Davis hits tiebreaking homer as O's win, complete 5-4 trip

Davis hits tiebreaking homer as O's win, complete 5-4 trip
SAN DIEGO - The tiebreaking solo homer came from an unlikely source: Chris Davis, who had struck out three times today and 14 times while going 0-for-16 on this road trip. But with one mighty swing in the Baltimore eighth off left-hander Matt Strahm, Davis put the Orioles ahead 6-5. The Orioles went on to win 8-5 over San Diego to complete a winning road trip and a rally from a 4-0 deficit in the fourth inning. With the comeback win, the Orioles (36-71) completed a 5-4 road trip and finished...
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Trey Mancini on trade talk, plus other O's notes (game update)

Trey Mancini on trade talk, plus other O's notes (game update)
SAN DIEGO - Like many other players around the majors, the Orioles' Trey Mancini will be happy when 4 p.m. Eastern time comes and goes tomorrow and the trade deadline passes. On the subject of trade rumors, Mancini said again today that he hopes to be an Oriole for a long time. But the next few hours may prove to be nerve-wracking for him. "I don't really anticipate anything happening, but I'm preparing myself for both sides because it's definitely something you need to mentally prepare...
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O's game blog: Tom Eshelman faces San Diego

O's game blog: Tom Eshelman faces San Diego
SAN DIEGO - Can the Orioles find a way to slow the San Diego Padres batters? Right-hander Tom Eshelman (0-2, 5.79 ERA), who grew up near here, will get a chance this afternoon. San Diego has gone 3-0 versus the Orioles this year and hit four, five and five homers in those games. They've won 8-3, 10-5 and 8-1 over the Orioles. When the O's got here yesterday, San Diego was not playing well with a record of 4-11 since the All-Star break and 1-9 in their past 10 home games. But they bashed five...
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A look at the homer barrage by Padres and some trade talk

A look at the homer barrage by Padres and some trade talk
SAN DIEGO - Orioles right-hander David Hess had a pretty good slider going, striking out an impressive seven batters in 4 2/3 innings. But it sure doesn't offset the four homers and five runs he allowed last night. The Orioles' momentum that they started in Anaheim didn't translate to San Diego last night. They got blasted 8-1 as San Diego hit five home runs. Four of them went 400 feet or more. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Franmil Reyes homered on Hess' first two pitches of the game, both 94 mph...
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San Diego bashes five homers, wins big in series opener

San Diego bashes five homers, wins big in series opener
SAN DIEGO - When the San Diego Padres swept a two-game series in Baltimore late last month, they hit nine homers in those games. Tonight, they hit two on the first two pitches. That is how the night started for right-hander David Hess, recalled today from Triple-A to make this start. Hess allowed four homers in all as the Padres beat the Orioles 8-1. It was the opener of a two-game series at Petco Park. The Orioles (35-71) fall to 4-4 with one game to go on this road three-city trip. They have...
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Hyde on trade deadline talk and pitching plans (O's lose 8-1)

Hyde on trade deadline talk and pitching plans (O's lose 8-1)
SAN DIEGO - With less than 48 hours to the Major League Baseball trade deadline, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde was asked today if he expects the club to make some trades by 4 p.m. ET Wednesday. "Maybe. Possible. I have no idea honestly," Hyde said. "We might have five guys move. We might have nobody move. From what I have heard, it is very up in the air. "Me and Mike (Elias) talk quite a bit. So we talk a few times a day and he lets me know what is going on, if there are any rumblings. If I...
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O's game blog: The series in San Diego begins

O's game blog: The series in San Diego begins
SAN DIEGO - After losing two of three in Arizona and going 3-1 in Anaheim, the Orioles have arrived at the final stop of their three-city West Coast trip. And this trip is going much better than their 1-6 run in Oakland and Seattle last month. They gave up 59 runs in seven games then, and had losses of 16-2 in Oakland and 13-3 at Seattle. But on this trip they are 4-3 with two to play at San Diego's Petco Park. That has lifted their overall record to 35-70. They are 4-2 over the last six...
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Villar's strong play in Anaheim and props for the coaches

Villar's strong play in Anaheim and props for the coaches
SAN DIEGO - If the Orioles or their fans hoped Jonathan Villar would get on a hot streak for a last-minute bump-up of his trade value, they got what they sought. When it comes to the Orioles infielder, you get a player who flashes All-Star ability at times, but it's mixed in there with sometimes shaky baserunning and the occasional defensive miscue. Some of the ups and downs have been seen on this current road trip. When the Orioles lost two of three at Arizona, Villar went 0-for-15 and struck...
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A look at Tom Eshelman's SoCal homecoming

A look at Tom Eshelman's SoCal homecoming
SAN DIEGO - When he took the mound on Friday night at Angel Stadium in the third inning, Orioles right-hander Tom Eshelman could hear some of his former college teammates loudly cheering him on from behind the Baltimore dugout. This trip represents a homecoming for Eshelman who pitched Cal-State Fullerton, which is just a few miles from Anaheim. The trip continues the next two days in San Diego. Eshelman is from nearby Carlsbad, Calif., and is scheduled to pitch against his hometown team on...
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Wrapping up a series win that ends with a Sunday loss in Anaheim

Wrapping up a series win that ends with a Sunday loss in Anaheim
ANAHEIM, Calif. - It was a big ask of right-hander Mychal Givens. But the Orioles turned to him in the last of the ninth today to hold a 4-4 tie. Givens finished last night's win, getting four outs and throwing 30 pitches. He was right back out there this afternoon trying to put up a zero and send this game to extra innings. The O's were seeking their first four-game road sweep since Aug. 22-25, 2011, at Minnesota. Givens got Andrelton Simmons to ground out. But third baseman Matt Thaiss, the...
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Walk-off loss: O's fall in last of ninth in Anaheim

