Orioles going for the sweep today

Orioles going for the sweep today
Manager Buck Showalter most assuredly told reporters in Kansas City to "sleep fast." The Orioles have a day game after a night game that ended in the early morning. That's a quick turnaround. The Orioles were down by two runs in the top of the ninth, but they tied the game and won it in 15 innings on Adam Jones' 12th home run of the season. The Orioles are 11-1 when Jones hits a home run. Nine of those homers have tied the game or given them a lead. Cha-ching! Didn't Tommy Hunter...
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Eveland deserves save tonight (Jones breaks tie, O's win in 15th)

Eveland deserves save tonight (Jones breaks tie, O's win in 15th)
The Orioles can't get enough of extra innings. They'll do 13, they'll do 17, they'll pretty much go all night. The bullpen is being stretched again, but massive amounts of credit go to left-hander Dana Eveland, who turned in three scoreless innings after replacing Darren O'Day. Eveland allowed one hit and struck out two. He retired the last seven batters that he faced. In his two previous outings, Eveland allowed four runs and seven hits, walked eight batters and hit four in 7 2/3...
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Your nightly Xavier Avery blog entry (game tied, 3-3)

Your nightly Xavier Avery blog entry (game tied, 3-3)
Xavier Avery laid down a bunt in the third inning. It didn't lead to a run, but I'm writing about it anyway. Robert Andino led off the top of the third inning with a single, and Avery advanced him to second base with his first major league sacrifice bunt. Yes, we also can cross that one off the list. Royals starter Felipe Paulino fielded the ball, spun and bounced his throw to second - probably because he was trying to throw a 100 mph fastball. Andino slid in safely and Avery reached first...
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Orioles haven't been road worriers

Orioles haven't been road worriers
The Orioles are 11-5 on the road this season after going 30-51 away from Camden Yards in 2011. They haven't totaled 11 wins on the road in so few games since 2005, when they were 11-4 outside of Baltimore. Last season, the Orioles didn't pick up their 11th victory away from Camden Yards until playing their 28th road game on June 16. Their 12th road win came in their 31st game away from Camden Yards on June 19. The Orioles won the season series against the Royals, 5-4, in 2011, but they were...
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Avery leading off, Davis back at first base

Avery leading off, Davis back at first base
Xavier Avery is batting leadoff tonight in the Orioles' series opener in Kansas City. 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 Matt Wieters C Nick Johnson DH Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis 1B Robert Andino 2B Tommy Hunter RHP For the Royals: Dyson CF Hosmer 1B Butler DH Gordon LF Francoeur RF Moustakas 3B Escobar SS Getz 2B Quintero C Paulino RHP
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Former Oriole Kevin Hickey dead at age 56

Former Oriole Kevin Hickey dead at age 56
I can't believe that I'm passing along news concerning the death of another former Oriole. One-time left-handed reliever Kevin Hickey died Wednesday at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, according to
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Orioles could be OK in K.C. with better defense

Orioles could be OK in K.C. with better defense
So what nickname have we agreed upon for rookie outfielder Xavier Avery? X-Man and X-Factor seem like pretty obvious ones. I was mildly intrigued by X-Rated, but we won't delve too deeply into the reasons. X-Treme? X-Tacy? Exree Hipp? The Orioles will play their next two games in Kansas City, but my 8-2 road record will remain intact. I'm not on the trip. It's been so long since I've covered a game in Kansas City, I'm pretty sure 10-5 loss to the Royals. Trenidad Hubbard batted ninth...
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Getting a charge out of the Orioles' battery

Getting a charge out of the Orioles' battery
Wei-Yin Chen improved to 4-0 with a 2.45 ERA in his first season pitching in the U.S. He retired 10 straight Yankees tonight. He's now gone seven innings or more in three of his last four starts. He's 3-0 with a 1.98 ERA in four starts at Camden Yards. Wei-Yin Chen talks about his strong outing in the Orioles' win over the Yankees "Compared with my last outing, I think this outing was just fine," he said through his interpreter. "I was just fine. But because I am doing good today,...
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Showalter speaks after 5-2 win

Showalter speaks after 5-2 win
Manager Buck Showalter has referred to Taiwanese left-hander Wei-Yin Chen as an unknown. So what exactly does Showalter know about Chen after seven starts? "He's got his feet on the ground a little bit. He's comfortable," Showalter said after a 5-2 victory over the Yankees that made the Orioles 9-6 in a brutal 15-game stretch. "Obviously, he's pitching as well as any of our starters, and very early in the season he's doing quite well for us. He seems very poised. But there will be...
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Chen loses shutout but O's win game, 5-2

Chen loses shutout but O's win game, 5-2
Wei-Yin Chen came within a strike of posting seven scoreless innings against the Yankees, but Curtis Granderson hit a two-run homer on an 0-2 pitch to reduce the Orioles' lead to 4-2. Granderson had 13 home runs this season - 10 at Yankees Stadium and three at Camden Yards. Xavier Avery timed his leap and almost made the catch. He kept looking back at a fan who appeared to hit his glove. Richie Garcia isn't here, but I know what you're thinking. Chen has allowed two runs and four hits,...
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Your nightly Xavier Avery blog entry (updated)

