Jones on scoreboard watching and the Orioles' bullpen, plus other notes

Jones on scoreboard watching and the Orioles' bullpen, plus other notes
After the latest Orioles' win last night over Tampa Bay, Adam Jones said the players do indeed check out the standings sometimes. Right now, it shows them leading the American League East by seven games over the New York Yankees. "We'd be lying if we said we aren't looking," Jones said. "That is just human nature. But we also know that we have to take care of our business. It doesn't matter what the Yankees or Toronto do if we don't take of ours, it all goes for nothing." The series...
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Jones on steal of home, Miller on first O's win and more from the clubhouse

Jones on steal of home, Miller on first O's win and more from the clubhouse
In the first inning tonight the Orioles got two runs - one with power and one with speed. We don't always see the Orioles get a run on the bases, but after a Steve Pearce homer, the O's had Nelson Cruz on first and Adam Jones on third and one out. The Orioles then pulled off a double steal. It led to Jones stealing home, the O's first steal of home since Robert Andino against Atlanta on June 14, 2009. "Just a play we don't use often but we know it's in our little bag of tricks. No...
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Hardy's single in seventh gives Orioles a 5-4 win over Rays

Hardy's single in seventh gives Orioles a 5-4 win over Rays
Sometimes you need a bloop and a blast and sometimes a bloop alone will do. J.J. Hardy's bloop RBI single in the seventh inning drove in the tiebreaking run as the Orioles beat Tampa Bay 5-4. The Orioles win the series, three games to one, and are 76-56 for the season. They gained a game on New York after the Yankees lost this afternoon and now lead the AL East by seven games. Tied 4-4 in the seventh, Nelson Cruz doubled to left with two outs off Kirby Yates. Then Tampa Bay elected to...
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O's game blog: Birds aim for series win in finale

O's game blog: Birds aim for series win in finale
The Orioles need a win tonight against Tampa Bay to extend a four-series winning streak in American League East games. The O's lead this series two wins to one. In fact, the Orioles have lost just one of their last 13 AL East series, winning 10 and tying two others. They are 11-3-2 in division series for the season. The Orioles have gone 32-20 (.615) against the East this season, posting the best in-division winning percentage in the AL and the second-best in the majors. Per STATS, the O's...
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Paredes on his callup and minor league notes on Sisco and Burgess

Paredes on his callup and minor league notes on Sisco and Burgess
Jimmy Paredes was an Oriole for two days in February. He returned to the organization in July and today made it to the major league roster. The 25-year-old switch-hitter, who can play infield and outfield, was called up today from Triple-A Norfolk to take the roster spot of Kevin Gausman, who was officially optioned to the Gulf Coast League after last night's game. Paredes has been with four different organizations since last November: * November 4, 2013: Selected off waivers by the Miami...
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Despite recent struggles, Kevin Gausman needs to stay in the rotation

Despite recent struggles, Kevin Gausman needs to stay in the rotation
Should the Orioles be concerned about Kevin Gausman? Earlier this year, their 2012 first-round draft pick gave up two runs over 13 innings in back-to-back starts against Oakland and Toronto when both were in first place. He pitched the final game before the All-Star break and gave up just one run in a rain-shortened win over the Yankees that left him with 4-2 record and 3.29 ERA. But in eight starts since the break, Gausman is 3-4 with a 4.33 ERA. Opposing batters are hitting .293 against him...
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Gausman says he's not tiring, plus other clubhouse quotes

Gausman says he's not tiring, plus other clubhouse quotes
Kevin Gausman had just a four-inning start tonight, which is tied for the shortest of his big league career. He gave up six hits and three runs as the Orioles lost 3-1 to Tampa Bay. Gausman threw 129 2/3 innings last season, and is at 127 1/3 innings now. It is fair to wonder if he is tiring a bit during a long season. He is 2-3 with a 4.15 ERA in five August starts. "I definitely haven't thrown this many innings," he said. "I think that can take a toll on your body, but physically I feel...
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O's bats quiet in loss against Smyly, Tampa Bay

