Riggleman will not tinker with lineup
Riggleman will not tinker with lineup
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Despite the current five-game losing streak in which the team has managed just 11 runs, including only a single run scored in the past 19 innings, Nats manager Jim Riggleman does not think shaking up the lineup is the solution to recent offensive woes. "I have played around there with Nyjer (Morgan) in the 1 and 2, (Cristian) Guzman in the 1 and 2, (Ryan) Zimmerman and (Adam) Dunn in the 3 and 4. That is about the extent of it. When (Mike) Morse is in there, he may hit seventh. When Pudge...
Women Learn Baseball Fundamentals at Nats U
Women Learn Baseball Fundamentals at Nats U
Josh Land
Nationals
On Saturday morning, roughly 65 women gathered to learn more about baseball fundamentals from Nationals coaches and front office staff. The third baseball clinic geared toward women since baseball returned to D.C., Nats U was a tremendous success. The women sipped mimosas and enjoyed a complimentary breakfast in the PNC Diamond Club before splitting up into a beginning group and an advanced group. The advanced group heard from moderator Rob Dibble, Nationals Director of Minor League...
Stammen happy to get so close to a no-no
Stammen happy to get so close to a no-no
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Syracuse Chiefs starter Craig Stammen is still remembering what could have been Friday night when he came within one out and two strikes of a no-hitter. Stammen beat the Gwinnett Braves 5-0 in a seven-inning game, allowing only a two-out base hit to Josh Anderson. "He was terrific. He got groundball outs like we have seen before and was in total control," said Chiefs play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti of Stammen's performance. Of Stammen's 21 outs, 12 were ground balls. Stammen told...
Berken keeps workin'
Berken keeps workin'
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Happy Father's Day. I was greeted this morning with the following exchange: Daughter: "Can I go swimming later today?" Me: "Only if you wish me a Happy Father's Day." Daughter: "Oh crap, I forgot! Happy Father's Day. I love you." I guess that counts. Have you recovered from last night's game? You might need to stay in bed, even if you're not getting breakfast there. Kevin Millwood's first victory wasn't going to come easily, not on a night when the Orioles butchered a...
Joe Jordan with more comments on Mummey
Joe Jordan with more comments on Mummey
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The latest Orioles draft pick to agree to terms is fourth-round pick Trent Mummey, an outfielder from Auburn that was taken with the 118th overall selection. Mummey is expected to take his physical in Baltimore on Monday and, if all goes well there as expected, he will then officially sign and soon after likely join the Aberdeen IronBirds. Mummey missed the first 28 games of Auburn's season with an ankle injury, but then hit .366-17-54 in just 36 games. He was a first-team all SEC selection...
Millwood finally gets one
Millwood finally gets one
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Kevin Millwood is finally a winner in 2010. Wonder how his stomach was feeling in that last of the ninth. It had the look of many others that got away from the Orioles this year and the latest was in that park just last night. But Alfredo Simon stranded the tie run at third as he picked up the final two outs, and, even though he gave up a run in the ninth, the O's got a 5-4 win to even the series. Millwood, after giving up three runs in the first with the help of a botched rundown that...
A lost RBI
A lost RBI
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles should lead by three runs heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, and Adam Jones should have three RBIs tonight. Corey Patterson pinch-ran for Luke Scott, who collected his third hit, and stole second to move into scoring position. Unfortunately, the "scoring" part didn't hold up. Patterson didn't get a good jump on Jones' single to center field, and he stumbled as he reached third base. He kept going and was an easy out, especially because he chose to go in standing...
Good news on two levels
Good news on two levels
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Adam Jones hit his ninth home run tonight, a two-run shot into the second deck that gave the Orioles a 5-3 lead in the sixth inning. Kevin Millwood has blanked the Padres since that infuriating first inning. He's thrown 86 pitches through the fifth. Down on the farm, Nolan Reimold went 2-for-4 with a double, walk and run scored in Triple-A Norfolk's 10-3 win over Toledo. Reimold's average is up to .217. Looks like he's heating up. Jeff Salazar homered twice and drove in four runs. Paco...
Good pitching on the farm
Good pitching on the farm
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The four starting pitchers tonight at the O's full-season affiliates combined to give up just one earned run and pitch to an ERA of 0.38 this evening. Here is the rundown: Norfolk's Troy Patton: 5IP, 6H, 3R, 1ER Bowie's Zach Britton: 6IP, 2H, 0R Frederick's Ryan Berry: 5IP, 2H, 0R Delmarva's Kenny Moreland: 8IP, 2H, 1R, 0ER That is 1 ER and 12 hits over 24 innings for the four. Patton has now pitched to an ERA of just 1.84 over his last five starts, lowering his ERA for the year...
The botched rundown
The botched rundown
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Well, you knew San Diego would score after the Orioles botched that rundown between second and third in the last of the first. Cesar Izturis was chasing the runner toward third base and just needed to keep running at him and there likely would have been two runners at third and an easy third out. But he made a throw he didn't need to make and a return throw was too late and the O's botched a basic rundown. Jim Palmer and Eddie Murray sounded amazed and stunned in the booth. Nick Markakis...