Patton kept putting up zeroes and the call to Baltimore finally came

Patton kept putting up zeroes and the call to Baltimore finally came
Troy Patton will admit that there was some frustration for him recently. He was putting up really good numbers for Triple-A Norfolk but watching other pitchers get called to Baltimore. That included other lefties like Pedro Viola and Mark Hendrickson. Patton was happy for those guys, but wondering if his chance would come. It has and now he is back with the Orioles, officially recalled from Norfolk after the game last night. With the Tides, the 25-year-old southpaw was pitching mostly out of...
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This time, Gonzalez gets the save for the Orioles

This time, Gonzalez gets the save for the Orioles
Moments after an Orlando Cabrera three-run double in the ninth cut the Orioles' 6-2 lead to 6-5 last night, lefty reliever Michael Gonzalez started jogging toward the mound. You know many Orioles fans had to be holding their breath as they have seen Gonzalez struggle for much of his two seasons on the team. Brought here to serve as a closer, he had blown three of four previous saves chances in an O's uniform. He had just one save chance this year and didn't close out that May 10 game with...
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Simon, Jones and Gonzalez talk about the Orioles' win over Cleveland

Simon, Jones and Gonzalez talk about the Orioles' win over Cleveland
Trying to help his team end a long losing streak and help a pitching staff that had allowed 81 runs the last 10 games, Alfredo Simon did both tonight, going seven strong innings as the Orioles beat Cleveland 6-5. Simon gave up just three hits and two runs and became just the second O's starter (after Jeremy Guthrie) to pitch seven innings in the last 30 games. Alfredo Simon discusses his confidence as a starting pitcher as he picks up the win against the Indians "Everything worked good....
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Simon steps up big as Orioles finally end losing streak

Simon steps up big as Orioles finally end losing streak
The Orioles needed a good starting pitching effort in the worst way and got one tonight from Alfredo Simon. They also needed a win in the worst way and got one as well. Nick Markakis hit a solo homer in the last of the sixth to break a 2-2 tie as the Orioles beat Cleveland 6-5 in front of 24,835 at Camden Yards to end a nine-game losing streak. Markakis added two doubles for a three extra-base hit game after not having an extra-base hit during his previous nine games. Markakis is batting...
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Simon says: Produce a quality start

Simon says: Produce a quality start
Alfredo Simon is pitching a good one for the Orioles tonight. Probably don't need to remind any O's fan how badly needed this is - and has been. He has a 3-2 lead on the Indians through six and a half frames. He has allowed just three hits and two runs through seven innings. The O's have had just one pitcher go seven innings over the last 29 games. Oriole starting pitchers' ERA: 9.90 - in Cleveland series 13.08 - in last six games starting with Boston series 9.60 - in last 18 games,...
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Markakis beat Ripken, Robinson and Roberts to 1,000 hits

Markakis beat Ripken, Robinson and Roberts to 1,000 hits
Here is an impressive note about Nick Markakis, who reached the 1,000 career hit mark last night at Camden Yards with a third-inning single: Markakis got to 1,000 hits quicker than Hall of Fame Orioles Cal Ripken Jr. and Brooks Robinson and teammate Brian Roberts. Markakis: 1,000th hit in career game No. 875. Ripken: 1,000th hit in career game No. 894 at Yankee Stadium. Roberts: 1,000th hit in career game No. 895 at Wrigley Field. Robinson: 1,000th hit in career game No. 989 at Metropolitan...
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Can Hardy's new deal send a message to other free agents?

Can Hardy's new deal send a message to other free agents?
So the question to J.J. Hardy today was a pretty obvious one to ask. How did he weigh agreeing to his new three-year contract with the Orioles against the possibility of being a free agent at the end of the year? If he were a free agent, he could hit the open market and seek to play for a better team or go to the highest bidder. "You know my agent and I, we pretty much went over every team that would be possibly looking for a shortstop this offseason," Hardy said today in the O's...
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Showalter talks about pitching inside and giving out two-out runs

Showalter talks about pitching inside and giving out two-out runs
After last night's game, Orioles pitcher Jake Arrieta seemed to second-guess himself on how he approached and pitched to some of the Cleveland hitters. "I think the main thing about tonight is guys were too comfortable in the box," Arrieta said. "I didn't do a good job of establishing the inner half to lefties well enough and they were diving over the plate, and even when I made quality pitches to the outside part of the plate, sinkers down and away, they still put pretty good swings on...
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An update from Vlad on his injury

An update from Vlad on his injury
Orioles DH Vladimir Guerrero is not in the starting lineup for the third day in a row. Guerrero told reporters before batting practice today that his right hand has not gotten better and he did not expect to test it with any swings today. Does he expect to go on the disabled list? "He doesn't know and hasn't been told. Yes, it is broken, but he doesn't know, no one has told him anything yet," Guerrero's interpreter, O's staffer Rudy Arias told reporters gathered around Guerrero's...
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O's come to terms with Hardy

O's come to terms with Hardy
The Orioles have locked up their shortstop for the next three years. The Baltimore Sun reported that the club has agreed with J.J. Hardy on a new contract for three years which will pay him between $22 to $22.5 million during the length of this deal which runs through 2014. The club had a decision to make with Hardy: sign a player that played very well since his return from the disabled list and has been very solid and consistent in the field, or trade a player that could potentially bring...
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Can Arrieta win again tonight against the AL Central? (update)

