BOSTON - The Orioles improved to 44-32 on the road tonight, their win total the best in the American League. They've won eight of their last nine games at Fenway Park.
"That's hard to do, but I've said many times, that one common denominator for teams that get a chance to play in the postseason is, you've got to compete on the road," said manager Buck Showalter.
"Having guys like Jim Johnson and Darren O'Day and (Miguel) Gonzalez is what allows you to do that. It's the pitching....
BOSTON - If you're waiting for Jim Johnson to make a fuss over breaking the Orioles' single-season saves record, you better find a comfortable seat, a few magazines and a Snickers bar.
Johnson passed Randy Myers on the franchise's all-time list tonight with his 46th save. Then he passed on every opportunity to gloat or celebrate it, remaining his usual low-key self.
"It means we're winning games, that we're having a good season, so that's pretty much all it means right now," he...
BOSTON - Orioles second baseman Robert Andino was sent to a local hospital tonight to undergo a CT scan. The results will be passed along to the media Saturday morning.
Andino was drilled in the batting helmet by a 94 mph fastball from Red Sox reliever Mark Melancon in the top of the ninth inning. Andino wanted to stay in the game and walked to first base after taking a few steps toward the mound. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells and manager Buck Showalter escorted him to the...
BOSTON - Is this the night that Jon Lester finally loses to the Orioles?
Lester has won all 14 career decisions against them, but he's failed in his last three attempts to notch a victory. The Orioles have won all three of those games against the Red Sox's bullpen.
Lester couldn't hold a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning tonight, giving up hits to the first three batters and falling behind, 2-1.
J.J. Hardy singled and Adam Jones doubled to left-center field, and both runners scored on Matt...
BOSTON - Jason Hammel threw off the front slope of the mound today. His knee responded favorably.
Pitching coach Rick Adair is examining ways to adjust Hammel's delivery and take some of the load off his right knee.
"We're obviously not going to pitch him if he's still feeling discomfort," said manager Buck Showalter.
That's pretty much it for Hammel updates today.
Why Randy Wolf on Saturday? He's 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA in six career starts against the Red Sox, and 2-1 with a 2.73 ERA...
BOSTON - Troy Patton finally made it back to the Orioles after suffering a sprained ankle that he originally thought would keep him out for only 15 days.
Patton went on the disabled list retroactive to Aug. 13, his career-high 18-game scoreless streak put on hold.
"The swelling didn't go away for a long time," he said. "I've sprained it before and been back within 10 days of the injury, but this was just a bad, bad sprain and it took a long time to even get close to going on the field....
BOSTON - Jim Thome was activated from the disabled list, but he's not in tonight's lineup.
Lew Ford is serving as the designated hitter against Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester. Endy Chavez is in right field again.
For the Orioles:
Nate McLouth LF
J.J. Hardy SS
Adam Jones CF
Matt Wieters C
Mark Reynolds 1B
Lew Ford DH
Manny Machado 3B
Endy Chavez RF
Robert Andino 2B
Miguel Gonzalez RHP
For the Red Sox:
Pedro Ciriaco 3B
Scott Podsednik CF
Dustin Pedroia 2B
Cody Ross RF
Ryan Lavarnway...
BOSTON - The Orioles made the anticipated roster moves today by reinstating designated hitter Jim Thome and left-hander Troy Patton from the 15-day disabled list.
No corresponding moves are necessary with the expanded rosters.
Thome was placed on the DL retroactive to July 28 with a herniated disc in his neck. He was batting .261/.354/.391 with two homers and six RBIs in 18 games for the Orioles after being acquired from the Phillies on June 30. He hit .316/.409/.526 in his last 10 games...
BOSTON - No matter the circumstances tonight, whether the bases are empty or filled, the Red Sox's catcher might want to hold up four fingers as Mark Reynolds strolls to the plate.
He might want to do it while Reynolds is on deck, just to practice.
In nine games against the Red Sox this season, Reynolds is batting .433/.550/.1.067 with four doubles, five homers, 14 RBIs and eight walks. In six games at Fenway Park, Reynolds is batting .421/.571/.895 with three doubles, two homers, seven RBIs...
With Miguel Gonzalez taking the mound tonight at Fenway Park - figuratively speaking, of course, since removing the actual mound would be both time consuming and some sort of Major League Baseball violation - I figured it was appropriate to pass along a few of the Orioles' international signings that may have flown under the radar.
Fred Ferreira, the Orioles' executive director of international recruiting, signed Gonzalez in early May after scouting him in the Mexican League and Caribbean...
Miguel Gonzalez finally gets back on the mound Friday night when the Orioles begin a three-game series at Fenway Park.