Your nightly Xavier Avery blog entry (updated)
I'll ease into it by pointing out that Adam Jones hit his 11th home run to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. It was the first home run allowed this month by Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia. Why do I hear the ringing of a cash register every time Jones homers? The lead grew to 2-0 in the third, and rookie Xavier Avery was in the middle of the rally. Avery is batting ninth tonight so Robert Andino, 7-for-18 with a double and home run lifetime against Sabathia before...
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Reimold, Hammel and the Yankees' lineup

Reimold, Hammel and the Yankees' lineup
Outfielder Nolan Reimold said the club will have a better idea later in the week whether he needs a second epidural injection for the herniated disk in his cervical spine. Team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens examined Reimold yesterday, and he'll be checked again within a week. Reimold had his first epidural injection Friday, so it's too early to schedule a second one if it's needed. Reimold still has tingling in his left thumb and forearm, and a "constant aching" in his shoulder and...
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Showalter provides more injury updates

Showalter provides more injury updates
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said reliever Matt Lindstrom has a slight tear in a ligament in his right middle finger. The good news is it's not a full tear. Dr. Thomas Graham, a specialist based in Cleveland, will re-examine Lindstrom's finger. Lindstrom will stay back in Baltimore while the Orioles play two games in Kansas City. He has no immediate plans to report to extended spring training in Sarasota. Lindstrom sounded optimistic that he'd be ready to come off the disabled list when...
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Andino leading off, Betemit at first; Britton and Reimold updates

Andino leading off, Betemit at first; Britton and Reimold updates
Robert Andino is leading off tonight against Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia. Wilson Betemit will play first base, Steve Tolleson will play third, and Xavier Avery will stay in left field and bat ninth. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 1B Bill Hall DH Steve Tolleson 3B Xavier Avery LF Wei-Yin Chen LHP Zach Britton threw four scoreless innings today at extended spring training, allowing two hits and striking out...
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This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Manager Buck Showalter said he found four teams, including the Red Sox, who have more players on the disabled list than the Orioles. But did anyone exceed the Orioles' 22 player moves in one week? Joel Pineiro is scratched from his start at Triple-A Norfolk and isn't listed among their upcoming starters, and I immediately wonder if he's headed to Camden Yards. Dana Eveland tweets that he flew back to Norfolk and then drove to Baltimore, and I immediately assume that the Orioles changed...
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Hearing from Hammel, Davis and Avery

Hearing from Hammel, Davis and Avery
If anything good came out of tonight's start for Jason Hammel, it was the condition of his right knee. "Knee is good to go," he said. "That's a positive, I guess. No setbacks." Hammel took the brunt of the blame for tonight's 8-5 Orioles loss. "Honestly, we should have won the ballgame," he said. "I let them back into the game twice. A 2-0 lead and then guys come back and get me some runs to get me ahead again, and I gave them right back. Early in the game, very much in command,...
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Showalter speaks after 8-5 loss

Showalter speaks after 8-5 loss
The Orioles' starters haven't completed six innings in the last three games, which is taxing the bullpen, which is giving manager Buck Showalter additional challenges that he'd rather avoid. Jason Hammel was done after five-plus innings tonight, failing to record an out in the sixth in the Orioles' 8-5 loss to the Yankees. "I would have rather not have pitched certain guys, but the game calls for it," Showalter said. "What bodes well for us in the future is we were able to give some...
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Xavier Avery having a night of firsts - Part II (O's lose 8-5)

Xavier Avery having a night of firsts - Part II (O's lose 8-5)
Xavier Avery hit his first major league triple in the fifth inning. Avery drove in his first major league run with that triple. Avery collected his first major league hit that tied a game. A night of firsts continues for the former second-round draft pick. The Orioles trailed 3-2 after Curtis Granderson homered onto Eutaw St. in the top of the fifth. Robert Andino led off the bottom half with a walk, and Avery followed with his triple into the right-field corner. He's halfway to his first...
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Xavier Avery having a night of firsts (game tied, 2-2)

Xavier Avery having a night of firsts (game tied, 2-2)
Xavier Avery is batting first again tonight after making his major league debut on Sunday. Avery picked up his first major league hit with a double to center field off Yankees starter Ivan Nova. Avery scored his first major league run on J.J. Hardy's single up the middle. Maybe this will be the night that Avery hits his first major league home run or steals his first base or hits for his first cycle. OK, baby steps. Here's hoping he doesn't pull his first groin muscle in the majors or...
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Showalter talks about Reimold injury; a few notes

Showalter talks about Reimold injury; a few notes
As I've written over the past few days, outfielder Nolan Reimold won't be ready to come off the disabled list when he's eligible on Wednesday. He's not even ready to go on an injury-rehab assignment. Right now, he's waiting to be re-examined by a team physician and to find out whether he needs a second epidural injection to alleviate the discomfort caused by a herniated disk in his cervical spine. Catcher Taylor Teagarden received three injections for his lower back, so Reimold has some...
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