Pregame quotes from Showalter

Pregame quotes from Showalter
BOSTON - Orioles right-hander Steve Johnson is slated to pitch in an extended spring training game on Saturday in Sarasota, and left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada could join him. Johnson is expected to go three innings or throw 55 pitches, "somewhere in there," said manager Buck Showalter. Wada threw his second bullpen session yesterday and could go two innings on Saturday. Johnson is on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right lat. Wada underwent ligament-reconstructive surgery on his left...
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Dickerson celebrates 31st birthday with promotion to majors

Dickerson celebrates 31st birthday with promotion to majors
BOSTON - Chris Dickerson has a No. 60 jersey hanging in his locker in the visiting clubhouse at Fenway Park. He'd rather lower the digit to something more baseball-like, but at least it's a major league uniform. Dickerson hopped on a 6 a.m. flight to Boston, his 31st birthday coinciding with his return to the Orioles, who selected his contract (though they still haven't announced it) from Triple-A Norfolk and traded reliever Luis Ayala to the Braves for minor league pitcher Chris...
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Orioles and Red Sox lineups

Orioles and Red Sox lineups
BOSTON - Nolan Reimold is back in the lineup tonight, batting ninth and serving as the designated hitter. Chris Dickerson, wearing his spring training No. 60, is listed among the reserves and is sitting at his locker. Dickerson found out about his promotion to the majors last night as he stepped into the batter's box to lead off the first inning for Triple-A Norfolk. Tides manager Ron Johnson kept calling to him. Dickerson kept saying, "What?" and assumed that Johnson just wanted to give...
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Ayala traded to Braves (updated)

Ayala traded to Braves (updated)
BOSTON - The Orioles traded reliever Luis Ayala to the Atlanta Braves today for minor league left-hander Chris Jones, who will be assigned to Double-A Bowie. The deal allows the Orioles to keep Rule 5 pick T.J. McFarland in their bullpen and also gives manager Buck Showalter a fourth bench player with outfielder Chris Dickerson having his contracted selected from Triple-A Norfolk. Ayala was 6-5 with a 2.81 ERA in 68 games for the Orioles over the past two seasons. He allowed 44 percent of...
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Waiting on the roster move and Arrieta's start (updated twice)

Waiting on the roster move and Arrieta's start (updated twice)
BOSTON - The Orioles were off yesterday, but they stayed busy. Besides the private screening of the film "42," they made preparations for a roster move involving outfielder Chris Dickerson. As I wrote last night, outfielder Nolan Reimold's hamstring is fine and the move isn't expected to involve him. Dickerson isn't on the 40-man roster, but infielder Wilson Betemit can be transferred to the 60-day disabled list. Stay tuned. Dickerson just sent this tweet a few minutes ago: "Rise and...
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Dickerson headed to Boston?

Dickerson headed to Boston?
BOSTON - Triple-A Norfolk outfielder Chris Dickerson was removed for a pinch-hitter tonight before batting in the first inning. He was supposed to lead off and play center field against Charlotte. LJ Hoes batted for Dickerson and went to right field, with Jason Pridie moving over to center. Should we read anything into it? Apparently, a roster move is pending that involves Dickerson and he's expected to meet the team in Boston, though I'm hearing that Nolan Reinold's hamstring is...
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The DH hasn't been OK for Orioles

The DH hasn't been OK for Orioles
BOSTON - If you think the Orioles have hit a rough patch, consider what's happening at Triple-A Norfolk. The Tides gave up three touchdowns last night and lost to Charlotte 21-4. Outfielder Jason Pridie, pitching for the first time since high school, threw two fastballs and recorded the final out. Pridie tweeted that his two-seamer had some nice movement. Good to know, just in case the Orioles get lured into another 17-inning marathon. The Orioles are off today, and center fielder Adam...
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Postgame comments from Jones, Chen and Wieters

Postgame comments from Jones, Chen and Wieters
BOSTON - The Orioles are below .500 for the first time since 2011. They've lost three games in a row. Adam Jones isn't concerned and he wonders why anyone would be at this early stage of the season. "Seven games into the season," he said. "I mean, seven games into the season. No one's concerned." Are the Orioles badly in need of Tuesday's off day after losing their last three games? Jones had a little fun with that one. "We might spend it all day tomorrow crying as a team, holding...
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Showalter speaks after 3-1 loss

Showalter speaks after 3-1 loss
BOSTON - The Orioles wasted a solid outing from left-hander Wei-Yin Chen today in a 3-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox. Chen took a shutout into the seventh inning before Dustin Pedroia reached on an infield hit up the middle, Mike Napoli doubled on a towering fly ball to left-center field and Daniel Nava launched a fastball over the Green Monster in left. Ballgame. "He was great," said manager Buck Showalter. "One mistake. We didn't do much offensively and both guys pitched really well up...
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Chen's winless streak continues (Jones homers, O's lose 3-1)

Chen's winless streak continues (Jones homers, O's lose 3-1)
BOSTON - Wei-Yin Chen carried a shutout into the seventh inning today, but the weight of it eventually brought him down. Dustin Pedroia led off the bottom of the seventh inning by reaching on an infield hit, Mike Napolis doubled to left-center field to put two runners in scoring position, and Daniel Nava launched a 1-1 pitch over the Green Monster in left. Shutout gone. Winless streak alive. Chen hasn't posted a victory in nine consecutive regular-season starts. The Orioles have scored 15...
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Chris Davis named AL Player of the Week

