Notes and quotes with Dan Duquette, Kevin Gausman and more

Notes and quotes with Dan Duquette, Kevin Gausman and more
The Orioles may have a losing record at the season's halfway point, but for now, they are not considered sellers with the July 31 trade deadline approaching. It is all subject to change, but Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette has made that clear in a few interviews now. The latest was Sunday when he was my guest on "Orioles Baseball Tonight" 105.7 the Fan in Baltimore. I asked Duquette to size up the first half. "I think everybody has seen the same thing," he said. "We were in...
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Postgame Gausman, Machado, Showalter quotes (updated)

Postgame Gausman, Machado, Showalter quotes (updated)
When he was sitting with an ERA of 6.60 in mid-June, you had to wonder if Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman would ever turn around his season. He may be doing that right now. Today, he followed up Tuesday's start of 5 1/3 scoreless in Toronto with seven scoreless in the Orioles' 7-1 win over the Rays. The Orioles avoided being swept as Gausman allowed just two singles and fanned nine while improving to 5-7 with an ERA of 5.61. He's allowed no runs and six hits in 12 1/3 those last two...
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Gausman deals, Machado homers as O's take series finale

Gausman deals, Machado homers as O's take series finale
Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman pitched a gem. Manny Machado hit a blast. Those were the highlights this afternoon as the two former Orioles first-round picks led the club to a 7-1 win over the Rays at Oriole Park. Using a fastball that nearly hit 100 mph and a, at times, swing-and-miss splitter, Gausman threw seven scoreless innings, allowing only two singles. No Rays runner reached third against him. He walked two and fanned nine to tie a season high in strikeouts and come within one of a...
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Duquette on Sedlock, plus Showalter comments (O's lead 4-0)

Duquette on Sedlock, plus Showalter comments (O's lead 4-0)
The Orioles' top draft pick from 2016, right-handed pitcher Cody Sedlock, went on the disabled list for the Single-A Frederick Keys on Saturday with a right elbow flexor strain. The No. 27 overall selection last year, Sedlock is 4-4 with 6.46 ERA. He got off to a great start for the Keys, pitching to an ERA of 1.64 over his first four starts, but has allowed five runs or more in six of his past nine starts. Earlier today, O's executive vice president Dan Duquette was my guest on 105.7 The...
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Right-hander Jimmy Yacabonis returns to O's roster

Right-hander Jimmy Yacabonis returns to O's roster
The Orioles are adjusting their bullpen once again. Right-hander Jimmy Yacabonis has returned to the team and right-hander Alec Asher has been optioned back to Triple-A Norfolk. Asher will pitch as a starter for the Tides. The 25-year-old Yacabonis was with the Orioles briefly last month. His contract was purchased and he was added to the 25-man and 40-man rosters on June 11. He got into three games before being optioned back to Norfolk on June 15 after the game. He posted a 10.80 ERA in those...
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O's game blog: Orioles need a win to avoid a sweep

O's game blog: Orioles need a win to avoid a sweep
The Rays have not swept three from the Orioles in Baltimore since May 17-19, 2013. After their comeback win Friday and blowout win Saturday, the Rays can sweep the Orioles today. Even if the Orioles get the victory, they are going to hit the season's 81-game midpoint today with a losing record. They are 39-41 heading into this series finale and Tampa Bay is 43-40. The Orioles were a strike away from a win Friday that would have moved them into third place ahead of the Rays, but now they trail...
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Dylan Bundy approaches 2016 innings total, plus other notes

Dylan Bundy approaches 2016 innings total, plus other notes
It has gotten this bad for the Orioles rotation. The one pitcher that could almost always be counted on is now struggling himself. Just 6 2/3 innings short of his 2016 season total now, Dylan Bundy allowed a season-high three homers in yesterday's 10-3 loss to Tampa Bay. Bundy gave up a trio of homers of over 400 feet each to tie his career high as he allowed five runs over four innings. He beat the Rays a week ago yesterday allowing three runs over seven innings at Tropicana Field. But this...
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Tampa Bay hits four homers in 10-3 rout of Orioles (quotes added)

Tampa Bay hits four homers in 10-3 rout of Orioles (quotes added)
Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy gave up a season high in homers while also recording his shortest start of 2017. It was not a good combination for him or the Orioles today. Pitching on six day's rest, Bundy allowed seven hits and five runs over four frames, as the Rays hammered the Orioles 10-3 at Camden Yards. When this series began, the Orioles were 10-3 at home versus the Rays since the start of last season. Now they've dropped the first two in this series. On Sunday, the Rays go for...
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O's game blog: Dylan Bundy faces Tampa Bay

O's game blog: Dylan Bundy faces Tampa Bay
The Orioles were a strike away from a win last night, but they could not get that 27th out or that last strike to wrap up a victory. Tampa Bay tied it in the ninth against Brad Brach and won it in the 10th against Darren O'Day. Today's scheduled start of 4:05 p.m. has been delayed by the threat of inclement weather with storms on the way. The tarp is on the field. Update: We are underway at Camden Yards. After a rain delay of 1 hour and 12 minutes, first pitch was at 5:17 p.m. The Rays' 6-4...
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Zach Britton feels ready to rejoin the Orioles

Zach Britton feels ready to rejoin the Orioles
Orioles closer Zach Britton has pronounced himself ready to return to the big league club after pitching back-to-back days the last two days for Double-A Bowie and Single-A Frederick. He still does have one more rehab outing to go Monday at Triple-A Norfolk and his official return should be next Wednesday in Milwaukee. Last night, Britton pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning at Frederick. It was his sixth minor league rehab outing spread through four different affiliates, with Norfolk being the...
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The scoop on Schoop: Coolbaugh on his breakout season