Walk-off loss: O's fall in last of ninth in Anaheim
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Called on to pitch in the ninth after throwing 30 pitches last night, right-hander Mychal Givens could not put up a zero and the Orioles' chance to sweep the four-game series ended in walk-off fashion. Third baseman Matt Thaiss hit his second homer of the game as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Orioles 5-4. With one out, he drilled a 3-2 fastball out to right-center to end the game with his first career walk-off homer. Had the Orioles won, they would have had their first...
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Pregame notes on rotation, offense, trade deadline (game update)

Pregame notes on rotation, offense, trade deadline (game update)
ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Orioles concern level continues to remain low with left-handed starter John Means. He went on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Thursday, with a left bicep strain. He had an MRI yesterday. "It came back clean. Normal wear and tear. He should be ready to start right after he comes off the IL," manager Brandon Hyde said. The Orioles' pitching plans for the two-game San Diego series that begins Monday night are very much in flux right now. Although...
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O's game blog: Looking for a four-game sweep in Anaheim

O's game blog: Looking for a four-game sweep in Anaheim
ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Orioles have not swept a series all year. They have not swept a two- or three-game series. But a win today at Angel Stadium will give them a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels. It would be a sweep over a team that beat their rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, two in a row before this series began. At the start of this series, the Angels had won four in a row and were 9-3 since the All-Star game, and 12-6 in July. The Angels were playing well, but they've lost 10-8 in...
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Givens closes it out, the O's homer record and Tate waits his chance

Givens closes it out, the O's homer record and Tate waits his chance
ANAHEIM, Calif. - In the bottom of the ninth right-hander Mychal Givens was on the mound trying to close out an 8-6 Orioles win. And even when the Angels pulled within a run, even when the Orioles defense made a critical mistake, and even when Mike Trout batted with the tying run 90 feet away, the Orioles still got the victory. Givens bent but didn't break and the Orioles beat the Los Angeles Angels 8-7 to go 4-2 on this road trip and 3-0 in a four-game series they can sweep today. The Orioles...
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O's get late runs, hold lead and win again in Anaheim

O's get late runs, hold lead and win again in Anaheim
ANAHEIM, Calif. - On a night when the Orioles allowed homers to Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Shohei Ohtani, they still won. It's going that well for the Birds in Anaheim. But they had to sweat it out to the last pitch when Mychal Givens got Justin Upton to pop out on a 3-2 pitch with two outs and the bases loaded. They hang on to beat the Angels 8-7 tonight and the Orioles have taken the first three in this series to improve to 35-69. They have won four of five, seven of 10 and are 13-11 the...
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Notes on Means, Trumbo, Wilkerson (O's win 8-7)

Notes on Means, Trumbo, Wilkerson (O's win 8-7)
ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Orioles have not announced their starting pitchers yet for the San Diego series that begins Monday. Right-hander Tom Eshelman is expected to start Tuesday but manager Brandon Hyde said he doesn't yet know about Monday. That is where All-Star lefty John Means would be slated in the rotation, but he went on the injured list yesterday retroactive to July 25 with a left biceps strain. Hyde did say today that Means will undergo further testing, but once again said he is not...
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O's game blog: Looking for three in a row in Anaheim

O's game blog: Looking for three in a row in Anaheim
ANAHEIM, Calif. - With wins over the Los Angeles Angels by 10-8 in 16 innings and 9-3 last night, the Orioles will try for a third straight win tonight at Angel Stadium. Baltimore (34-69) can pick up a series win with a victory either tonight or tomorrow. The Orioles have won three of four, six of nine and are 12-11 over the last 23 games. They are now 19-33 in road games. In this series, the Orioles have scored 19 runs on 29 hits with three doubles and four home runs. Over their past nine...
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Brandon Hyde on Orioles' recent winning stretch

Brandon Hyde on Orioles' recent winning stretch
ANAHEIM, Calif. - If, according to some observers, the Orioles are supposed to be tanking, some players may not have gotten the memo. This is no way to get the No. 1 draft pick. The Orioles have played hard for most of the year and now we are seeing them at times play both hard and well. When they get some big offense, they can take a series from Cleveland. When they get big starts from John Means and Asher Wojciechowski, they can take a series from Boston. And now they have a winning record...
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Wojciechowski in control in win over Angels (with quotes)

Wojciechowski in control in win over Angels (with quotes)
ANAHEIM, Calif. - It was a chance for Orioles right-hander Asher Wojciechowski to follow up his strong start against Boston with another. And also get the Orioles and Angels out of here at a more reasonable hour. He got both done tonight, pitching the Orioles to a 9-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels in front of 38,852 at Angel Stadium. Baltimore improves to 34-69. The Orioles have won six of nine and are 12-11 in the past 23 games. They are 3-2 on this road trip with four games to go. Trey...
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Manager Brandon Hyde on flurry of roster moves (game update)

Manager Brandon Hyde on flurry of roster moves (game update)
ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Orioles made a series of roster moves in the final 80 minutes before gametime tonight, which included All-Star lefty John Means going to the 10-day injured list. But the Orioles fully expect Means back after his 10-day IL stay is up and their concern level right now is low. But manager Brandon Hyde said he did not yet know what he will do to replace Means in the rotation with the news fresh today. The rundown of the moves: * Placed Means on the 10-day injured list...
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