O's game blog: Orioles look for series sweep today

O's game blog: Orioles look for series sweep today
He had a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in his right shoulder in December and a cortisone shot in the middle of March. Now, after four minor league rehab starts, right-hander Chris Tillman finally makes his season debut here this afternoon, facing the Chicago White Sox. Tillman made one start with Single-A Frederick, two for Double-A Bowie and one with Triple-A Norfolk. His tour of the affiliates produced an 0-3 record and ERA of 7.16. Over 16 1/3 innings he allowed 20 hits including...
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O'Day on pitching depth and Trumbo's take on Bundy

O'Day on pitching depth and Trumbo's take on Bundy
No doubt just in the last week or so we've seen just how important pitching depth has been for the Orioles. Kevin Gausman got an early ejection, and Richard Bleier covered four innings and Ubaldo Jiménez three in relief. Wade Miley took two line drives in the first inning and Gabriel Ynoa pitched six scoreless. Logan Verrett was called to New York and pitched two scoreless in an extra-inning win. We've seen quality starts from Alec Asher, Jayson Aquino and Tyler Wilson. As the Orioles now...
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As AL pitchers adjusted, Trey Mancini looked to do likewise

As AL pitchers adjusted, Trey Mancini looked to do likewise
In an interview before last night's game, Trey Mancini spoke about seeing pitchers beginning to serve him a more steady diet of off-speed pitches. He also said he was adjusting to that and was feeling really good at the plate. Then during the game last night those words rang true. Mancini produced an RBI double in the first and drilled a 398-foot, two-run homer in the fifth in the manOrioles' 6-5 win over the Chicago White Sox. He has now driven in a run in four straight games. Over his past...
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Bundy wins his fifth, Machado and Mancini homer in win (quotes added)

Bundy wins his fifth, Machado and Mancini homer in win (quotes added)
In the all-Dylan pitching matchup tonight, Dylan Bundy reigned supreme. The Orioles right-hander produced his seventh consecutive quality start to begin the year as the Orioles beat the Chicago White Sox 6-5 in front of 28,718 at Oriole Park. The Orioles improved to 19-10, winning their third in a row and for the fifth time in seven games. They are 10-3 at home and can sweep the White Sox on Sunday afternoon. On the first day of Zach Britton's second 2017 trip to the disabled list, Darren...
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O's game blog: Dylan Bundy looks for fifth win facing White Sox

O's game blog: Dylan Bundy looks for fifth win facing White Sox
The Orioles host the Chicago White Sox tonight in the second game of a three-game series at Camden Yards. The Orioles (18-10) begin play a half-game behind the New York Yankees in the American League East, while the White Sox (15-13) start the night in a four-way tie for first in the AL Central. Tonight's game is not starting on time ,but the delay is expected to be brief. As of 7 p.m., the tarp was on the field with a light rain falling. Just after 7 p.m., the O's announced a start time for...
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Miley expects to make his next start, Hart on loss of Britton

Miley expects to make his next start, Hart on loss of Britton
After last night's game, Orioles left-hander Wade Miley felt his left wrist contusion was not going to be much of a problem. And today, even though he had a wrap on his left wrist, he said he fully expects to make his next start on Wednesday. "Yeah, I feel fine," Miley said. "I could pitch tonight if they needed me. I feel like my wrist is fine. I think it is one of those things where they are trying to be cautious. "I've never been hit twice. I've never seen it. I wrapped it last night...
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At challenging time for pitching staff, the depth has come up big

At challenging time for pitching staff, the depth has come up big
In just the last few days, the Orioles have had Kevin Gausman ejected in the second inning and Wade Miley knocked out after being hit by two line drives in the first inning. Nothing like a few challenges during a long season. The Orioles seem to be getting a new test nightly. Right now, they'd probably give their kingdom for a routine and comfortable 6-2 win where nobody gets thrown at, ejected, or takes a liner off the wrist or butt. Since Gausman's early ejection on Wednesday, O's starters...
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Postgame updates on Britton, Miley and Ynoa

Postgame updates on Britton, Miley and Ynoa
During a season that has featured a steady stream of pitching roster moves, the Orioles could again be busy tomorrow on the transactions wire. During tonight's 4-2 win over the Chicago White Sox, one starting pitcher got hit by two line drives, the pitcher that relieved him had a leg issue and an All-Star closer was unavailable altogether. As the Orioles added to a 2-1 lead and made it 4-1 in the last of the eighth, right-hander Brad Brach - and not closer Zach Britton - was warming. Brach...
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Called on in first inning, Gabriel Ynoa pitches O's to 4-2 win

Called on in first inning, Gabriel Ynoa pitches O's to 4-2 win
Given an unexpectedly big opportunity tonight by the Orioles, 23-year-old right-hander Gabriel Ynoa took it and ran with it. Called on to pitch with just two outs in the top of the first, Ynoa got out of a two-on jam and then pitched scoreless ball into the seventh against the Chicago White Sox as the Orioles won 4-2 to start a five-game homestand. The Orioles are 18-10 for the season, 9-3 at home and remain half-game behind the Yankees for first in the American League East. Acquired for cash...
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Struck by two line drives, Miley exits in first inning (O's up 2-0)

Struck by two line drives, Miley exits in first inning (O's up 2-0)
Two nights after the Orioles lost a starting pitcher who was ejected after recording just three outs, they lost their starter tonight after just two outs. Left-hander Wade Miley was hit twice by line drives in a three-pitch span in the top of the first tonight against the Chicago White Sox. It was just Wednesday night in Boston when Kevin Gausman was ejected pitching to the first batter he faced in the second inning. This time, Miley was knocked out after being drilled by back-to-back...
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O's game blog: O's face former teammate Miguel González in series opener

