Notes on the homestand, Britton's saves and Schoop's RBI tear

Notes on the homestand, Britton's saves and Schoop's RBI tear
It was a strange homestand for the Orioles. They won five. They lost five. There were two sweeps. Orioles pitching gave up 27 runs in getting swept three straight by the Cubs. Then they allowed just four runs in a three-game stretch versus Texas. But then they allowed 30 runs the last four games of the homestand. Yet they won two of those last four games thanks to a resurgent offense that has produce 51 runs the past six games with a .333 average and 13 home runs. "What did we end up, 5-5?"...
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Zach Britton sets an AL record and more from today's win

Zach Britton sets an AL record and more from today's win
On a day when the Orioles scored nine runs on 14 hits, a pitching performance was pretty noteworthy as well. In the Orioles' 9-7 win over Houston, closer Zach Britton set an American League saves record. Britton converted his 55th straight save to break a tie for the most consecutive in the AL at 54 with Tom Gordon. It is a streak that began Oct. 1, 2015. The major league record is a staggering 84 in a row by the Dodgers' Eric Gagne that went from Aug. 28, 2002 to July 3, 2004. It also could...
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Slugfest in Baltimore: O's win 9-7 to get series finale

Slugfest in Baltimore: O's win 9-7 to get series finale
To win today, the Orioles needed to outscore the AL's leading offense. That is just what they were able to do. Manny Machado's sac fly in the last of the eighth broke a 7-7 tie as the Orioles beat Houston 9-7 at Oriole Park. They salvaged the final game of the series, completed a 5-5 homestand and now hit the road with a 47-51 record. No. 9 hitter Rubén Tejada doubled with one out in the eighth off Luke Gregerson and advance to third on Adam Jones' single to center. Jones went 4-for-5...
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Showalter on Bundy's season innings total (plus a game update)

Showalter on Bundy's season innings total (plus a game update)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter has seldom mentioned a number as a potential season innings limit for right-hander Dylan Bundy who is pitching today. But the number 180 was mentioned by the skipper during his pregame media session earlier. Bundy is making his 20th start of the year this afternoon and is 9-8 with an ERA of 4.18. After 11 days of rest he pitched Tuesday and was the last starter used by the club out of the All-Star break, to maximize his rest. Bundy responded with a strong outing...
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O's game blog: O's need a win to avoid sweep

O's game blog: O's need a win to avoid sweep
The Orioles started this 10-game homestand getting swept three straight by the Chicago Cubs. They need a win today to avoid ending it being swept three by Houston. Astros hitters have produced 31 hits and six homers the last two nights in 8-7 and 8-4 wins over the Orioles. They are 5-0 this season and have won eight in a row over the Orioles. Right-hander Dylan Bundy (9-8, 4.18 ERA) makes his second start of the second half this afternoon, his 20th on the year and his 11th at Oriole...
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Jonathan Schoop on his recent RBI tear

Jonathan Schoop on his recent RBI tear
With an RBI surge this week, the Orioles' Jonathan Schoop now ranks third in the American League RBI race. Nelson Cruz of Seattle is first with 75, Aaron Judge of New York is second with 73 and Schoop comes next at 69. Schoop is on some hitting tear. He has now homered in three straight games and has an RBI in six straight games. He has had multiple RBIs in five straight games, recording 14 RBIs in those five games. Over the current six-game stretch with at least one RBI, Schoop is 10-for-25...
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Schoop still raking but O's lose back-to-back against Houston

Schoop still raking but O's lose back-to-back against Houston
Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop made his first All-Star game earlier this month. Lately, each night he continues to show us why he got that honor. Schoop hits a lot of ropes lately. He has now homered in three straight games and has an RBI in six straight games. He has had multiple RBIs in five straight games, recording 14 RBIs in those five games. Over this six-game stretch with at least one RBI, Schoop is 10-for-25 (.400) with three home runs and 15 RBIs. Going back six games he has...
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O's game blog: Chris Tillman faces Houston

O's game blog: Chris Tillman faces Houston
It happened 17 days apart, one outing before the All-Star break and one after, but right-hander Chris Tillman has put together back-to-back solid outings. Tonight, he will try to make it three in a row against Houston, the American League's highest-scoring team. In the two games, Tillman went 11 innings, allowing nine hits and three runs. In his previous six starts, he had given up five runs or more each time. That raised his ERA to 8.39, but maybe he is finally turning a corner. Tillman ended...
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Another look at Friday's loss and notes from the night on the farm

Another look at Friday's loss and notes from the night on the farm
The Houston Astros began last night leading the American League in runs scored, averaging 5.87 per game, and with a 33-11 road record. They built a big early lead and improved on both stats in Friday's 8-7 win over the Orioles. Houston entered this series scoring a major league-best 7.14 runs per game on the road. When compared to previous full season totals, that number would rank fourth best in big league history. The Orioles found out about that offense as Houston banged out 16 hits and hit...
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Late rally falls short as Houston gets series opener (quotes added)

Late rally falls short as Houston gets series opener (quotes added)
Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jiménez was a pitch away from a scoreless first inning tonight. If he gets that pitch, maybe his night would have been different. Ultimately he was unable to make that pitch and Houston scored three off him in the first and two more in the second on its way to an 8-7 win at Oriole Park tonight. But the Astros needed to hold off a furious rally in the ninth by the Orioles to wrap this one up. Down 8-2 heading to the last of the ninth, the Orioles pulled within a...
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O's game blog: Jimenez on the mound for Houston opener

O's game blog: Jimenez on the mound for Houston opener
After winning four in a row against Texas, the Orioles face another team from that state tonight. They open a three-game series with the Houston Astros, who at 63-32, hold the best record in the American League. Houston is leading the AL West by 16 games and easily has the best AL record. Boston at 54-43 has the second-best record in the league and they are 10 games behind Houston. The Orioles (46-49) are still three games under the .500 mark after sweeping Texas. They are in fourth place,...
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How big is the Houston series for the Orioles?

How big is the Houston series for the Orioles?
So will the real second-half Orioles please stand up? We've seen them get swept by the Cubs and outscored 27-11. Then we saw them sweep four from Texas by a total score of 34-11. That brings us to tonight, when the Orioles play Houston, a team with a 63-32 record and .663 winning percentage. They are running away with the American League West, leading by 16 games. At 54-43, Boston has the second-best record in the AL and they are 10 games behind Houston. The Astros are the class of the...
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Gary Kendall on David Hess and DJ Stewart, plus O's notes

Gary Kendall on David Hess and DJ Stewart, plus O's notes
BOWIE, Md. - While other outfielders on the Orioles farm like Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins and Randolph Gassaway have gotten some deserved attention this year, the Orioles' 2015 top draft pick has been quietly having a solid year at Double-A Bowie. Florida State product DJ Stewart is batting .265/.357/.429 with 11 homers, 54 runs, 15 steals and 48 RBIs in 87 games for Bowie. As the Baysox (51-46) have made a run toward the top of their division over the last month, Stewart has elevated his...
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Mountcastle on his Double-A debut and move to third base

Mountcastle on his Double-A debut and move to third base
BOWIE, Md. - For Ryan Mountcastle, his first game in the Eastern League could have had a storybook ending. He batted for the Double-A Bowie Baysox in a 6-6 tie in the last of the ninth with runners on first and second and no outs. Could he produce a walk-off win in his first game with Bowie after being promoted earlier today from Single-A Frederick? He could not, but it still was a significant day in the life of the 20-year-old No. 3 rated Orioles prospect, according to Baseball America. A...
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Ryan Mountcastle makes Double-A debut at Bowie (updated)

Ryan Mountcastle makes Double-A debut at Bowie (updated)
BOWIE, Md. - Promoted today from Single-A Frederick to Double-A Bowie, 20-year-old infielder Ryan Mountcastle is batting fifth and playing third base tonight for the Baysox. Mountcastle played exclusively at shortstop this season for Frederick, where he hit .314/.343/.542 with 35 doubles, a triple, 15 homers, 47 RBIs and with an OPS of .885 in 88 games. He began today leading all of minor league baseball in doubles and ranks second in extra-base hits. This is a position change for Mountcastle,...
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O's game blog: Orioles go for four-game sweep of Texas

O's game blog: Orioles go for four-game sweep of Texas
The Orioles started the second half and lost three straight to the Cubs and were outscored 27-11. They've now won three straight against Texas and outscored the Rangers 25-4. Tonight, the O's and Texas play the fourth game of this series and they bring identical 45-49 records into the finale. The Orioles last swept four straight from the Rangers at home on June 30-July 3, 2014. After winning 3-1 over the Rangers on Monday night, the Orioles have won 12-1 and 10-2 the past two nights. They've...
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Orioles promote prospect Ryan Mountcastle to Bowie

Orioles promote prospect Ryan Mountcastle to Bowie
The Orioles are moving one of their best prospects up a level and he is moving positions as well. Up until now exclusively a shortstop, 20-year-old infielder Ryan Mountcastle has been promoted from Single-A Frederick to Double-A Bowie and will start at third base for the Baysox at home tonight. The 36th overall pick in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft out of Hagerty High School in Oviedo, Fla., Mountcastle has had a big year at the plate at Frederick. Over 88 games, he is batting .314/.343/.542...
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Notes and quotes after three straight quality starts and wins

Notes and quotes after three straight quality starts and wins
I couldn't tell whether Orioles center fielder Adam Jones was kidding or serious, but this is what he said when a reporter pointed out that his three hits last night all went to the opposite field. "I was late (on the swing). I was late, trying to pull it. I was late, just trying to hit the ball hard anywhere it goes. I don't care, line-to-line," he said. Just being honest, I guess. Hey, all hits count and Jones went 3-for-5 in the Orioles' 10-2 win over the Rangers. He is 5-for-9 in the...
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Adam Jones on three wins: "Shuts up all the trade rumors"

Adam Jones on three wins: "Shuts up all the trade rumors"
Orioles outfielder Adam Jones went 3-for-5 with two RBIs tonight as the Orioles won their third in a row, beating Texas 10-2. Despite these wins, the Orioles (45-49) would need four more consecutive wins just to get back to .500. But Jones made his feelings clear when asked tonight what three straight wins does for the Orioles. "Shuts up all the trade rumors, I know that," Jones said. "We feel that we're still in this race. Long way to go. We're not just going to give up. No, I don't take...
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Gausman bounces back, offense blows it open in rout of Texas

Gausman bounces back, offense blows it open in rout of Texas
So this series has been very different. The Orioles pitching staff got bounced around over the weekend by the Chicago Cubs, but they have turned the tables against Texas. For the second night in a row, the offense joined in the act. Right-hander Kevin Gausman produced the third straight quality start for the Orioles tonight as they beat Texas 10-2 at Oriole Park. They have taken the first three in this four-game series and broke this game open late with a seven-run seventh inning. Gausman's...
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