Chris Davis named AL Player of the Week
BOSTON - Orioles first baseman Chris Davis has been named the American League's Player of the Week, an honor that seemed destined to be bestowed upon him after his historic home run and RBI binge. Davis batted .455/.500/1.136 with three doubles, four homers, 17 RBIs and five runs scored in the Orioles' first six games. He went 0-for-4 yesterday to end his streak of five consecutive games with at least one RBI to start the season, falling one shy of the club record shared by Mike Devereaux...
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Still scoreless in Boston (and still)

Still scoreless in Boston (and still)
BOSTON - Orioles left fielder Nate McLouth was stranded in the first inning today after a leadoff single, and Chris Davis was stranded in the second after a leadoff walk. Manny Machado and Nick Markakis singled with two outs in the third, but Adam Jones took a called third strike. Davis drew another walk leading off the top of the fourth, but Matt Wieters grounded into a force - Davis appeared to beat the throw - and J.J. Hardy hit into a double play. The game is scoreless, but not because...
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Showalter on Ayala, Reimold and more (updated)

Showalter on Ayala, Reimold and more (updated)
BOSTON - Reliever Luis Ayala is available to pitch today after becoming dizzy yesterday at Camden Yards and spending a few hours at a local hospital. Ayala is throwing in the bullpen during batting practice to make certain that he's physically up to the task. "He wasn't feeling well and doctors took some of his vitals and decided to check it out a little further at the hospital, just to be on the safe side," said manager Buck Showalter. "I think for Louie to tell you that he wasn't...
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Scenes from the visiting clubhouse

Scenes from the visiting clubhouse
BOSTON - If you've never stepped inside the visiting clubhouse at Fenway Park, imagine trying to fit your sectional sofa inside a phone booth. I volunteered to scrape the paint off the walls, just to create more space. It's so small, the mice are hunchbacked. It's so small, I had to step outside to change my mind. It's so small, the clubhouse attendant put a key in the door and broke a window. But seriously, folks ... Nolan Reimold rode a stationary bike to loosen the ol' hamstring....
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Orioles-Red Sox lineups

Orioles-Red Sox lineups
BOSTON - Nolan Reimold is listed among the Orioles reserves today at Fenway Park, and said he should be ready to go by Wednesday. Reimold reports that his right hamstring feels better, but it still a little tight. Also, Miguel Gonzalez will start Friday's opener of a three-game series at Yankee Stadium. 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 Ryan Flaherty 2B Steve Pearce DH Wei-Yin Chen LHP For the Red...
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On the road again

On the road again
BOSTON - The Orioles will experience their third opening day of the 2013 season this afternoon when they arrive at Fenway Park to begin a three-game series against the Red Sox. Boston's record streak of 793 regular-season sellouts dating back to May 15, 2003 is expected to end this month, and quite possibly in this series. Today's game is sold out, but Wednesday could be a different story. The streak's legitimacy has been questioned many times in the past, including by the locals. Time to...
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Navarro on standby as possible roster move (Ayala update)

Navarro on standby as possible roster move (Ayala update)
The Orioles won't make an official roster move before Monday, but they've already decided on a player if it's necessary. Infielder Yamaico Navarro, who spent one day with the Orioles during the just-concluded homestand, is meeting them in Boston and will be placed on the taxi squad, which allows teams to have a minor leaguer on standby for 24 hours. The taxi squad was introduced as part of baseball's latest collective bargaining agreement. The Orioles used it last year with outfielder...
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Showalter speaks after 4-3 loss (updated with Navarro note)

Showalter speaks after 4-3 loss (updated with Navarro note)
A day that started slowly really picked up steam as it progressed into the late afternoon. Nolan Reimold exited the game with tightness in his right hamstring, and he could go on the disabled list because the Orioles already are playing with a short bench. We learned that Luis Ayala was taken to a local hospital after becoming ill. And manager Buck Showalter confirmed that Miguel Gonzalez will start in New York this weekend, but not because he's aiming for specific match-ups or concerned...
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Ayala taken to hospital, Reimold could go on DL

Ayala taken to hospital, Reimold could go on DL
Orioles reliever Luis Ayala began to feel ill during today's game and is currently being checked out at a local hospital. He won't accompany the Orioles to Boston tonight, but he could meet up with them later. Manager Buck Showalter said Ayala left the bullpen around the sixth or seventh inning. Showalter said the club has a pretty good read on the problem, but he didn't go into specifics. Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette are discussing the various options if outfielder...
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Reimold leaves game with tight hamstring (O's lose 4-3)

Reimold leaves game with tight hamstring (O's lose 4-3)
Nolan Reimold grounded into a double play today to end the bottom of the sixth inning, and he didn't take the field for the top of the seventh. The Orioles announced that Reimold was removed from the game with right hamstring tightness. He will be re-evaluated on Monday. Reimold was bothered by a sore right shoulder in spring training, but didn't have any hamstring issues. He's 1-for-3 with a run scored today and 4-for-17 this season. Nate McLouth replaced Reimold in left...
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