Matusz and O's lead at the halfway mark (w-updates)

Matusz and O's lead at the halfway mark (w-updates)
Ty Wigginton's 11th homer of the year, which came on a 414-foot shot to left in the second inning, has the O's up on Cleveland 1-0 through four and a half innings. Brian Matusz, touched for six runs in just 3 2/3 Sunday at Minnesota, has not been scored on through five tonight. Matusz has pitched out of the stretch in each frame and Cleveland has left seven on base through five. Matusz has thrown 79 pitches and stranded two runners each in the third and fourth. The O's tonight are...
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Ohman remains "O-man" in ERA

Ohman remains "O-man" in ERA
The O's bullpen has been pitching much better lately with an ERA of 1.65 over the last 12 games. Several pitchers are throwing well out of the pen right now. A list that includes first-year Oriole Will Ohman. Turns out he is more than a funny guy. He is also turning out to be more than a left-handed specialist. In fact this year, lefties bat .231 vs. Ohman and right-handers hit .200 vs. him. "The one difficulty with carrying that label (of lefty specialist) is the splits are so glaring...
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A Matusz matter

A Matusz matter
As good as Brian Matusz has been for most of this year, there is one trend when he pitches that needs some improving on his part. With each succeeding plate appearance during the game, opponent batters hit Matusz better according to stats posted at baseball-reference.com That can and does happen to many pitchers, but it is something worth noting about Matusz and Dave Trembley has taken note of it, too. "I think his curveball could get better. He relies on his changeup a lot. If he...
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Did You Know...

Did You Know...
*That even though the Orioles offense has produced 19 runs over the last three games, several players are currently in or have recently been in RBI droughts. Atkins - Just 1 RBI his last 17 games Markakis: Has 0 RBI his last 6 games and 3 in 12 games Scott: Had just 2 RBI in a recent 10-game stretch, but now has 7 RBI the last three games. Tejada - Recently went 10 games without an RBI, but now has 5 over the last three games. Wieters: Just 1 RBI his last 10 games *The O's bullpen is on...
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Guthrie and Millwood are showing the way

Guthrie and Millwood are showing the way
Jeremy Guthrie and Kevin Millwood are coming up big for the Orioles this year. They are providing veteran leadership for the younger pitchers, but just as important, they are eating up innings and carrying the bulk of the load to lessen that load for Matusz, Bergesen and Hernandez. In his last three starts, Millwood has pitched 8, 7 and 6 2/3 innings. Over his last three, Guthrie has thrown 7, 6 2/3 and 8 innings. They are giving the team quality outings as well and have kept their team in...
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Clubhouse quotes after the O's 8-1 win over Cleveland

Clubhouse quotes after the O's 8-1 win over Cleveland
On a night the O's were 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position in the first five innings, they went 3 for 5 while scoring four in the 6th to beat the Tribe 8-1. They are 3-1 on this homestand and 10-8 over the last 18 games. Here are quotes from four Birds after the game. Jeremy Guthrie on his outing tonight: "Felt good out there. Really was able to keep the fastball down for the most part and get some ground balls, which was good. We made some good plays on defense and the hitters...
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Guthrie and O's romp over the Tribe

Guthrie and O's romp over the Tribe
For the Orioles, it was their most lopsided win of the year. They beat Cleveland 8-1 behind Jeremy Guthrie. Guthrie beat the organization that drafted him in the first round in 2002 and is now 2-0 in two career starts vs. Cleveland. After giving up a first-inning run, he retired 16 batters in a row and on the night gave up just two hits and one run over eight innings. He threw 113 pitches and is now 2-4, 4.13 on the season. He has recorded six quality starts among his eight...
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Corey's catch (with updates)

Corey's catch (with updates)
Corey Patterson is winning the fans over quickly at Camden Yards. He just made a leaping catch at the wall to end the top of the third and rob Shin-Soo Choo of his fifth homer. This after he led off the bottom of the first with a ground single to center. He just led off the last of the third with another single and is now 5 for 11 as an Oriole. So he cut down a run at the plate to end yesterday's game and kept a run off the board today in the third. O's trail 1-0 in the last of the...
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We are now underway (plus Norfolk roster move)

We are now underway (plus Norfolk roster move)
Play Ball: As of 8:12p, we are underway at Camden Yards after a rain delay of one hour and seven minutes. It's 74 degrees at gametime. Jeremy Guthrie is pitching vs. Justin Masterson in game one of this O's vs. Cleveland weekend series. From earlier: The grounds crew is putting the tarp on the field here at Camden Yards. It's getting darker and rain is on the way. We'll see how long before tonight's scheduled game begins. In the meantime, please leave any comments or questions...
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The pen is mightier

The pen is mightier
The Orioles are 9-8 over the last 17 games. That sure beats 2-16. There are many reasons the team has a winning record in that stretch. But Dave Trembley cited his improved and remodeled bullpen as a big reason today during his pre-game media session. "It's real simple. When you pitch, when you hit, when you catch the ball, you have a chance to win. When you get two out of three, you're in it. "When we've lost, we've not had timely hitting and our pitching has not been very good. ...
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Updating the Indians

