Pie, Jones, Wieters and Hardy have their say

Pie, Jones, Wieters and Hardy have their say
Felix Pie entered tonight's game as a pinch-runner and ended up as one of its heroes. Pie singled to score Nick Marakis with the tying run in the bottom of the 13th inning, and he raced home on Matt Wieters' single to cap a dramatic and exhausting comeback. "It feels great, tying a game for the team like that," he said. "It's a great feeling." Pie wasn't going to leave the clubhouse without being asked about his confrontation with Mariners first baseman Justin Smoak. "I tried to...
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Showalter speaks after 7-6, 13-inning win

Showalter speaks after 7-6, 13-inning win
My head hurts. Manager Buck Showalter looked to be in better spirits after his club rallied for two runs off Mariners closer Brandon League in the bottom of the 13th inning to take a 7-6 victory. If you're going to spend all night at the ballpark and burn up your bullpen, at least win the game. "It's kind of apropos," Showalter said. "It seemed like our guys made some good pitches and they found a way to get them in there.We had a lot of opportunities. We just couldn't cash them in....
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The unlucky 13th (is now lucky)

The unlucky 13th (is now lucky)
The Orioles had another chance to win this game, but they're more determined to empty their bullpen and leave Chris Tillman without much support tomorrow night. Good thing they went back to a 12-man pitching staff, right? Nice timing. Felix Pie doubled to lead off the 12th inning, and the Orioles loaded the bases with two outs on an intentional walk to Adam Jones - which brought former Oriole Chris Ray into the game - and J.J. Hardy's two-out infield hit. Hardy has a home run, three...
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Pie gets angry, game still tied (updated twice)

Pie gets angry, game still tied (updated twice)
The bottom of the 10th inning began with Mariners first baseman Justin Smoak tagging out Felix Pie, and both dugouts and bullpens emptying. Pie started to retreat as Smoak fielded the ball, then lowered a shoulder into him. They exchanged words, with Pie clearly the aggressor, but order was quickly restored. Pie spread his arms apart and started jawing at Smoak as they went nose-to-nose. The guy's got a short fuse. Robert Andino wasted no time getting into the middle of it. We'll give him...
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Orioles rally in 8th to take lead (updated twice)

Orioles rally in 8th to take lead (updated twice)
I guess Luke Scott's shoulder isn't bothering him too much. Scott has two hits tonight, including a single off Mariners reliever Jamey Wright in the eighth inning that tied the game, 4-4. Pinch-runner Cesar Izturis raced home on Adam Jones' single, the center fielder's third RBI of the night. Orioles 5, Mariners 4. Derrek Lee walked and Vladimir Guerrero collected his third single of the night. Scott fell behind, 0-2, before grounding a single into left field. Third base coach John...
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It's called a "lead," and now it's gone (updated)

It's called a "lead," and now it's gone (updated)
Adam Jones' two-out, two-run double in the sixth moved the Orioles ahead of the Mariners, 3-2. Jones ended a streak of 40 straight innings for the Orioles without a lead. They hadn't held one since the first inning of a May 5 game against the Royals. Rookie Michael Pineda retired the first two batters before Vladimir Guerrero and Luke Scott singled. Jones followed with a double to left, giving him 18 RBIs this season. Jake Arrieta was in line to get the win, but his replacement, Michael...
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Update through the 5th

Update through the 5th
The Orioles continue to trail the Mariners, 2-1, as we head to the top of the sixth inning. Adam Kennedy hit a two-run homer off Orioles right-hander Jake Arrieta in the second, and J.J. Hardy homered off Seattle rookie Michael Pineda in the third. Arrieta has allowed four hits in five innings, with two walks and six strikeouts. As usual, he has good stuff. His fastball has been clocked at 94 mph, and he struck out back-to-back hitters on a slider and curveball to end the fourth. He got a...
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J.J. Hardy gets back in the swing of things

J.J. Hardy gets back in the swing of things
If you don't think a .200-hitting shortstop who's batting ninth in a struggling lineup can make a difference, well, guess again. J.J. Hardy, in his first at-bat since April 9, lined a home run to left field leading off the bottom of the third inning. Mariners 2, Orioles 1. Hardy worked the count full against Seattle rookie Michael Pineda before homering for the first time since Sept. 8, 2010 against the Royals. Tonight's ball traveled an estimated 368 feet. Hardy was batting .200 with no...
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Did you know?

