Hoping to break out the brooms
Hoping to break out the brooms
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles picked up their first series win at Comerica Park since August 5-7, 2008 and have won back-to-back games at the ballpark for the first time since June 4-5, 2005. So far, so good. The Orioles are looking for their first sweep in Detroit since May 28-30, 2004. They've won 11 of their last 17 road games after winning 14 of their first 54. Last night's victory assured them of a winning record on this road trip. The Orioles went 4-2 on their last trip, marking the first time...
Riding the Koji train
Riding the Koji train
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Buck Showalter certainly has his ticket punched. He has used Koji in six of the last seven games and 10 of the past 16. Uehara has saved nine of the last 12 Orioles wins. He is two outs away from being 10 for 10 in save chances. Perhaps more surprising than his success, is how he does it. By pumping seemingly nothing other than 88 mile per hour fastballs that look pretty straight on a TV monitor. What is Koji's secret? His 88 MPH fastball seems to produce hitter's swings as if they are...
Guthrie pitches the O's past Detroit, 5-3
Guthrie pitches the O's past Detroit, 5-3
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Jeremy Guthrie continued his second-half pitching success tonight. Max Scherzer kept his going, for a while. The O's finally broke through with a four-run 6th to give Guthrie the lead and eventual 5-3 win over the Tigers at Comerica Park on Saturday night. Down 4-0, the Tigers pulled within one, scoring three in the 8th vs. Matt Albers. Felix Pie came up with a big RBI single in the ninth for an insurance run as he went 3 for 5 with two RBI. Adam Jones went 4 for 4 with a double and run...
Keys fall at Potomac to end their season
Keys fall at Potomac to end their season
Steve Melewski
Orioles
After winning the first game of their playoff series with Potomac on Wednesday, Frederick lost the last three games of this series and the Keys season ended with tonight's 10-3 loss at Potomac. The Nationals advance to face Winston-Salem for the Carolina League championship after taking the series, three wins to one. Frederick starter Luis Noel gave up four runs over 2 2/3 and Keys starters allowed 17 earned runs over 11 1/3 in the series. Ronnie Welty hit a solo homer and Tyler Townsend...
Hail Cesar (updated)
Hail Cesar (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Cesar Izturis struck out to end the fourth inning and leave the bases loaded. He also left the game scoreless. Probably not a big surprise, but how about the way he made up for it in the sixth? Izturis contributed a two-run triple to a four-run inning that also included doubles by Adam Jones and Felix Pie, and a long sacrifice fly by Ty Wigginton. Whatever offense that Izturis provides is gravy. He's here for his glove. That hit was huge and quite unexpected. Does Buck Showalter get credit...
Guts and Max (update, O's lead)
Guts and Max (update, O's lead)
Steve Melewski
Orioles
It's Jeremy Guthrie vs. Max Scherzer tonight at Detroit. It's 0-0 after four innings, but each team has had scoring chances and they have combined to leave 11 on base. The O's just loaded the bases on three singles with one out in the fourth, but Scherzer fanned Josh Bell and Cesar Izturis to end that threat. Scherzer is 4-3, 2.15 in 11 second-half starts. Guthrie has allowed five hits in four innings, but no runs to the Tigers so far. Detroit is 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position...
Tonight's lineups
Tonight's lineups
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Ty Wigginton 1B Nick Markakis RF Luke Scott DH Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Felix Pie LF Josh Bell 3B Cesar Izturis SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP For the Tigers: Austin Jackson CF Ryan Raburn RF Johnny Damon DH Miguel Cabrera 1B Don Kelly LF Jhonny Peralta SS Brandon Inge 3B Alex Avila C Ramon Santiago 2B Max Scherzer RHP
Keys now need two wins to advance
Keys now need two wins to advance
Steve Melewski
Orioles
After losing 7-1 at Potomac last night, the Frederick Keys need to win two games in two days to advance to the Mills Cup finals vs. Winston-Salem. Frederick trails the best-of-five series, 2-1, heading into tonight's game four at Potomac where Luis Noel (3-2, 6.18) pitches for the Keys vs. right-hander Marcos Frias (7-5, 5.69). Frias is 1-1, 7.31 in three starts vs. Frederick on the year. How some Keys hitters have fared in this series: Miguel Abreu: 3 for 12 Xavier Avery: 0 for 10 Pedro...
Marquis Reflects on 9/11
Marquis Reflects on 9/11
Josh Land
Nationals
Nine years ago today, Jason Marquis was scheduled to take the mound in Atlanta against the Phillies. Up early to do some work on his fantasy football team, Marquis watched the first plane fly into the World Trade Center on television. Like many Americans, when the second plane hit the Twin Towers, he frantically began checking with loved ones in the city -- including his sister who was working at the New York Stock Exchange. "You feel helpless," Marquis recalled. "All you can do is hope...
A few notes
A few notes
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Jake Fox's home run last night was the 10th by a first baseman this season, making the Orioles the last team in the majors to reach double figures at that position, according to Elias. I'm sure that was all part of manager Buck Showalter's plan. You already know that the Orioles are 22-14 under Showalter. Did you also know that they're tied with the Colorado Rockies for the third-most wins during that period? (Phillies 25, Twins 24) The Orioles are 10-2 in series-opening games under...