Can Arrieta win again tonight against the AL Central? (update)
It's a bit of a stretch I know, but will some Jake Arrieta stats work in his favor tonight as he and the Orioles look to break an eight-game losing streak versus Cleveland? Arrieta and the Birds lead 2-1 after the second inning after Matt Wieters and Nolan Reimold hit solo homers in the last of the second. Wieters' homer to right-center leading off the inning was his ninth and traveled 390 feet, and came on a 3-1 pitch. Reimold took a 1-1 pitch out to left 402 feet off Josh Tomlin. For...
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The milestone six years in the making for Markakis

The milestone six years in the making for Markakis
There were two outs and none on when Nick Markakis stepped into the batter's box in the last of the third. He then singled to right off Cleveland's Josh Tomlin to pick up his 1,000th career hit. Markakis gets to 1,000 at age 27 and in his sixth season in the majors. They posted an impressive stat last night during the MASN O's Xtra post-game show. Markakis got to 1,000 hits in fewer career games than Orioles legends and baseball Hall of Famers Cal Ripken and Brooks Robinson. Next stop,...
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Showalter talks about Guerrero's injury

Showalter talks about Guerrero's injury
Here are Buck Showalter's pregame comments today about Vladimir Guerrero, who has a small crack in a bone in his right hand and will not start for the second game in a row tonight against Cleveland. "He thought he might be able to play today, but went in the cage and that did not go well," Showalter said. "Comes a decision now on how long we can or will wait (before making a possible disabled list decision). "The second X-ray we took yesterday showed a small crack there. Depending on the...
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Was Buck's answer not a ringing endorsement for the O's farm?

Was Buck's answer not a ringing endorsement for the O's farm?
So during his pregame session with the media today, I had the chance to ask Orioles manager Buck Showalter if there were any players the team would consider taking a closer look at during the rest of the season. Either someone currently on the roster or someone perhaps now in the minors. Showalter answered my question with a question back to me. "Who would you be talking about in the minors, maybe?" I mentioned that Troy Patton had been doing pretty well lately. "Troy statistically has...
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Can Arrieta get it turned around tonight for the starting pitchers?

Can Arrieta get it turned around tonight for the starting pitchers?
Jake Arrieta is the next Orioles starter to try and give his team a quality start. He takes the mound tonight at Camden Yards against Cleveland. The Orioles have had just two of them, one by Jeremy Guthrie and one by Mitch Atkins, in the last 17 games. At one time, it seemed Arrieta was cranking out quality starts. Over his first nine starts, he went 5-1 with a 4.03 ERA and seven quality starts. But over his past nine outings, he is 4-5 with a 5.87 ERA and four quality starts. His ERA is...
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Another night on the radio, taking calls after another loss

Another night on the radio, taking calls after another loss
It was just about 10 p.m on the dot last night and I grabbed the headphones and pulled up to the microphone. I was about to begin another night of my baseball radio show, talking for two hours about the Orioles on 105.7 FM The Fan in Baltimore. With the team just minutes away from an eighth straight loss, I had to wonder - would this be the night? Would this be the night that the fans were so beaten down by the recent losing that no one would call in to talk about the Birds? The show started...
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Some notes as the Tribe takes the early lead

Some notes as the Tribe takes the early lead
For the Orioles, the second half has started like the first half ended, with a starter having issues and the club falling behind early in a game. Some notes as they try to dig out of a 3-0 hole against Cleveland here tonight and snap a seven-game slide. * The current Indians roster had a total of just one homer versus Jeremy Guthrie coming into this game, then Asdrubal Cabrera and Carlos Santana homered in a span of three batters in the opening inning as Cleveland took a 3-0 lead. Cabrera was...
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Matt Wieters sizes up his All-Star experience

Matt Wieters sizes up his All-Star experience
Orioles catcher Matt Wieters used words like "exciting" and "cool" to describe his first All-Star experience. He got into the game as a reserve in the sixth inning and went 0-for-1 at bat and also was charged with a passed ball after not being charged with one all season to that point. He later found out he was slated, as the third catcher on the American League squad, to possibly only play at all if the game went extra innings. Then New York catcher Russell Martin told AL manager Ron...
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Gregg and Gonzalez talk about their suspensions

Gregg and Gonzalez talk about their suspensions
Orioles pitchers Kevin Gregg and Michael Gonzalez are appealing their suspensions handed down today by Major League Baseball for their actions in the Boston series. Gregg was suspended for four games with the suspension scheduled to begin today. Gonzalez was suspended for three games, which was scheduled to begin on Monday, the day the O's begin a series with Boston. Kevin Gregg and Mike Gonzalez talk about the suspensions they received from MLB "They handed down the suspension today, I...
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Minor league notes on Drake and Hobgood; Widlansky to Triple-A

Minor league notes on Drake and Hobgood; Widlansky to Triple-A
The Orioles have promoted right-handed pitcher Oliver Drake from Single-A Frederick to Double-A Bowie and he will start for the Baysox tonight. Drake, a 43rd-round draft pick in 2008, was 8-3 with a 2.14 ERA for Frederick with a WHIP of 0.99 and groundout-to-flyout ratio of 2.18. This will be another crack at Double-A for the 24-year-old righty, who allowed 11 runs over four innings in two April starts for the Baysox. Orioles minor league pitchers Matt Hobgood and Ryan Berry have now joined...
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