's a great opportunity," Means said. "I think it's...
Rosenthal makes rehab appearance with Harrisburg (Nats win 5-2)
Rosenthal makes rehab appearance with Harrisburg (Nats win 5-2)
Byron Kerr
Nationals
LOS ANGELES - Nationals reliever Trevor Rosenthal participated in a rehab game tonight for Double-A Harrisburg. He tossed a scoreless inning for the Senators, striking out one and walking none. He fired 11 pitches in the seventh inning at Hartford, eight for strikes. Nationals manager Davey Martinez talked about Rosenthal's status prior to that rehab appearance. "We'll see how he feels after today's game," Martinez said. "We'd like for him to go back and pitch a couple more...
Soto returns to lineup, feels "really good right now"
Soto returns to lineup, feels "really good right now"
Byron Kerr
Nationals
LOS ANGELES - Nationals welcomed back slugging left fielder Juan Soto after missing 10 days due to back spasms. He last played in a game May 1 and is batting third tonight against the Dodgers. The Nats went 3-6 without Soto. Soto was hitting .248 with a .368 on-base percentage and a .467 slugging percentage, and he still leads the team with 22 RBIs and is tied for the lead in homers with six. He has five doubles, 19 walks and 16 runs scored. "Yeah, he said he's really good to go," said...
Pujols homers and missed chances doom O's in 7-2 loss (updated)
Pujols homers and missed chances doom O's in 7-2 loss (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The curiosity over Dylan Bundy's fastball velocity climbed another notch today as his readings declined at critical junctures. Bundy's heater kept slipping below 90 mph as the temperature fell at Camden Yards and the latest storm moved into the area. He was burned twice by Albert Pujols because of it. Pujols targeted the seats in left field, providing leads for the Angels in the first and fourth innings, and the Orioles lost again 7-2 before an announced crowd of 21,106. The Orioles are 13-26...
Dwight Smith Jr. homers, but O's lose 7-2 to Angels
Dwight Smith Jr. homers, but O's lose 7-2 to Angels
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Some rain fell and a few Albert Pujols fly balls fell over the fence. And after an early homer, there were not many highlights today for the Orioles. The Los Angeles Angels beat the Birds 7-2 and have taken the first two games of this series in Baltimore. The Orioles fall to 13-26 and have lost four in a row, 10 of 13 and 14 of the last 19 games. The Angels are 11-2 their last 13 games versus the Orioles. The O's are 4-21 when scoring four runs or less. Pujols produced his 59th career...