Reds go after first pitches against Fister, grab early lead (Nats win 9-4)
Reds go after first pitches against Fister, grab early lead (Nats win 9-4)
Byron Kerr
Nationals
The Reds picked up where they left off on Tuesday against the Nationals. Fresh off a 4-3, 15-inning marathon win Monday night (Tuesday morning), Cincinnati scored a run in its first at-bat. With one out, Skip Schumaker went after the first offering from Nationals starter Doug Fister and laced the two-seam fastball for a double to left field. Brandon Phillips and Todd Frazier also went after the first pitch from Fister, both of which were two-seam fastballs. Phillips grounded out. But...
O's game blog: Miguel Gonzalez on the mound at Pittsburgh
O's game blog: Miguel Gonzalez on the mound at Pittsburgh
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Pittsburgh's PNC Park is the latest stop where the Orioles will try to get their offense going with some consistency. The Orioles scored 12 runs in a four-game series split at Kansas City and have scored three or fewer in 12 of the last 21 games. The Orioles scored 11 runs on 21 hits with three homers in a doubleheader sweep of the Pirates on May 1 at Camden Yards. In fact, the Orioles have won five in a row against Pittsburgh, scoring a total of 38 runs. But you have to go back to 2012 for...
A few pregame notes from Pittsburgh
A few pregame notes from Pittsburgh
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
PITTSBURGH - The Orioles will extend Dylan Bundy to two innings and around 30 pitches in his next extended spring training start Saturday against the Rays. He threw 18 pitches in one inning today against the Twins and allowed two home runs. I'm told that a strong wind was blowing out to right-center field, carrying four balls over the fence in the game. Edgmer Escalona threw one inning today at extended spring training and faced two extra batters to reach his pitch count. Johan Santana will...
Williams updates Zimmerman's latest X-ray and LaRoche's on field progress
Williams updates Zimmerman's latest X-ray and LaRoche's on field progress
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Manager Matt Williams had another update on third baseman Ryan Zimmerman's recovery from a right thumb fracture. Williams reported the latest X-ray showed the thumb was getting "better". "He is seeing the occupational therapist to get a splint that will allow him to start throwing a baseball a little bit," Williams said. "It is not really throwing, but it puts his thumb in a position where he can start working his arm which is good, which he needs to do. "I don't know if he will be...
Nats source: Purke on disabled list with elbow injury
Nats source: Purke on disabled list with elbow injury
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Double-A Harrisburg starting left-hander Matt Purke has been placed on the disabled list with an elbow injury, according to a club source. The Nationals are "still gathering information" regarding the injury and do not know yet what the next step will be. Purke was listed as the No. 10 Nationals prospect according to Baseball America. Elbow injuries in pitchers usually are rarely easy fixes. Recently, fellow left-hander Danny Rosenbaum under went Tommy John surgery. Purke's career has...
Ryan Zimmerman's fifth annual A Night at the Park to take place June 16
Ryan Zimmerman's fifth annual A Night at the Park to take place June 16
Josh Land
Nationals
On Monday, June 16, Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman will host his fifth annual A Night at the Park, presented by MASN. In addition to silent and live auctions, country singers Billy Currington and Jerrod Niemann will perform at the fundraiser. The event will raise money for Zimmerman's charity, the ziMS Foundation, which is dedicated to the treatment and the ultimate cure of Multiple Sclerosis. MS is a disease that affects the central nervous system. Zimmerman's mother Cheryl was...
Graham back on the coaching staff tonight
Graham back on the coaching staff tonight
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
PITTSBURGH - Brian Graham, the Orioles director of player development, is coaching third base tonight. Bobby Dickerson left the team to attend his daughter Ashley's high school graduation. Graham tried to deflect any attention given to him tonight, just as he did Saturday while serving as bench coach in Kansas City for acting manager John Russell. Graham actually prepped for tonight's assignment by coaching for Single-A Delmarva last night in its game in Charleston, W.Va. "I love the...
Orioles and Pirates lineups
Orioles and Pirates lineups
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
PITTSBURGH - Nick Markakis leads all active players and ranks fourth all-time with a career .336 average in 532 at-bats in interleague play. Guess who's playing right field and leading off tonight for the Orioles? Adam Jones is tied with Paul Konerko and Marcus Thames for the most career homers off Pirates left-hander Francisco Liriano (three). Jones (.886) leads the American League and is second to the Braves' Justin Upton (.964) in slugging percentage against left-handed pitching in...
Frandsen in left, Moore at first against Cueto
Frandsen in left, Moore at first against Cueto
Dan Kolko
Nationals
Kevin Frandsen will play left field and Tyler Moore will be at first base for the Nationals in tonight's game against the Reds. Right-hander Doug Fister makes his Nationals Park debut tonight and gets a stern test in going up against Reds righty Johnny Cueto, who owns a 4-2 record and a 1.25 ERA. For the RedsCF Billy HamiltonRF Skip Schumaker2B Brandon Phillips1B Todd FrazierC Brayan PenaLF Chris HeiseySS Zack Cozart3B Ramon SantiagoRHP Johnny Cueto For the NationalsCF Denard Span3B Anthony...
Updating Bundy's start at extended spring training
Updating Bundy's start at extended spring training
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
PITTSBURGH - Dylan Bundy threw 18 pitches today in his first start in an extended spring training game in Sarasota. Bundy, who had progressed to throwing live batting practice before today, allowed two home runs on pitches up in the zone. His fastball was clocked at 90-92 mph. Bundy, 21, is scheduled to work two innings Saturday in another extended spring training game before the Orioles place him on a five-day starter's scheduled in Sarasota. He underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow...