Reimold undecided about second epidural

Reimold undecided about second epidural
Orioles outfielder Nolan Reimold has an appointment to receive a second epidural injection in his spine from Dr. Lee Riley, a neck specialist, but he isn't sure whether he'll keep it. Reimold is leaning in that direction, but he's been told that the shot will only ease the pain he's experiencing from a herniated disk in his cervical spine, not the numbness and weakness in his left thumb, arm and shoulder. "The pain I can tolerate," he said. "The doctor said we can do another one, but...
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Wieters breaks out of slump (O's lose second in row)

Wieters breaks out of slump (O's lose second in row)
Well, at least for now. Matt Wieters was one more failed at-bat from being 0-for-21, the longest hitless stretch of his career. He fouled off six straight pitches from former Orioles left-hander Rich Hill before lining an RBI single into left field to reduce Boston's lead to 8-6. Everybody rejoice. Wieters won a nine-pitch battle with Hill, who began the inning by giving up singles to Nick Markakis and Adam Jones. Jones extended his hitting streak to 13 games, tying his career long. Now we...
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Hunter can't hold the lead (O's down 8-5)

Hunter can't hold the lead (O's down 8-5)
Tommy Hunter held the Royals to two runs over seven innings in his last start, but he's not as sharp tonight. Hunter has allowed five runs and nine hits in six innings, with no walks and three strikeouts. He's thrown 96 pitches, 65 for strikes. This will be the third time in four outings that Hunter has failed to register a quality start. The Orioles gave him a 5-2 lead, but Boston scored three runs in the sixth, beginning with David Ortiz's home run onto Eutaw St. Ortiz took a big swing,...
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Wieters still looking to break out of slump (O's lead 5-2)

Wieters still looking to break out of slump (O's lead 5-2)
Matt Wieters grounded out to Boston third baseman Will Middlebrooks in the second inning. The funk continues. Wieters is 0-for-19 and 4-for-41. Is he banged up from that violent collision at home plate? "No more than usual," manager Buck Showalter said. "We gave him a full day off yesterday. I didn't want to even pinch hit unless we had a chance to win the game. As you've seen, we've tried to back off him as much as possible. Sometimes to a fault. "I think it's part of something we...
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Showalter talks about Roberts

Showalter talks about Roberts
Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts hasn't played in a game since May 16, 2011, but he's nearing an injury-rehab assignment in the minors. Roberts and manager Buck Showalter won't reveal an exact date that Roberts would report to an affiliate, but they've got a pretty good idea. "We talk every day," Showalter said. "Probably a little more informed than what Brian is going to talk about publicly. Like I said earlier, it's more a matter of when and not if. "Hopefully, that's...
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Notes on Roberts, Britton, Reynolds, Teagarden and more

Notes on Roberts, Britton, Reynolds, Teagarden and more
Manager Buck Showalter basically confirmed that second baseman Brian Roberts will join a minor league affiliate on an injury-rehab assignment, perhaps within the next few weeks, rather than report to extended spring training in Sarasota. Showalter is careful not to reveal too much information, but he didn't dispute Roberts' assertion that Sarasota will be bypassed. Roberts most likely would join Double-A Bowie or Single-A Frederick so he can stay close to Baltimore. Showalter shot down a...
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Orioles lineup against Red Sox (with Britton update)

Orioles lineup against Red Sox (with Britton update)
Rookie Xavier Avery gets another start in left field for the Orioles. Nick Johnson will serve as the designated hitter. For the Orioles: Xavier Avery LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis 1B Wilson Betemit 3B Nick Johnson DH Robert Andino 2B Tommy Hunter RHP Nolan Reimold is being examined by a team physician and will know later whether he needs a second epidural injection. Matt Lindstrom says his right middle finger remains pain-free and he'll...
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Leftovers for breakfast (and one more)

Leftovers for breakfast (and one more)
The Orioles have another game scheduled tonight as they begin another series, this one against the Boston Red Sox at Camden Yards. Their first day off since May 3 arrives on Thursday, but they won't admit that they're fatigued and could use a physical and mental break from the grind. "I'm not tired," Adam Jones said. "I don't think anybody else is tired. I had a good night's sleep (Saturday) night. I'm not going to make excuses. We all know it's 162, so you have to pace yourself....
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A little Chen music

A little Chen music
WASHINGTON - Wei-Yin Chen wrote off today's start as "this is baseball." "Sometimes you have a good day, sometimes you have a bad day," he said through his interpreter. "Definitely, I had a terrible start today." Chen shied away from his fastball and got burned repeatedly with his breaking stuff. "My fastball was not as good as the last couple of outings," he said. "I couldn't command all my pitches here. And today I was like, do my job. But I couldn't do it and I hope I can...
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Showalter not looking for excuses

Showalter not looking for excuses
WASHINGTON - Manager Buck Showalter deflected a theory that his club might have shown signs of fatigue today in a 9-3 loss to the Nationals. He made more solid contact than his hitters. The Orioles are playing a stretch of 20 consecutive games, their next off day not coming until Thursday. But Showalter isn't pointing a finger at the schedule. "We scored three runs and could have scored a lot more," he said. "I think it was more that we made a lot of mistakes with our breaking ball today....
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Offense disappears in 9-3 loss

