ORIOLES QUICK WRAP
Score: Orioles 11, Twins 5
Recap: The Orioles entered the top of the third inning down 3-0 and left it leading 5-3. The last three runs scored on catcher Johnny Monell's long home run to right field. Monell went 3-for-4 with four RBIs. Chris Tillman allowed three runs in the second, but only one was earned.
Need to know: Zach Britton was hit on the bottom of his glove hand by a Josh Willingham comebacker in the fifth inning. He picked up the ball and made the throw to...
FORT MYERS, Fla. - About 30 Orioles, including manager Buck Showalter, are leaving Friday afternoon's game against the Phillies at 3 p.m. and taking a charter to the Virginia area to attend a memorial service for Monica Pence Barlow, who passed away Friday morning after a long battle with Stage IV lung cancer. The group will return to Sarasota later that night.
Bench coach John Russell will manage the rest of the game in Showalter's absence.
Players attending the service include Adam Jones,...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Ryan Flaherty is moving around the infield again tonight, starting at third base against the Twins in Fort Myers.
Flaherty started at shortstop last night and also has played second base.
Nolan Reimold is serving as the Orioles' designated hitter.
For the Orioles
Quintin Berry CF
Jemile Weeks 2B
Xavier Paul RF
Steve Pearce 1B
Johnny Monell C
Nolan Reimold DH
Ryan Flaherty 3B
Alex Gonzalez SS
Julio Borbon LF
Chris Tillman RHP
Other pitchers on the trip include Zach...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Johan Santana threw off flat ground today, lifted weights and walked over to his new locker with an ice pack on his left shoulder. He was introduced to each reporter who stood in front of him, then was challenged to go backward and recite the names.
"It's going to take time," he said, smiling.
Santana won't be rushed learning names or pitching in games.
The Orioles signed the two-time Cy Young Award winner to a minor league deal yesterday and hope to get him back into...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Johan Santana walked through the clubhouse this morning. He's got a locker set up and will talk to reporters following the workout.
Approximate time is 12:30 p.m.
Infielder Alexi Casilla will test his hamstring by hitting outdoors today. He's making slow progress.
First baseman Chris Marrero, who's been sidelined with an oblique injury for most of camp, will take some dry swings today. He attempted to throw recently and still experienced discomfort on his...
TAMPA - Brock Huntzinger struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth, giving the Orioles' bullpen seven scoreless innings in a 3-2 victory over the Yankees.
David Lough and Ryan Flaherty each had two hits for the Orioles.
Afterward, manager Buck Showalter commented on the pitchers used in tonight's game, starting with left-hander Wei-Yin Chen.
"He was OK," Showalter said. "He wasn't as crisp. I thought he was pretty crisp last time out. He'll get better. That's why they call it...
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP
Score: Orioles 3, Yankees 2
Recap: Wei-Yin Chen allowed two runs and five hits in the second inning, including a solo homer by Francisco Cervelli, but four of the hits were soft singles. The Orioles took the lead in the bottom of the seventh on RBIs by Quintin Berry and Julio Borbon.
Need to know: David Lough is a candidate to lead off, and he collected a single and triple in his first two at-bats while starting off an inning. He scored the Orioles' first run and is now...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles like the nightlife. I'm not sure whether they boogie.
It's back-to-back night games on the road. What could be better?
Chris Tillman gets the start against the Twins in Fort Myers, and he could be pushed to three innings after working two in his debut Friday against the Rays. Zach Britton and Steve Johnson also will pitch.
The clubhouse opens to the media at 9:45 a.m. Johan Santana will be made available to reporters before or after his workout.
Eddie Gamboa...
TAMPA - The Yankees observed a moment of silence tonight for Monica Pence Barlow, just as the Red Sox did Sunday in Fort Myers.
I would expect the Twins to do the same Wednesday night at their facility in Fort Myers.
The Orioles began the game with back-to-back singles by David Lough and Jemile Weeks, but former Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts fielded Delmon Young's grounder and started a 4-6-3 double play.
Earlier today, Roberts met with the Baltimore media in the Yankees dugout and...
TAMPA - Orioles manager Buck Showalter expects outfielder Henry Urrutia to be available in a couple of days. Urrutia has been bothered by inflammation in his right shoulder, but told reporters today that he felt much better.
