KANSAS CITY - In Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, the Orioles gave up just two runs in their loss to the Royals. Both scored on a play at the plate in the last of the first inning. With runners on second and third and one out, Eric Hosmer hit a grounder to first and Steve Pearce threw home in time to get an out, but the ball got away from catcher Caleb Joseph as two runs scored. The Royals went on to win 2-1 to sweep the ALCS and end the Orioles' season. "I had to make a...

KANSAS CITY - The clock kept ticking, except innings passed instead of minutes. The Orioles were down by a run in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. The Royals' dominate late-inning relief cast a larger shadow than the one that crept across the infield. The Orioles had to take the lead or risk being swept. They knew it. Everyone in the ballpark knew it. They just couldn't do it. The 2014 season ended for the Orioles with the Royals creating a dogpile in the infield...

KANSAS CITY - In the end, each game was close, but the series was not. Winning a fourth straight game by two runs or fewer, the Kansas City Royals beat the Orioles 2-1 this afternoon to complete a four-game sweep of the American League Championship Series. The O's season ends as they were held to two runs on seven hits in the last two games. This is the first time the Orioles were ever swept in a postseason series. A costly error in the first inning gave K.C. an early lead and its...

KANSAS CITY - The Orioles are 0-for-12 in the first inning in the American League Championship Series. So much for jumping on the opposing pitcher early. The Royals had much greater success today in Game 4, scoring twice off Miguel Gonzalez to take a 2-0 lead. They made two nice defensive plays in the top half of the inning and leadoff hitter Alcides Escobar reached on an infield hit. Same script, different day. Gonzalez drilled Nori Aoki on the side of the right knee, causing some Royals to...

KANSAS CITY - With their season one loss away from ending, the Orioles play at Kansas City this afternoon in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. The Royals have posted wins by 8-6 in 10 innings, by 6-4 and by 2-1 last night to move to within one win of their first World Series since winning it all in 1985. On the mound today, Miguel Gonzalez (10-9, 3.23 ERA) makes his first start of this postseason for the Orioles and opposes left-hander Jason Vargas (11-10, 3.71...

KANSAS CITY - Orioles manager Buck Showalter couldn't believe that Jeremy Guthrie's T-shirt and Jarrod Dyson's latest jabs at his club were going to be the major topics of conversation before Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. May as well have a little fun with it. In case you've been under a rock, Guthrie wore a T-shirt last night that read "These O's Ain't Royal," a play on the lyrics to a Chris Brown song that aren't suitable for print. He later apologized on...

KANSAS CITY - One bright spot emerging from these playoffs for the Orioles is the pitching of right-hander Kevin Gausman, who is finishing up his rookie year. The kid has done a good job in three postseason outings. Over eight innings, he has allowed four hits and one run with two walks and seven strikeouts. He has a postseason ERA of 1.13 while the O's team ERA is 4.33 through six games. Gausman pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series and was...

KANSAS CITY - It is not often that a player during a series as important as the American League Championship Series asks to come to the interview room, but former Oriole Jeremy Guthrie did that here today. He apologized for wearing a shirt last night that said "These O's Ain't Royal." It is clear that the shirt stirred up a firestorm on social media circles and Guthrie has gotten plenty of criticism, some of which even apparently came from the Orioles clubhouse. During a 90-second opening...

KANSAS CITY - Good morning from a very sunny Kauffman Stadium. Olivia and Lindsay here with you for this win-or-go-home Game 4. Wherever you are watching the game today, it's time for you to back your Birds! If you're not at The K, we're bringing the ballpark to you through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (masnOrioles). So be sure to follow along for behind-the-scenes looks. We'll be updating this blog all day long, so keep following along with us! We're back at The K and...

KANSAS CITY - Delmon Young is getting his second postseason start today for the Orioles as they attempt to avoid a sweep in the American League Championship Series. Young is serving as the designated hitter against Royals Game 4 starter Jason Vargas. He also started Game 3 of the Division Series against the Tigers. Nelson Cruz moves to left field. Ryan Flaherty remains the third baseman instead of switch-hitting Jimmy Paredes. Caleb Joseph is catching and batting seventh. For the...