Offense disappears in 9-3 loss
WASHINGTON - The Orioles had four hits by the second inning. They still had four hits by the time the ninth inning rolled around. Adam Jones reached on an infield hit to open the ninth and Chris Davis singled with one out, but the damage was already done. The Nationals got out of a bases-loaded jam and avoided the sweep with a 9-3 win before 41,918 at Nationals Park. The offense shut down. Before Jones' single, the only baserunner after the second inning came on Luis Exposito's walk in the...
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Bullpen could be busy again (O'Day enters in fifth)

Bullpen could be busy again (O'Day enters in fifth)
WASHINGTON - Wei-Yin Chen hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of his first seven major league starts. Chen gave up three earned runs in the third inning today at Nationals Park. The Nats almost hit for the cycle against Chen, getting a leadoff single by pitcher Stephen Strasburg, a double by slumping Danny Espinosa and a two-run triple by Bryce Harper on a ball that popped out of Nick Markakis' glove as he hit the ground on a diving attempt. Ian Desmond beat out a potential...
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Your daily Xavier Avery blog entry (Bundy update)

Your daily Xavier Avery blog entry (Bundy update)
WASHINGTON - The Orioles haven't faced Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg before today. I'm sure they've heard lots about him, watched a few starts on television, studied the video tape. They just haven't stood at the plate against him. The Nationals probably didn't know much about Xavier Avery before this weekend, but he's left an impression. Avery led off the top of the first inning with a single up the middle. He hustled to second base on J.J. Hardy's long fly ball to center...
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Wieters: "I feel like it's more of a professional locker room"

Wieters: "I feel like it's more of a professional locker room"
WASHINGTON - Matt Wieters doesn't have a hit in his last 18 at-bats. He has four hits in his last 40. He has no concerns about this slump. "It's just one of those stretches," said Wieters, who batted .342 during a nine-game hitting streak April 29-May 8. "I haven't really been hitting too many balls hard lately, but the good thing is we've still been winning games. I'm definitely going to put in some extra work to where I get back to feeling good like it was a week or so ago....
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Orioles lineup vs. Nationals

Orioles lineup vs. Nationals
WASHINGTON - As expected, Luis Exposito will catch today while Matt Wieters takes a break. Rookie Xavier Avery is leading off. Wilson Betemit is starting at third base and Chris Davis is starting at first. For the Orioles: Xavier Avery LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis 1B Robert Andino 2B Luis Exposito C Wei-Yin Chen LHP
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Tejada update and Nats' lineup (and Chen note)

Tejada update and Nats' lineup (and Chen note)
WASHINGTON - Miguel Tejada is batting fourth and serving as the designated hitter today for Triple-A Norfolk. It's Tejada's first game outside of extended spring training. Brad Bergesen, who cleared waivers and was outrighted, will start for the Tides. The Orioles haven't posted their lineup. The Nats beat them to it. At least the Nats can brag about beating them once this weekend. Danny Espinosa 2B Bryce Harper CF Ryan Zimmerman 3B Adam LaRoche 1B Ian Desmond SS Xavier Nady RF Tyler...
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Hearing from Hammel and Jones

Hearing from Hammel and Jones
WASHINGTON - Jason Hammel couldn't extend the rotation's streak of quality starts to five, but he improved his record to 5-1. Hammel was charged with four runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He worked five innings in his last start. "It's same as last time, my leg," he said. "I get to a certain point now where it's almost like I'm pitching on one leg and transfer everything to the arm. I got one out further than last time, I guess, so that's good. We just have got to get the leg...
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Showalter speaks after 6-5 victory

Showalter speaks after 6-5 victory
WASHINGTON - Manager Buck Showalter talked about starter Jason Hammel, his bullpen, the Nationals' comeback attempt, his red-hot center fielder and his ice-cold catcher following tonight's 6-5 win. Hammel was making his second start since being pushed back because of swelling in his right knee. He was good for a while, but it's clear that he's not all the way back. "No more than what he's been dealing with his last start," Showalter said. "Something we're aware of and we're going to...
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Orioles hang on for 6-5 win

Orioles hang on for 6-5 win
WASHINGTON - This one wasn't easy, but the Orioles made sure that they'll leave Nationals Park with a series victory. The Orioles won again tonight, 6-4, with Jim Johnson picking up his 15th save in 15 tries this season, and his 23rd in 23 chances since last August, though it got a little tense near the end. The Orioles have won 19 of their last 26 games. They're still two games ahead of Tampa Bay in the American League East. The bullpen came up big again, giving the Orioles 3 1/3...
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Game update and injury note on Steve Johnson (O's lead 6-4)

Game update and injury note on Steve Johnson (O's lead 6-4)
WASHINGTON - Jason Hammel gave up his first run tonight when the Nationals strung together three consecutive two-out singles in the bottom of the fifth, the last one by Steve Lombardozzi. Orioles 6, Nationals 1. Four of the last five Nationals have hits against Hammel, including Ryan Zimmerman, who led off the sixth with a double. Five of the last six have reached base after Adam LaRoche followed with a walk. Hammel is trying to produce the rotation's fifth consecutive quality start, but...
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