Showalter estimated that reliever Edgmer Escalona will be shut down for three weeks due to inflammation in his right shoulder.
Escalona had an MRI after Saturday's game in Port Charlotte, when he allowed five runs in one inning.
"He saw two different doctors,"...
TAMPA - Two former Orioles are in the Yankees' lineup tonight for their 7:05 p.m. game at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Brian Roberts is starting at second base and batting cleanup against Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen. Russ Canzler is playing first base and batting eighth.
For the Yankees
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Derek Jeter DH
Carlos Beltran RF
Brian Roberts 2B
Eduardo Nunez 3B
Francisco Cervelli C
Brendan Ryan SS
Russ Canzler 1B
Yangervis Solarte LF
David Phelps RHP
Chris Tillman, Zach...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette stated today that June 1 is a "reasonable timeframe" for left-hander Johan Santana to be ready to pitch for the major league club.
Santana has signed a minor league deal with a base salary of $3 million and another $5.05 million in bonuses based on games started and days spent on the major league roster. He has a May 30 opt-out date, which fits into Duquette's projected timeframe.
Santana will report to camp Wednesday...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles made the Johan Santana deal official today. The left-hander agreed to terms on a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.
Santana, who turns 35 later this month, will be available to the media at his locker Wednesday morning and will work out at the Ed Smith Stadium complex.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner is recovering from a second surgery to repair his left shoulder capsule. He's 139-78 with a 3.20 ERA in 12 major league seasons.
Most...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will sign left-hander Johan Santana to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training, the announcement most likely coming later today.
Santana will work out at the Ed Smith Stadium complex instead of being sent to Twin Lakes Park. The Orioles want to monitor his recovery from a second shoulder surgery and keep him with Chris Correnti, the club's assistant athletic trainer who has a relationship with Santana dating back to their years with the...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will play under the lights tonight for the first time this spring, busing to Tampa for a 7:05 p.m. game against the Yankees.
It's possible that Brian Roberts will draw a crowd of Baltimore reporters, and seeing him in a Yankees uniform will be a shock to the system.
In case you missed it, here's my interview with him that I posted on Jan. 27.
Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen starts for the Orioles tonight, while the Yankees counter with right-hander David Phelps.
The...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have signed left-hander Chris Jones to a Triple-A contract.
The team announced the signing shortly before the end of a 9-2 loss to the Twins at Ed Smith Stadium.
The Orioles designated Jones for assignment to make room for Nelson Cruz on the 40-man roster. He cleared waivers and the club released him.
The Orioles worked out a new deal with Jones, who is expected to report to the minor league complex at Twin Lakes Park.
The Orioles originally acquired the...
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP
Score: Twins 9, Orioles 2
Recap: Chris Davis broke a 1-1 tie with a long home run in the sixth inning, the ball hitting more than halfway up the video board in center field. Mike Wright gave up the tying run in the eighth and Tim Alderson was charged with five runs in the ninth without retiring a batter.
Need to know: Jonathan Schoop homered in both intrasquad games and he came off the bench again today to double and single, making him 4-for-6 with two doubles and three...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Free agent pitcher Johan Santana stopped by the Ed Smith Stadium complex today, and the Orioles are nearing an agreement on a minor league deal.
Former executive Jim Duquette, in camp today with MLB Radio Network, tweeted that Santana got into his car and drove away from the complex. Pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez posted a photo of himself with Santana on Instagram.
Welcome to today's media.
A team official confirmed that Santana was here, and a source said a minor league deal...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Outfielder Nolan Reimold contracted food poisoning last night and was sent back to the hotel.
"He was sick during the night. Ate something wrong," said manager Buck Showalter. "He won't be having the skillet breakfast anymore. I can tell you that.
"We make them come in. He came by my office and started opening his mouth, and I said, 'Go home.' He looked bad."
Showalter indicated that his initial plans don't call for David Lough to play against left-handers, which...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Delmon Young is back on the bench today after collecting two hits for the Orioles yesterday in Fort Myers.
Young could get an at-bat or two later, and he's expected to make the trip to Tampa for Tuesday night's game against the Yankees. He's on a typical spring schedule as he attempts to crack the 40-man roster and break camp with the team.
The work day started early for Young, who already was bathed in a heavy sweat before players took the field for batting practice....