Gonzalez, being eased through the final month of the regular season, held the Rays to two runs in six innings in his Sept. 12 start at Camden Yards. He's faced the Red Sox twice, including once in relief, and allowed three runs and eight hits in 10 innings.
Manager Buck Showalter couldn't confirm Gonzalez as Friday's starter until making sure the right-hander wasn't...
The Orioles are getting a much-deserved day off in Boston. They've played 29 innings in the last two nights. They have plenty stored up.
Only one starter is confirmed for their weekend series, with Miguel Gonzalez pitching on Friday. Chris Tillman is expected to start Saturday or Sunday.
The Red Sox are countering with Jon Lester, Aaron Cook and Felix Doubront, who are a combined seven games below .500. Cook has the lowest ERA at 4.93.
Doubront is the only one in the group who's above...
The Orioles news seems to run together, but I seem to remember a conference call being set up at the Winter Meetings for new coach DeMarlo Hale, formerly of the Boston Red Sox.
I didn't know much about Hale, but I've learned that he's one heck of a third base coach.
Hale hasn't gotten much heat on this blog. Third base coaches can be lightening rods. They're too passive or they get too many runners thrown out at the plate.
Hale will never be mistaken for passive. He's pretty...
The Orioles' lineup has a different look following last night's 18-inning marathon.
As expected, Matt Wieters is getting the night off after catching all 18 innings last night. Endy Chavez is batting first and the hot-hitting Nate McLouth has been lowered to third. Chavez is 6-for-10 lifetime against Felix Hernandez.
Robert Andino moves up to eighth ahead of Taylor Teagarden.
For the Orioles:
Endy Chavez RF
J.J. Hardy SS
Nate McLouth LF
Adam Jones CF
Chris Davis DH
Mark Reynolds 1B...
The Orioles confirmed earlier today that Dylan Bundy was recalled from Double-A Bowie. The unknown is how long he will stay with them.
It could be brief or he could make it through the remaining weeks of September. The Orioles, at the risk of sounding cliched, are taking it one game at a time.
Manager Buck Showalter has grown accustomed to the pace.
"We'll see what tomorrow brings," he said. "Tomorrow brings getting in (Boston) at 8 in the morning."
So much for a relaxing off...
The Orioles just sent out a press release confirming that they have recalled pitcher Dylan Bundy from Double-A Bowie.
Bundy, 19, had been throwing in the instructional league before the Orioles contacted him early this morning with instructions to meet them in Seattle following their 18-inning win over the Mariners.
When he makes his first appearance, Bundy will be the first Oriole to debut before his 20th birthday since right-hander Mike Adamson on July 1, 1967. Adamson was 19 years, 291...
It's going to be a while before the Orioles post their lineup, but I'll get it started here and fill in the rest later.
Taylor Teagarden C
There's absolutely no way that Matt Wieters can start tonight after catching all 18 innings last night/this morning.
Wieters, Adam Jones and Mark Reynolds were a combined 0-for-21, though Reynolds delivered an insurance run in the 18th.
Joe Saunders can only hope for more offensive support than the Orioles gave Wei-Yin Chen.
Saunders doesn't require...
Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen and Mariners right-hander Erasmo Ramirez were playing a game of dueling rookies at Safeco Field until catcher Miguel Olivo interrupted it.
Olivo's two-out, two-run homer off Chen in the fourth inning gave the Mariners a 2-0 lead.
Chen hung a curveball after walking Towson University's Casper Wells with two outs, and Olivo made him pay. It's the 26th homer allowed by Chen this season.
The Mariners have been given enough chances before Olivo stepped to the...
Let me know if this Orioles lineup looks familiar to you.
For the Orioles:
Nate McLouth LF
J.J. Hardy SS
Chris Davis DH
Adam Jones CF
Matt Wieters C
Mark Reynolds 1B
Manny Machado 3B
Endy Chavez RF
Robert Andino 2B
Wei-Yin Chen LHP
For the Mariners:
Dustin Ackley 2B
Franklin Gutierrez CF
Kyle Seager 3B
Jesus Montero DH
Michael Saunders LF
Justin Smoak 1B
Casper Wells RF
Miguel Olivo C
Brendan Ryan SS
Erasmo Ramirez RHP
The Orioles will host Minor League Affiliate Appreciation Night...
The Orioles have had seven different players drive in a run in each of the last two games. Last night's roll call included Matt Wieters (three), Mark Reynolds (two), Nate McLouth, J.J. Hardy, Adam Jones, Manny Machado and Endy Chavez.
According to Elias, this is the fifth time a major league team has had seven different players register RBIs in back-to-back games this season. The Orioles hadn't done it since April 3-5, 2006. They've never done it three games in a row.
The Orioles have not...
