ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles remain one game behind the New York Yankees in the American League East with one game to play. They could at least guarantee the top wild card seeding with a victory tonight. They could end up tied with the Yankees and force a one-game playoff Thursday in Baltimore. They could lose and end up in Oakland or Texas for the wild card game.
Manager Buck Showalter isn't sure when or where the Orioles will play after tonight, but he's still meeting this morning...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez pitched extremely well tonight, but he had to appreciate the gem spun by Tampa Bay's James Shields.
"I was like, 'He's doing great. I've got to do better than him,' " Gonzalez said. "I think he did a pretty good job going out there and throwing a complete game. I'm happy for him. Fifteen strikeouts for him. He did a great job tonight."
Gonzalez is so calm on the mound, I keep waiting for a member of the medical staff to rush out...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter called James Shields' performance tonight for Tampa Bay "probably the best-pitched game that we've had pitched against us all year."
Fortunately for the Orioles, it didn't result in a loss.
Chris Davis' home run off the roof of the restaurant in center field held up. One run was all that the Orioles needed.
Shields was masterful with 15 strikeouts and only two hits allowed in nine innings. He threw 106 pitches, 70 for strikes.
"To have...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Every television in the visiting clubhouse at Tropicana Field is tuned to the Yankees-Red Sox game. Brian Roberts sat on one of the chairs, watching as the Red Sox tried to hold a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning.
They couldn't do it. Raul Ibanez hit a two-run homer to tie the game.
Chris Tillman is the confirmed starter for Wednesday night. No matter what happens in the Bronx, he's taking the mound at Tropicana Field.
"It's exciting," he said. "I've...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Is Chris Davis the straw that stirs the Orioles' drink?
Davis has joined Reggie Jackson as the only players in Orioles history to homer in six straight games. He drove a ball off the roof of the restaurant in center field after Rays starter James Shields retired the first 11 batters to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead.
Davis has hit seven homers in the last six games, passing Adam Jones for the team lead with 33 for the season.
Davis was named American League co-Player of...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter expects to announce Wednesday's starter after tonight's game against the Rays, and all signs point to Chris Tillman because of the importance attached to the regular season finale.
That is, if it's the last regular season game. The Orioles could finish tied with the Yankees for first place in the American League East and meet Thursday in Baltimore.
Showalter's head must be spinning. He had no idea that the forecast in New York tonight...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Jason Hammel said his right knee feels great after yesterday's simulated game in Sarasota, where he threw 73 pitches in five innings. He may throw a bullpen session on Wednesday and will be available to start for the Orioles beginning on Saturday.
"As of today, for the day after, it feels great. No setbacks, no soreness, no swelling," he said. "If needed, I'm ready to go. I feel good. I'd say right now it's as good as it's going to get before a full rest in the...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles are breaking out a familiar lineup tonight against Rays right-hander James Shields.
For the Orioles:
Nate McLouth LF
J.J. Hardy SS
Chris Davis RF
Adam Jones CF
Matt Wieters C
Jim Thome DH
Mark Reynolds 1B
Ryan Flaherty 2B
Manny Machado 3B
Miguel Gonzalez RHP
The Orioles are still listing Wednesday night's starter as TBA.
With a win tonight, Gonzalez would have a victory against every American League East team in his rookie season. According to...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Miguel Gonzalez is the only confirmed starter for the Orioles the rest of the week. He's taking the mound tonight.
When it comes to revealing his other starters, manager Buck Showalter is taking the fifth.
I've broken down the possible scenarios, including Chris Tillman starting on Wednesday in a must-win situation. Confirmation should come later today.
Showalter dropped Dylan Bundy's name on reporters yesterday, a sly grin spreading across his face. He decided to...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Yankees won again last night, and the Orioles didn't seem to care in the least.
The Red Sox rolled over again, like a puppy begging to have its belly rubbed. They're not exactly rallying around embattled manager Bobby Valentine. Instead, they're holding the door open and giving him a shove.
He's the only guy they can get out these days.
When the result of last night's Yankees game was relayed to center fielder Adam Jones, he replied, "We don't care."