The scoop on Schoop: Coolbaugh on his breakout season
With a batting average hovering near .300 and an OPS 130 points ahead of last year, Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop is having his best season. The 25-year-old from Curacao is maturing on offense before our very eyes with a career-best walk rate and is on pace for 31 homers and 100 RBIs. Orioles hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh has watched Schoop raise his game while avoiding pitches down in the zone. Schoop has chased fewer pitches this year and he has sure done damage with those that are...
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One strike from victory, O's instead lose in extras (quotes added)

One strike from victory, O's instead lose in extras (quotes added)
One strike away from a win that would have moved them into third place, instead the Orioles suffered a deflating extra-inning loss tonight. Steven Souza Jr.'s three-run homer in the 10th off Darren O'Day lifted Tampa Bay to the 6-4 victory. After Brad Brach suffered a blown save with two outs in the ninth as the Rays tied it, O'Day came on for the 10th of a 3-3 game. He walked Corey Dickerson, who advanced to second on a groundout. Then he intentionally walked Logan Morrison. That set the...
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O's game blog: Chris Tillman on the mound in series opener

O's game blog: Chris Tillman on the mound in series opener
Last night the Orioles saw one struggling right-hander pitch a gem to lead them to a win in Toronto. Can it happen for them again tonight as they open a series in Baltimore? Chris Tillman (1-5, 8.39 ERA) will make his 11th start of 2017, looking to jump-start a season that has been running in neutral for him. The Orioles host Tampa Bay in their final home series before the All-Star break. Over his last four starts, Tillman has pitched to a 13.80 ERA and has given up five or more runs each time....
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Left-hander DL Hall on signing with and joining the Orioles

Left-hander DL Hall on signing with and joining the Orioles
It has been quite a day for Orioles' first-round draft pick DL Hall, the prep lefty from Valdosta, Ga. He officially signed with the organization earlier today. He made his first visit to Baltimore and Camden Yards and got introduced to the Baltimore media during a press conference before tonight's game. "It's been really exciting and it is an awesome experience for me and my family," Hall said. "It has been fun getting to know Baltimore. An overall fun experience. This is an awesome...
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O's sign top draft pick DL Hall

O's sign top draft pick DL Hall
The Orioles have signed their first-round selection in the 2017 First-Year Player Draft. The team has come to terms of a signing bonus with high school left-hander DL Hall. Hall's bonus amount is exactly $3 million, which is just over the slot amount for that pick of $2,892,400, MASNSports.com has learned. Hall was taken No. 21 in round one out of Valdosta (Ga.) High School. The 18-year-old Hall pitched to a 1.36 ERA this season. In 51 1/3 innings he allowed 24 hits for a .129 average against...
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Another look at a brilliant, yet unlikely pitching performance

Another look at a brilliant, yet unlikely pitching performance
TORONTO - Don't over-analyze it, just enjoy it. Maybe that is the point we have reached with Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jiménez. Will we get the good Ubaldo or bad one? On this night we got a great one. On the same mound where he gave up the homer that ended the Orioles' season last October, Jiménez was dominant against the Toronto Blue Jays. Eight scoreless on 98 pitches. He needed only 27 pitches to get the first nine outs and threw 13 or fewer pitches in the first, second, third,...
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Ubaldo Jiménez on his dominant start, plus other postgame quotes

Ubaldo Jiménez on his dominant start, plus other postgame quotes
TORONTO - On April 17, 2010, then-Colorado Rockies right-hander Ubaldo Jiménez threw a no-hitter at Atlanta in a 4-0 win. Tonight, he said the quality of his pitches compared to that outing. Jiménez was dominant against the Toronto Blue Jays, allowing just two doubles over eight scoreless innings as the Orioles beat Toronto 2-0 to take two of three here. "Yeah (this compared to the no-hitter). It felt pretty good," he said. "I could throw any pitch in any count. Everything was moving....
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Jiménez throws eight scoreless innings as O's blank Blue Jays

Jiménez throws eight scoreless innings as O's blank Blue Jays
TORONTO - Coming off a start where he allowed a career-high-tying nine runs in just 2 1/3 innings, no one could have expected this. But Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jiménez blanked the Toronto Blue Jays on two hits over eight innings as the Orioles beat the Jays 2-0 in front of 37,291 at Rogers Centre. It was a sensational outing for a pitcher that began the night at 2-3 with a 7.26 ERA. Jiménez allowed just one walk and had eight strikeouts, throwing 98 pitches, 71 for strikeouts. He was...
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Showalter on Sisco and Scott (O's lead 2-0)

Showalter on Sisco and Scott (O's lead 2-0)
TORONTO - The Orioles will send two players to the All-Star Futures Game set for Sunday, July 9 in Miami: Triple-A Norfolk catcher Chance Sisco and Double-A Bowie pitcher Tanner Scott. They will play for Team USA against the World Team. Sisco played in the game last year and homered in his hometown of San Diego. Sisco is batting .266/.342/.383 with 16 doubles, three homers and 28 RBIs. He is batting .311 with an OPS of .805 in 21 games this month. He was ranked before the season as the...
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Showalter on Britton's rehab and more (Castillo scratched)

Showalter on Britton's rehab and more (Castillo scratched)
TORONTO - Before his team meets Toronto in the final game of a three-game series tonight, Orioles manager Buck Showalter provided another positive report on Orioles closer Zach Britton. Britton pitched the fourth inning today for Double-A Bowie in a win over Altoona. He got a groundout and two strikeouts on 14 pitches with eight strikes. "He got the win," Showalter said. "He got the lineup card. I started to ask him when was the last time he got a win at Double-A? No, it went well and he...
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