Did you know?
The Orioles are one of seven teams in the majors that haven't won a game when trailing after seven innings, going 0-17 in that span. They join the Red Sox, Indians, Rockies, Angels, Dodgers and Rangers. None of the Orioles' starting pitchers in this series have faced the Mariners. Jake Arrieta is 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA in five career starts against the American League West. Brian Roberts is in a 1-for-26 slump since May 1. Mark Reynolds is 9-for-65 (.138). He has five RBIs in his last 22...
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A little pregame Showalter

A little pregame Showalter
Manager Buck Showalter tackled a variety of topics earlier today while meeting with the media. Here's a sampling: On J.J. Hardy: "He's fine. I talked to him last because I know what he's going to tell us. I talked to Gary Allenson, and Bobby Dickerson has been with him for his whole rehab, and he's fine, he's ready to go. We didn't want him traveling on the day he's playing so he came in, I believe, last night or yesterday afternoon. I'm glad to get him back. It's been a while....
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Hardy talks about Hardy

Hardy talks about Hardy
If anyone knows how J.J. Hardy feels after coming off the disabled list today, it's J.J. Hardy. "Good," he said. "It's been a lot longer than I thought it would be." Hardy hasn't played since April 9, when he left a game against the Rangers at Camden Yards after one at-bat. He went on the disabled list with a strained left oblique. "I was kind of hoping for less time," said Hardy, who played in three games at Triple-A Norfolk on his injury rehab assignment, going 2-for-9 with three...
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Simon headed back to Dominican

Simon headed back to Dominican
I'll plug in quotes later, but I wanted to pass along a few items from manager Buck Showalter's pregame session with the media. Showalter will be in Bowie tomorrow morning to watch Alfredo Simon pitch. However, Simon won't make his scheduled start for Triple-A Norfolk on Monday because he's returning to the Dominican Republic. Simon was supposed to join the Tides for their game at Lehigh Valley, but he'll fly to the Dominican to take care of a matter that's related to his previous legal...
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Lineup doesn't include many changes

Lineup doesn't include many changes
The Orioles' lineup for tonight's series-opener against the Seattle Mariners at Camden Yards doesn't include any drastic changes beyond the shortstop. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B J.J. Hardy SS Jake Arrieta RHP For the Mariners: Ichiro RF Figgins 3B Smoak 1B Olivo C Cust DH Kennedy 2B Peguero LF Ryan SS Saunders CF Pineda RHP
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Josh Rupe designated for assignment (updated)

Josh Rupe designated for assignment (updated)
The Orioles activated shortstop J.J. Hardy from the disabled list earlier today. To make room on the 25-man roster, the club has designated long reliever Josh Rupe for assignment. Rupe allowed nine earned runs and 16 hits in 14 1/3 innings for a 5.65 ERA. In his last outing, he held Kansas City to one hit in 3 2/3 scoreless innings. The Orioles decided to keep two left-handers in their bullpen. Jason Berken is the only long reliever. The two moves leave the Orioles with a 12-man pitching...
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Hey, J.J., we Hardy knew ya

Hey, J.J., we Hardy knew ya
A roster move is coming today, with shortstop J.J. Hardy being activated from the disabled list and playing for the first time since April 9. You remember Hardy, right? He only batted once in that April 9 game before leaving with a strained left oblique. He hasn't gotten three at-bats against major league pitching since April 6. Hardy might be the most valuable .200 hitter in baseball. The Orioles haven't been quite right since he disappeared, though his absence opened the door for...
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Scott: "It's disappointing and a tough pill to swallow"

Scott: "It's disappointing and a tough pill to swallow"
Luke Scott will continue to play through the pain in his right shoulder, as he's done since the beginning of the season, and as he's done since it intensified over the last three weeks. An MRI taken earlier today revealed a tear in Scott's right labrum, but he won't go on the disabled list. He'll just deal with it. The tear doesn't affect Scott's swing, but he notices it when he makes throws from the outfield. "It's disappointing and a tough pill to swallow," he said. "The...
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Scott has labrum tear, no DL for now

Scott has labrum tear, no DL for now
An MRI taken on Luke Scott's right shoulder revealed that the outfielder has been playing with a tear in his labrum. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail doesn't believe that Scott will need to go on the disabled list, but surgery might be an option after the season. "It doesn't really impact his swing at all," MacPhail said. "I think it occasionally bothers him when he throws, which he feels like he can play through and he'll just have to manage it. It doesn't necessarily...
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Playing roster roulette

Playing roster roulette
The Orioles are off tonight. Then again, they were off all weekend. See what I did there? They took a two-fisted beating from a team they swept on the road in the first series of 2011. They didn't pitch, they didn't hit. Losses usually ensue when that happens. There were plenty of opportunities. The Rays kept walking hitters and littering the bases. One night, Derrek Lee took a third strike in the ninth inning. The next day, he grounded into a double play. Brian Roberts broke too soon...
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Postgame Showalter

Postgame Showalter
The Orioles were swept at home in a three-game series for the first time since Buck Showalter took over as manager. They haven't held a lead for 35 straight innings. Brad Bergesen is 0-5 with a 9.13 ERA in five career starts against the Rays. He allowed five runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings today. He'll need to do a lot better or he could lose his rotation spot when Brian Matusz and Alfredo Simon are ready. The same is true for Chris Tillman, who starts again on Wednesday. Buck...
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Going good for Gonzalez

Going good for Gonzalez
Today's attendance: 16,359 Michael Gonzalez tossed another scoreless inning today, getting a dazzling double play to end the eighth inning. Reid Brignac singled with one out, but John Jaso grounded into a 6-4-3 DP. Cesar Izturis ranged up the middle and flipped the ball to Brian Roberts, who snatched it with his bare hand and threw to first base. Gonzalez hasn't allowed a run in his last five outings covering 5 1/3 innings. He's given up three hits, walked none and struck out seven, and...
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