Showalter speaks after 5-2 walk-off win

Showalter speaks after 5-2 walk-off win
The Orioles are six games above .500 for the first time since July 20, 2005. That's impressive and depressing at the same time. Wilson Betemit gave the Orioles their first walk-off home run since Nolan Reimold on Aug. 10, 2011 against the White Sox. The Orioles have won 57 straight games when allowing two runs or fewer. Their last loss was Aug. 20, 2010, when Texas beat them 2-0. The Orioles improved to 5-6 when trailing after seven innings. Last year, they were 5-83 when behind after the...
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And we're no longer scoreless (Betemit with walk-off HR)

And we're no longer scoreless (Betemit with walk-off HR)
Tommy Hunter took a four-hit shutout into the sixth inning today, one more hit than Oakland's Bartolo Colon allowed in his five scoreless frames. Hunter retired the first two batters on fly balls, but Josh Reddick continued to torture the Orioles with a single into left field, and Yoenis Cespedes smoked a line drive into the left field corner that gave him a double and the A's a 1-0 lead. Third baseman Wilson Betemit made a leaping attempt, but the ball barely cleared his glove. It probably...
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Showalter talks about putting Reynolds at first base (updated)

Showalter talks about putting Reynolds at first base (updated)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter detests lineup questions. He can't understand the obsession with who's batting where and when. It's become something of a joke. He doesn't implode, but he shakes his head in disapproval. Well, here's another one: What went into the decision to move Mark Reynolds to first base today? "He's played first base, he's been taking balls there. I know you've all been watching," Showalter said. "That's the type of club we have, hopefully. Move people...
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Reynolds at first in finale vs. A's

Reynolds at first in finale vs. A's
The Orioles have posted their lineup for Sunday's finale of a three-game series against the A's, and it has Mark Reynolds batting eighth and playing first base. Here's the lineup for today's 1:35 p.m. game: Nolan Reimold LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis DH Wilson Betemit 3B Mark Reynolds 1B Robert Andino 2B Tommy Hunter RHP
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Barfield released from Norfolk roster

Barfield released from Norfolk roster
The Orioles' lineup isn't posted yet and it's a slow morning, but I've got a small nugget of news. The Orioles released infielder/outfielder Josh Barfield from Triple-A Norfolk's roster to make room for pitcher Jason Berken, who was optioned after spending two days in Baltimore. Barfield, signed as minor league free agent in spring training, was 0-for-8 with a walk and three strikeouts in four games with the Tides. He's a career .264 hitter in parts of four major league seasons, most...
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Showalter speaks after 10-1 victory

Showalter speaks after 10-1 victory
Here's a sampling of manager Buck Showalter's comments following tonight's 10-1 rout of the Oakland Athletics before 26,926 at Camden Yards: On the second-inning baserunning: "It's one thing to be aggressive, it's another thing to be kind of smart. The situation presented itself. Push the envelope a little bit. There were a lot of good at-bats there. Ronny (Paulino) stayed inside a ball. If nothing else, he's going to get the runner over and the run in. Same way with (Ryan) Flaherty....
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Davis homers onto Eutaw Street

Davis homers onto Eutaw Street
I would have guessed I-95. Chris Davis hit an absolute bomb down the right field line in the bottom of the seventh inning, the ball easily clearing the flag court and bouncing on Eutaw St. to increase the Orioles' lead to 10-1. Davis, who connected off former Orioles reliever Jim Miller, is 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored. He's batting .313. That's the 59th ball to land on Eutaw St., and the 25th time that an Orioles player has put it there. Davis hadn't done it before...
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Big second inning for Orioles (big scare for Chen, O's lead 9-0)

Big second inning for Orioles (big scare for Chen, O's lead 9-0)
It's football weather here at Camden Yards, but the Orioles played inspired baseball in the second inning. They sent nine batters to the plate. They collected six hits. They kept taking extra bases. And they scored five runs to build a nice lead for Taiwanese left-hander Wei-Yin Chen. Adam Jones, Wilson Betemit, Chris Davis and Ronny Paulino strung together singles before Oakland starter Tyson Ross recorded his first out. Davis' single brought home one run. Paulino's delivered two...
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Buck Showalter on Frank Robinson

Buck Showalter on Frank Robinson
The grounds crew is peeling the tarp off the field. I guess that's a good sign, though the forecast is pretty bad, from what I've been told. One of the loudest ovations during today's ceremony for the unveiling of Frank Robinson's statue came when the Hall of Famer proclaimed that "The Oriole Way was the correct way." You don't have to convince manager Buck Showalter, who has long admired Robinson and stays in contact with him. Showalter attended today's ceremony, along with first...
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Logic behind the Orioles lineup

Logic behind the Orioles lineup
Orioles manager Buck Showalter had to piece together his lineup tonight while taking into account all the injuries and illnesses that are picking apart his team. Matt Wieters and Nick Markakis are experiencing the same flu-like symptoms that have swept through the clubhouse. Wieters was going to rest tomorrow, but Showalter chose to sit him tonight because of the cold and rainy conditions. Wieters will catch tomorrow. Markakis is being kept out of right field for the same reason, making him...
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Flaherty in right, Wieters on bench

