The Orioles suffered their fifth shutout of the season tonight and their second of the homestand. They were 7-0 all-time against the Astros at home.
Tonight marked the first time that Miguel Gonzalez lost consecutive decisions in 34 career starts, leaving him tied with Ken Dixon for the franchise record. Gonzalez allowed nine runs (four earned) and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings. His issue?
"Command," manager Buck Showalter said following an 11-0 loss. "I think he threw about 68 pitches last...
Pitcher Steve Johnson will take his injury-rehab assignment to Double-A Bowie for Saturday's game against Portland at Prince George's County Stadium.
Johnson, on the disabled list with a strained left oblique, was 1-2 with a 5.49 ERA in four starts at Triple-A Norfolk. He threw two shutout innings with the Gulf Coast League Orioles to start his rehab assignment and allowed two runs in six innings in two starts with short-season Single-A Aberdeen.
OK, I've stalled long enough...
Miguel...
Well, that escalated quickly.
Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez retired the Astros in order on only five pitches in the top of the first inning. He gave up four runs on two doubles, a single and a home run while throwing 24 pitches in the second.
Catcher Jason Castro led off the inning with a double, but Gonzalez retired the next two batters on pop ups. Brandon Barnes doubled in a run, Matt Dominguez grounded a single up the middle to score a run and No. 9 hitter Robbie Grossman belted his...
Right-hander Bud Norris will make his Orioles debut on Thursday against the Astros.
They should be familiar with him.
Chris Tillman is being pushed back to Friday against the Mariners - his former organization - at Camden Yards followed by Scott Feldman on Saturday and Wei-Yin Chen on Sunday.
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette met with reporters in the back of the press box at 6 p.m. and discussed today's trade that sent outfielder LJ Hoes and left-hander Josh Hader to Houston...
Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel met with reporters in the home dugout during batting practice. Here's a sampling:
"It started in spring training. I've been dealing with it all year," he said. "It's not really a pain thing. It's more of an uncomfortable thing. Hopefully tomorrow, the MRI will tell me something. When something doesn't hurt, it's confusing. When you feel all right to a certain extent and then things change as you get a little deeper into your outing.
"Very disappointing....
Steve Pearce is in the new Orioles lineup, batting ninth and serving as the designated hitter.
Adam Jones is in center field and Nate McLouth is in left.
For the Orioles
Nate McLouth LF
Manny Machado 3B
Nick Markakis RF
Adam Jones CF
Chris Davis 1B
Matt Wieters C
J.J. Hardy SS
Brian Roberts 2B
Steve Pearce DH
Miguel Gonzalez RHP
For the Astros
Jonathan Villar SS
LJ Hoes RF
Jose Altuve 2B
Jason Castro C
Chris Carter DH
Brett Wallace 1B
Brandon Barnes CF
Matt Dominguez 3B
Robbie Grossman...
Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel hasn't won since May 27.
It's going to be a while before he can make another attempt to end the streak.
Hammel was placed on the disabled list, retroactive to July 29, with a right flexor mass strain. In 21 starts for the Orioles, Hammel is 7-8 with a 5.20 ERA over 123 innings.
"He's eligible on the 13th (of August), which is the first day we'd need a fifth starter if we want to use the off-days," Showalter said. "He's had some flexor mass tenderness...
The news is coming in waves at Camden Yards.
The Orioles acquired pitcher Bud Norris and International Signing Bonus Slot No. 91 from the Astros this afternoon for outfielder LJ Hoes and minor league left-hander Josh Hader - both local products - and the 2014 Draft Competitive Balance Pick-Round A, Selection No 2.
That's not all.
Jason Hammel is being placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right arm. He's eligible to return on Aug. 13.
Also, outfielder Steve Pearce will be taken...
The Orioles have acquired right-hander Bud Norris from the Astros ahead of the 4 p.m. non-waiver trading deadline. To get the veteran starter, they had to part with outfielder LJ Hoes and minor league pitcher Josh Hader, a left-hander who was a 19th-round draft pick in 2012.
In the trade, consummated at about 3:30 p.m., that the Orioles also sent the Astros the second selection in Round A of the competitive balance lottery in the 2014 draft.
The deal will require Hoes and Norris to switch...
Orioles manager Buck Showalter is providing a little rest for Adam Jones, making him the designated hitter tonight against the Astros at Camden Yards.
Jones will be serving as the DH for the fifth time this season.
Nate McLouth is starting in center field tonight. LJ Hoes is back in left field.