Updating the Indians
Cleveland is 13-19 on the year and 2-1 on its current eight-game road trip after winning two of three at Kansas City. The Indians are 7-11 in road games and 4-6 in May. Cleveland has played one series versus an AL East team and was swept three straight by Toronto last week. The Indians, who have won seven of their last ten games against the Orioles, have dropped six of their last nine overall. Indians hot hitters: Asdrubal Cabrera: Batting .364 with six multi-hit games in his last ten...
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Erbe starting to put it together at Triple-A

Erbe starting to put it together at Triple-A
Right-hander Brandon Erbe pitched seven scoreless innings of four-hit ball for Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday as he continues to improve his stats after his first four starts. The 22-year-old began the year with an ERA of 8.35 after four starts. But his ERA is 3.37 over his last three starts for Norfolk. "I tried not to pay too much attention to the numbers, but rather the way I was pitching. Even early on, I would throw three straight scoreless than just one inning things didn't work out. ...
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Erbe making progress at Triple-A (w/quotes added)

Erbe making progress at Triple-A (w/quotes added)
After a slow start in his rookie season at Triple-A Norfolk, right-hander Brandon Erbe is starting to pitch much better. Thursday afternoon he pitched seven shutout innings of four-hit ball vs. Syracuse. He walked one with six strikeouts. On May 2nd, Erbe allowed just one run, then had a start where he gave up six runs followed by today's outing. Erbe in 2010 at Norfolk: First four starts: 8.35 ERA and .342 opponent batting average Last three starts: 3.37 ERA and .225 opponents batting...
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Patterson on his outfield assist to end the game

Patterson on his outfield assist to end the game
Sometimes to make a game-winning play you have to be prepared for it before it happens. That was the case today for O's left fielder Corey Patterson. In just his second game with the team, he threw out Josh Wilson at the plate on Ichiro Suzuki's single to end the game as the Orioles beat Seattle 6-5. Corey Patterson gets a pie in the face after throwing out the potential game-tying run at the plate "With Ichiro up I knew he had more power to his pull side. Anything he hits opposite...
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Luke Scott: "This is why we play the game."

Luke Scott: "This is why we play the game."
The Orioles entered today with a record of 0-19 this year when trailing after seven innings. After scoring just one run over seven today vs. Felix Hernandez, and behind 5-1, the O's came to bat in the 8th this afternoon vs. Seattle righty Brandon League. League got a save here Tuesday and had not allowed an earned run over his last six games. But Luke Scott came up with the bases loaded and one out with the O's now down 5-2 after a Corey Patterson homer. His drive on the first pitch...
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Was it Oriole Magic? (updated with O's win)

Was it Oriole Magic? (updated with O's win)
Luke Scott's second career Grand Slam in the last of the 8th has just given the Orioles a 6-5 lead on Seattle. Scott drilled a Brandon League offering to left center and left fielder Michael Saunders leaped at the wall, but it appeared that a fan had the ball glance off his hands as Saunders stretched his glove out, over the wall, trying to make what would have been a remarkable catch. Maybe during that 2-16 run, that ball is caught. Was it a reverse Jeffrey Maier? Well, it apparently was...
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Groundhog Day for Millwood

Groundhog Day for Millwood
Kevin Millwood and David Hernandez could have a conversation after today's game about lack of run support. Maybe they can vent to each other. Sure, some balls were hit hard off Millwood today as he allowed three homers, but one day, hopefully before say, the All-Star break, the Orioles will score some runs when he pitches. He has received just 17 runs of offense in his first seven starts with just 12 runs scoring while he was in the game. Millwood was 0-1, 2.14 in three starts this year at...
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Give Griffin some credit for Bergesen's turnaround

Give Griffin some credit for Bergesen's turnaround
For Brad Bergesen the results have been different and the numbers jump out at you. In three starts before he was optioned to Norfolk his ERA was 12.19. In three starts since returning, his ERA is 2.33. Give Bergy credit for putting the time in to find his sinker and maybe even regain some confidence. But how big a role did Norfolk pitching coach Mike Griffin play? He talked with Bergy and watched him throw some bullpen sessions while he was with the Tides. Here's manager Dave Trembley...
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More notes from Wednesday's win and today's pitchers

More notes from Wednesday's win and today's pitchers
The Orioles improved to 10-24 with Wednesday's 5-2 win over Seattle. The O's are the last team in the Majors to get to 10 victories. The O's went 4 for 10 with runners in scoring position and are batting .394 with RISP in their ten wins and .123 with RISP in the 24 losses. O's record when scoring four or more: 8-4 O's record when scoring less than four: 2-20 It was the Orioles first win this year vs. the Mariners and they are now 1-4 in the season series. Runs scored in 2010 vs....
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More clubhouse quotes after a win over Seattle

More clubhouse quotes after a win over Seattle
Here are more comments from the O's clubhouse after tonight's 5-2 win over the Mariners. Here are some quotes from winning pitcher Brad Bergesen and Luke Scott, who had a double and homer. Bergesen on his good outing: "Tonight felt good, all the pitches felt comfortable and the defense played great behind me. As a starting pitcher you always want to stay in the game but it was the right call to bring the bullpen in. The sinker is my best pitch and I felt comfortable throwing it...
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