O's game blog: O's face former teammate Miguel González in series opener
The Orioles have finally moved into a stretch of the season where they will face some non-American League East opponents. But that doesn't necessarily mean their schedule gets easier. After playing 24 of the first 27 within the division (and going 15-9), their next seven games are against the Chicago White Sox and Washington Nationals. Both teams currently reside in first place in their respective divisions. The Orioles host the White Sox for three games this weekend at Camden Yards. Chicago...
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Joey Rickard and Buck Showalter on Rickard's defensive gem in Boston

Joey Rickard and Buck Showalter on Rickard's defensive gem in Boston
It was one of those plays that, as manager Buck Showalter said today, can "change the game." With the Orioles leading the Red Sox 8-3 last night, Boston had a rally going with the bases loaded in the last of the seventh. In the top of the seventh, Seth Smith singled to right for a 4-for-4 game. But in the bottom of the inning, Joey Rickard came in for Smith as a defensive replacement in right field. A few moments later, he Rickard made a leaping, sprawling catch of Andrew Benintendi's liner...
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After rough spring training outing, Cody Sedlock got off to a good start at Frederick

After rough spring training outing, Cody Sedlock got off to a good start at Frederick
For young right-hander Cody Sedlock, the Orioles' top draft pick last June, it was memorable, very exciting and it seemed to happen real, real fast. After the Orioles drafted Sedlock with the 27th pick in the first round out of the University of Illinois, he got his feet wet in pro ball last summer throwing 27 innings and pitching to an ERA of 3.00 at short-season Single-A Aberdeen. Fast forward to 2017 spring training. It was Feb. 28 and the Orioles were playing their fifth exhibition game,...
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O's game blog: O's face Boston in series finale (O's win 8-3)

O's game blog: O's face Boston in series finale (O's win 8-3)
A rather eventful road trip for the Orioles through New York and Boston comes to an end tonight at Fenway Park. The Orioles went 1-2 at Yankee Stadium and are 1-2 at Boston as the four-game series ends tonight. The trip began with the Orioles leading New York by one game for first place in the American League East. They begin play tonight at 16-10, one game behind New York (17-9). The trip began with the Yankees scoring 26 runs and winning last Friday and Saturday over the Orioles in the Bronx....
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Hot starts on the farm: Ring, Mountcastle deliver with bats (plus O's notes)

Hot starts on the farm: Ring, Mountcastle deliver with bats (plus O's notes)
One player is a high draft pick and the Orioles were confident he would do well as he moved up a level on the farm this year. He has so far. Another has basically come out of nowhere. But they both have gotten off to very strong starts with the bat. The first player is Single-A Frederick shortstop Ryan Mountcastle. He was taken with the 36th overall pick in the 2015 draft. The other is Single-A Delmarva outfielder Jake Ring. He was taken with the 931st pick (in the 31st round) of the 2016...
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Night of frustration: Gausman, Jones ejected and O's lose at Fenway

Night of frustration: Gausman, Jones ejected and O's lose at Fenway
At this point, what else could go wrong? Last night, Boston pitcher Chris Sale threw a 98 mph fastball behind Manny Machado and was not ejected. Tonight, Baltimore's Kevin Gausman threw a 77 mph curveball that hit Xander Bogaerts and he was ejected by a home plate umpire with an itchy trigger finger. There were no outs in the second inning at the time. That put the Orioles in a bind. They went on to a 4-2 loss to Boston. Major League Baseball officials told the management of the Orioles and...
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O's game blog: Gausman faces Boston; today's minor league results

O's game blog: Gausman faces Boston; today's minor league results
The Orioles send struggling right-hander Kevin Gausman (1-2, 7.50 ERA) to the mound tonight at Fenway Park. The Orioles and Boston have exchanged 5-2 wins the past two nights. Gausman will be making his seventh start. As play begins tonight the Orioles (16-9) and New York Yankees are tied for the American League East lead. Both are 2 1/2 games ahead of Boston, 3 1/2 up on Tampa Bay and eight games ahead of Toronto. Comparing Gausman's first three and past three 2017 starts: First three: 3.94...
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In Machado-Boston feud, a former Red Sox player sides with Machado

In Machado-Boston feud, a former Red Sox player sides with Machado
So it's pretty clear that when Boston lefty Chris Sale's 98 mph fastball went buzzing behind Manny Machado's legs in the first inning last night, the Orioles third baseman had about reached his breaking point. During his postgame interview, he went past that point as the emotions boiled over and came out during an expletive-laced response to the latest pitch thrown in his direction by a Boston pitcher. "Coward stuff," Machado said. "I mean, that's stuff that you don't (expletive) do,...
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O's game blog: O's battle Chris Sale (Sale and Sox win 5-2)

O's game blog: O's battle Chris Sale (Sale and Sox win 5-2)
Is the reverse lock in effect tonight? Little-known right-hander Alec Asher (1-0, 2.16 ERA) makes the second start of his Orioles career against left-hander Chris Sale (1-2, 1.19 ERA), a five-time All-Star who currently ranks first in the American League in strikeouts and second in ERA and WHIP. Let's just the say the Orioles are the underdog. The Orioles acquired Asher near the end of spring training in a March 28 trade with Philadelphia for a player to be named or cash considerations. He...
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A look at reasons for Dylan Bundy's great year

A look at reasons for Dylan Bundy's great year
They lacked a three-run homer, but the Orioles sure had some pitching and defense in last night's 5-2 win over Boston. Earl Weaver would have approved of that victory. He would loved to have seen right-hander Dylan Bundy use a combination of talent, smarts, work ethic and a great mix of pitches to get off to such a strong start. How about a 4-1 record and an ERA of 1.82? The Orioles are 5-1 in his six outings and he's produced six of six quality starts. Six times this year, an O's starter...
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