For the Astros
Jonathan Villar SS
Jose Altuve 2B
Jason Castro C
Chris Carter DH
Brett Wallace 1B
Marc Krauss RF
Brandon Barnes CF
Matt Dominguez 3B
Robbie Grossman LF
Brett Oberholtzer LHP
For...
The Orioles will face a left-hander tonight. It just won't be Erik Bedard.
The Astros have scratched Bedard and will give the ball to rookie Brett Oberholtzer, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart.
McTaggart adds that Bedard hasn't been traded, though he's on the block. And I should emphasis that I mean the trading block. We are, after all, in Baltimore.
Oberholtzer, 24, has allowed six runs and 11 hits in 7 1/3 innings over three relief appearances for a 7.36 ERA. He's walked none,...
I'm getting ready to make the drive to Camden Yards, which should ensure that news breaks while I'm behind the wheel. The only question is whether it happens while I'm on Rt. 32, 70, 695 or 95.
Take your pick.
As far as we know, left-hander Erik Bedard remains the scheduled starter tonight for the Astros, but Bud Norris will take his place if the right-hander isn't traded.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter has made out at least two lineups. He's ready for anything.
An industry source...
Jonathan Schoop hit a home run last night for Triple-A Norfolk.
Schoop had three hits on Monday, including a home run.
This Schoop kid is pretty good. Just ask any team that's trying to work a trade with the Orioles.
Up to this point, the Orioles have been reluctant to part with him, whether it's for Joe Blanton or Bud Norris or another available arm or bat. His name always comes up in discussions. The Orioles always say, "No."
ESPN's Jim Bowden tweeted last night that the Orioles...
Orioles manager Buck Showalter never second-guessed his decision tonight to send Wei-Yin Chen back to the mound in the top of the eighth inning, and to leave the left-hander out there with the tying run on base.
Chen struck out Jason Castro, and Darren O'Day retired the next two batters to preserve a one-run lead.
"There were a lot of key outs. It was a close game," Showalter said after the Orioles' 4-3 win over the Astros at Camden Yards.
"Just felt like he was still carrying his...
Just as he did in Kansas City, Orioles manager Buck Showalter allowed left-hander Wei-Yin Chen to return for the eighth inning tonight at Camden Yards.
Just as he did in Kansas City, Showalter allowed Chen to face a left-handed hitter with the tying run on base.
The second-guessers where sharpening their knives, or at least their tongues, but Chen didn't repeat his mistake in Kansas City, when Eric Hosmer homered in the Royals' 4-3 victory.
Chen struck out Astros catcher Jason Castro on...
Though they could shift in many directions, the Orioles seem to be focused primarily on acquiring starters Bud Norris or Jason Vargas, according to an industry source.
The Astros will have to significantly lower their asking price, according to sources. But the Orioles remain interested because Norris, 28, is making only $3 million this season and is under team control through 2015. And he's posted a 3.93 ERA this season on a bad team.
One concern beyond the Astros' demands for multiple top...
Ryan Flaherty is making his first major league start at first base tonight. He's appeared in seven innings over four games at first since the Orioles selected him in the Rule 5 draft in the winter of 2011.
Flaherty has been fielding ground balls at first, anticipating that he might be needed. He headed out to the field early today and practiced taking throws in the dirt on double plays.
"I walked in today and Buck (Showalter) said a little bit ago, 'Yeah, you might be at first tonight,'so...
Orioles manager Buck Showalter met in his office with executive vice president Dan Duquette before his pregame session with the media. Duquette briefed him on the latest trade talks, which haven't yielded another addition since the Orioles acquired reliever Francisco Rodriguez from the Brewers for minor league infielder Nicky Delmonico.
It's still not a topic of conversation in the Orioles' clubhouse.
"I think guys know, one, there's not a whole lot they can do about it, and two,...
Orioles third baseman Manny Machado was hit by a ground ball today that took a bad hop during batting practice. He walked off the field and is being checked by the club's training staff.
Reporters had just finished talking to former Orioles manager Dave Trembley, now the Astros third base coach, in front of the visiting dugout when Machado was struck. Adam Jones was in the cage.
The ball may have hit Machado in the arm as he tried to spin away from it.
More to come.
Not much to report on...
Ryan Flaherty is making a rare start for the Orioles tonight, replacing Chris Davis at first base in the series opener against the Astros at Camden Yards.
Davis will serve as the designated hitter instead of Henry Urrutia.
Flaherty hasn't started since July 5. He's had three at-bats since that date, the last coming on July 13. His last appearance came nine days later.
Flaherty has appeared in one game at first base this season, going 0-for-1.
Davis hasn't homered since the All-Star break...