Flaherty in right, Wieters on bench
Orioles manager Buck Showalter is breaking out an interesting lineup tonight, with Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty making his first major league start in right field and Nick Markakis serving as the designated hitter. Ronny Paulino is starting behind the plate, with Matt Wieters listed among the reserves. For the Orioles: Nolan Reimold LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis DH Adam Jones CF Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis 1B Ronny Paulino C Ryan Flaherty RF Robert Andino 2B Wei-Yin Chen LHP
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Weather won't influence ceremony for Frank Robinson

Weather won't influence ceremony for Frank Robinson
Because so many fans have asked, the Orioles will unveil the statue honoring Frank Robinson in a ceremony that begins at 5:15 p.m., rain or shine. And it hasn't been decided whether the teams would play a doubleheader tomorrow if weather forces a postponement tonight, but since the Athletics return to Baltimore July 27-29, my guess is we'd have a single game tomorrow. The gates open today at 5 p.m., with the festivities taking place in the bullpen area. The special guests include Hank Aaron,...
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Matusz and Anderson: A Glove Story

Matusz and Anderson: A Glove Story
I can only assume that the MASN cameras must have focused on Brady Anderson's name inscribed on the glove of Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz. Or perhaps the announcers talked about it. I'm not quite sure, but I've received a ton of inquiries about it. I wouldn't have noticed it from my seat in the press box, and the media isn't allowed to poke through the players' lockers. I could only take your words for it until finally approaching Matusz yesterday afternoon. "Hey Brian, I've got a...
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Showalter speaks after 5-2 loss

Showalter speaks after 5-2 loss
Orioles manager Buck Showalter gave a figurative tip of the cap to Oakland starter Brandon McCarthy following a 5-2 loss at Camden Yards. He also talked about his own starter, Jake Arrieta, who didn't make it through the sixth inning. "We didn't do much off McCarthy," Showalter said. "I think that was a big part of it. Jake almost got through six innings. He never really got in sync rhythm-wise. His command wasn't what it's capable of, but he kept us in the ballgame. I thought the two...
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Gregg returns to mound (O's lose 5-2)

Gregg returns to mound (O's lose 5-2)
Kevin Gregg made his first appearance tonight since April 18 in Chicago, his introduction greeted with boos from what remained of an announced crowd of 18,297. By the third out, they were applauding Gregg, who struck out the first two batters he faced in the ninth inning and induced a fly ball to shallow right field. Gregg threw 10 pitches, seven for strikes, and lowered his ERA from 9.64 to 7.94. Gregg has turned in two straight scoreless outings since allowing six of seven Blue Jays to...
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Arrieta can't complete the sixth (O's trail 4-2, ump tackles fan)

Arrieta can't complete the sixth (O's trail 4-2, ump tackles fan)
Jake Arrieta threw 70 pitches through the third inning tonight, giving the impression that he wouldn't stick around much longer and the Orioles would make some feeble attempt to retrieve Jason Berken before he unpacked his bags in Norfolk. Arrieta needed 15 pitches to complete the fourth and nine to get through the fifth. The A's were doing him a favor by no longer making him work. Well, they worked him over a bit in the sixth, and he's out of the game. Josh Reddick homered with one out...
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Reimold's running produces run (O's down 3-1)

Reimold's running produces run (O's down 3-1)
The Orioles have jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, and full credit goes to leadoff hitter Nolan Reimold. Reimold doubled to right-center field off Oakland starter Brandon McCarthy, hustling into second base ahead of the throw. Reimold tagged and took third on J.J. Hardy's fly ball to left - something you don't always see on a ball hit to that side - and he tagged again and scored on Nick Markaki's liner to medium left. Reimold slid wide of catcher Kurt Suzuki's attempted tag,...
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Berken headed back to Norfolk

Berken headed back to Norfolk
The Orioles made room for second baseman Robert Andino on their 25-man roster today by optioning pitcher Jason Berken to Triple-A Norfolk. Andino rejoined the team today after spending two days in Miami for the birth of his third child and first daughter. He's starting at second base tonight. Manager Buck Showalter wanted to make sure there wouldn't be a corresponding move involving the disabled list before Berken came off the roster. Jim Johnson was discharged from Saint Agnes Hospital...
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Waiting on the roster move

Waiting on the roster move
Orioles manager Buck Showalter will wait until after batting practice to announce today's roster move. Showalter is playing it safe, saying he's been burned in the past by revealing the move and having a player injured in batting practice. He'll make sure everyone is off the field safely. Look for an announcement around 5:30 p.m. Kevin Gregg and pitching coach Rick Adair met with Showalter behind closed doors this afternoon, but the reliever isn't headed to the disabled list. Gregg had...
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Andino returns, Flaherty stays in lineup

Andino returns, Flaherty stays in lineup
Robert Andino is starting at second base tonight after missing the last two games while being on paternity leave. The Orioles haven't announced a corresponding roster move, but reliever Jason Berken is expected to return to Triple-A Norfolk if no one goes on the disabled list. Berken is at the ballpark, probably in a holding pattern. Also, Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty, who started at second base in Andino's absence, moves to third base tonight. For the Orioles: Nolan Reimold LF J.J. Hardy...
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