He...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Rays scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning tonight to break a 1-1 tie, and a Manny Machado error on Evan Lorgoria's bouncer to third base ignited the rally.
"Should have caught it," Machado said. "Took a little side spin on me, ate me up. Should've taken a step forward, but I should have made the out."
Machado didn't think he could throw out Longoria once the ball skipped off his glove.
"I don't think so," he said. "I couldn't find the...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he wasn't aware of the Yankees-Red Sox score tonight. He was too preoccupied with his own team, which lost to the Rays, 5-3, at Tropicana Field.
The Yankees throttled the Red Sox, 10-2, leaving the Orioles one game back in the American League East.
"They win?" Showalter asked. "That's a given. They're playing home the rest of their games, so you know that's a given. We'll do what we can do."
The Orioles couldn't do much...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Wei-Yin Chen surrendered his 29th home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth inning, with Ben Zobrist taking him deep to break a scoreless tie.
Chen has surrendered six homers in his last four starts, and at least one in six of his last seven outings.
Zobrist also singled in the first inning and is 7-for-14 lifetime against Chen.
The Orioles' offense tends to fade when Chen pitches, and their bats must have been left behind in Jacksonville. They have one hit...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles continue to downplay last night's unscheduled landing in Jacksonville, saying some of the media reports were exaggerated and it was really no big deal.
"We're fine," said center fielder Adam Jones, clearly annoyed that the incident remained a hot topic today.
Reminded how the Orioles' celebration was delayed because of their unexpected stop, Jones replied, "Doesn't matter. We're still fine. We're here alive and well."
Manager Buck Showalter said...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles are encouraged by Jason Hammel's simulated game today in Sarosota, and he remains a candidate to start this weekend in the playoffs.
Hammel threw 73 pitches in five innings at Ed Smith Stadium. He's scheduled to throw a bullpen session and could start Saturday, at the earliest, because manager Buck Showalter won't use him on fewer than four days rest.
"We'll see how he feels tomorrow when he comes in," Showalter said. "If he comes through that...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis was supposed to have the pins removed from his left thumb today, but the date has been pushed back a week after his examination today by a hand specialist in Sarasota.
"They're staying in another week, so I'll get them out next Tuesday or Monday," he said. "It was just crushed too bad in there and I had a lot of pieces here and there. Probably on a clean break the pins could come out today, but my situation's a little different,...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Ryan Flaherty gets another start at second base tonight against Rays right-hander Alex Cobb.
Chris Davis stays in right field and bats third.
For the Orioles:
Nate McLouth LF
J.J. Hardy SS
Chris Davis RF
Adam Jones CF
Matt Wieters C
Jim Thome DH
Mark Reynolds 1B
Ryan Flaherty 2B
Manny Machado 3B
Wei-Yin Chen LHP
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles today announced that tickets for a possible tiebreaker game to be played Thursday at Camden Yards go on sale tomorrow online at www.orioles.com.
Here is the rest of the information:
Full and 29-game season plan holders who paid their postseason invoice have already received tiebreaker tickets along with their postseason tickets and will be charged only if a tiebreaker is played.
Beginning at 10:00 a.m. until noon, 13-game plan holders will receive their...
I packed up half of my closet and headed to the airport this morning for my 7:35 a.m. flight to Tampa.
The Orioles and Rays are playing a three-game series, but what happens after Wednesday is anybody's guess.
A one-game playoff with the Yankees on Thursday at Camden Yards? A flight to Detroit? Chicago? Oakland? None of the above?
Almost lost in the fuss over clinching a playoff berth last night is how the Orioles have one fewer victory than the Rangers. One fewer victory than the team...
A busy day for the Orioles has given way to a busy night - one including an unscheduled landing and a confirmed spot in the playoffs.
Manager Buck Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette spoke to reporters a few minutes ago in a conference call. Showalter was first asked about the team charter making an emergency landing in Jacksonville.
"We were in good hands," Showalter said. "It was just a precautionary thing, just to be on the safe side. We had a little something heat up on...
