Some Motown magic: O's rally from five down to beat Tigers, take series
Some Motown magic: O's rally from five down to beat Tigers, take series
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Wei-Yin Chen became the first Orioles pitcher to win more than 11 games in a season today since Erik Bedard won 13 in 2007. But it sure looked like he wouldn't do that early in today's game. Chen gave up five runs in the first inning, but the Orioles rallied to get him a win, 7-5 over the Detroit Tigers in front of 40,511 at Comerica Park. The O's won two of three there this weekend. Detroit got first-inning homers from Omar Infante and Jhonny Peralta to go ahead by five before the Orioles...
First inning challenges Chen again (O's win 7-5)
First inning challenges Chen again (O's win 7-5)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Wei-Yin Chen fell behind by five runs today before he could record his second out of the game. The first inning continues to challenge Chen. He's allowed 19 runs in the opening frame this season, the most in any inning. The Royals took a 4-0 lead against him on Aug. 9 before finally making an out. The Rays led 5-0 in the first back on June 1. Chen has surrendered 20 home runs this season, including two today. Six of them have come in the first inning. Omar Infante homered with one out in...
O's face Fister in finale (Birds knock him out early)
O's face Fister in finale (Birds knock him out early)
Steve Melewski
Orioles
If the Orioles are to win a big series today against another wild card contender, they will have to beat Detroit's Doug Fister, a pitcher on a real roll. Fister is 7-7 with a 3.24 ERA through 18 starts this season. But over his last four games, he is 3-0 with a 1.15 ERA. In seven starts since the All-Star break, Fister is 5-1 with a 1.52 ERA and seven quality starts. In those seven games, he has given up one earned run or less five times with a batting average against of .199. He has a...
Back on bench, Lombardozzi trying to stay sharp (we're finally under way)
Back on bench, Lombardozzi trying to stay sharp (we're finally under way)
Dan Kolko
Nationals
There's a monster storm heading towards Nationals Park, one which looks like it might play a factor both in what time the game begins and how long we're stuck here this afternoon. The Nationals and Mets have mutual off-days on Aug. 27 and Sept. 13, but with this being the Mets' last visit to D.C. this season, they'll do all they can to get this game in today, even if it means having everyone hang around for a while. Steve Lombardozzi will be hanging around for the first few innings...
Orioles and Tigers lineups
Orioles and Tigers lineups
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Taylor Teagarden gets the start behind the plate today for the Orioles. Mark Reynolds and Manny Machado continue to handle the infield corners. Chris Davis moves up to fifth in the lineup. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Nate McLouth LF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis DH Mark Reynolds 1B Manny Machado 3B Omar Quintanilla 2B Taylor Teagarden C Wei-Yin Chen LHP For the Tigers: Austin Jackson CF Omar Infante 2B Miguel Cabrera 3B Prince Fielder 1B Jhonny Peralta SS Delmon...
No day off for Desmond, Werth
No day off for Desmond, Werth
Dan Kolko
Nationals
Davey Johnson had said he planned on giving both Ian Desmond and Jayson Werth the day off for today's rubber game against the Mets. That's not happening. Both Desmond and Werth are in today's Nationals lineup. I'd be interested to hear the reasoning for Johnson's change of heart. I have a hard time believing that last night's shutout loss to the Mets factored in at all, but it's possible Desmond and Werth both convinced their skipper that they're OK to play again this afternoon. The...
Is Davis a nugget?
Is Davis a nugget?
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
As the Orioles approached the 2012 season, I implored them to give Nolan Reimold and Chris Davis a minimum of 500 at-bats and determine whether they were legitimate major league hitters with a future in Baltimore. Play Reimold in left field. Keep Davis at first base. Figure it out. Reimold hasn't played since April 30 because of a herniated disc in his neck that required surgery. The jury is still out on him. Davis has become the regular designated hitter with Jim Thome on the disabled list...
The case for the defense
The case for the defense
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Here is a question for you: Can a team create offense out of its defense? Sure it can - in basketball or football. You steal the ball and it leads to a slam dunk. You force a turnover setting up your offense on the opponent's 10-yard line. But in baseball? The Orioles may have done that in a way last night. The game was tied 0-0 and Detroit had a rally going in the last of the sixth. They got two on with none out. It looked like that Zach Britton had held the Tigers down for a while, but now...
Jackson brilliant, but it's not enough
Jackson brilliant, but it's not enough
Dan Kolko
Nationals
When your pitcher goes out and dominates the opposition the way Edwin Jackson dominated the Mets tonight, you'd like to see that guy get rewarded with a win. That didn't happen, which will eat at the Nationals' hitters a little bit. "That's about as good as we've seen him," Adam LaRoche said of Jackson. "Sucks to waste it like that." Entering tonight's game, the Nationals had scored the most runs of any team in the majors since the All-Star break, so they won't hang their heads...
Johnson discusses a tough 2-0 loss
Johnson discusses a tough 2-0 loss
Dan Kolko
Nationals
Earlier this season, Edwin Jackson pitched a complete game, allowing just one run. He then struck out eight and allowed just one run in eight innings against the Orioles in late June and threw seven shutout innings against the Brewers last month. But in Davey Johnson's mind, tonight was as good as Jackson has been all season. "That was probably the most dominant I've seen him pitch," Johnson said. "He had outstanding stuff. Breaking stuff, his fastball was dropping off the table and had...