O's bats quiet in loss against Smyly, Tampa Bay
Since he was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays on July 31, left-hander Drew Smyly had pitched to an ERA of 1.55 over four starts and 0.76 over his last three. The Orioles saw why tonight. Smyly gave up one run and two hits over seven innings as Tampa Bay beat the Orioles 3-1 at Camden Yards. He walked one and fanned six, throwing 87 pitches. Smyly pitched a two-hit shutout on 105 pitches against Toronto in his last start and had allowed just nine hits in 23 2/3 innings in those last three starts...
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O's game blog: Clevenger returns as O's face Smyly tonight

O's game blog: Clevenger returns as O's face Smyly tonight
Catcher Steve Clevenger returned to the Orioles today for his third stint with the club this season. The 28-year-old Baltimore native has batted .305/.366/.389 with two home runs and 30 RBIs in 64 games for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides this season. He hit .240/.296/.373 in 26 games for the Orioles earlier this year. Clevenger said he was surprised by the timing of the call-up, which came a few days before the rosters can be expanded to as many as 40 players. "Yeah, kind of caught me by...
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Darren O'Day is excited about his T-shirt night

Darren O'Day is excited about his T-shirt night
Orioles reliever Darren O'Day is pretty fired up about tonight - and not just for the chance for the Orioles to win another game and get closer to their goal of making the playoffs. It's Darren O'Day T-shirt night at the Yard and all fans that come through the turnstiles will get one. Several Orioles were wearing theirs in the clubhouse before tonight's game. "Pretty excited, I never expected to have a T-shirt night," O'Day said this afternoon. "I'm more excited about this little...
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Andrew Miller may have a ring, but now he wants to actually pitch in the playoffs

Andrew Miller may have a ring, but now he wants to actually pitch in the playoffs
The 2013 Boston Red Sox won the World Series and new Orioles pitcher Andrew Miller helped them get there. He just couldn't pitch when they did make the postseason. On July 6, 2013, Miller went down in a game against the Los Angeles Angels, injuring his left foot on a comebacker to the mound. Surgery was needed to repair ligament damage. His season was over after he went 1-2 with a 2.64 ERA over 30 2/3 innings. Now he is with another team that has designs of going deep into the playoffs. This...
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Joseph, Chen and Schoop's postgame comments after O's top Tampa Bay

Joseph, Chen and Schoop's postgame comments after O's top Tampa Bay
After winning with five home runs last night, the Orioles had just one extra-base hit, a double, tonight. They had to grind out a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. "That is the best way to describe it," said catcher Caleb Joseph, who contributed a two-run single. "You are going to grind these games out. Most AL East games are that way. Coming off last night, we had a great game and you want to repeat it, but the pace of the game kind of slows your excitement down a little bit. "But Wei-Yin...
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Joseph and Schoop combine to drive in three as O's top Tampa Bay

Joseph and Schoop combine to drive in three as O's top Tampa Bay
It was a night where neither starter completed five innings and the game moved along at a snail's pace. But given the opportunity to produce big hits, the bottom of the Orioles lineup took advantage. Caleb Joseph - batting eighth - came up with a clutch two-run single, and Jonathan Schoop - the No. 9 batter - added an RBI hit of his own as the Orioles beat Tampa Bay 4-2 at Camden Yards. With the win, the Orioles get back to 20 games over the .500 mark at 75-55. They have won 14 of their last...
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O's game blog: Orioles are 16-5 in last 21 home games

O's game blog: Orioles are 16-5 in last 21 home games
The Orioles have been playing well at home here at Camden Yards, a trend they look to continue as they host Tampa Bay tonight in the second game of a four-game series and 11-game homestand. Since June 30, the Orioles are 16-5 at home with a 2.66 team ERA after going 19-21 in their first 40 games at the Yard. In their last 21 home games, the Birds have outscored their opponents 105-62. Last night's 9-1 win was the Orioles' 10th in their last 12 series openers, including eight in a row from...
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Another look at some of the Orioles' homer stats

Another look at some of the Orioles' homer stats
After hitting five more homers last night, the Orioles have now hit 168 for the season, which easily leads the majors leagues. Colorado is second with 150, and Toronto and Houston are tied with 144. The big league average right now is 114. The Orioles are on a pace to hit 211 homers. They led the majors with 212 last season. They have seven seasons of 200 or more homers in club history, but have never had three in a row. They will if they reach 200 this season. The Orioles have now hit three...
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After Cubs series, O's still elect to continue season, beat Tampa Bay

After Cubs series, O's still elect to continue season, beat Tampa Bay
Yep, exaggerating to make a point with that headline. I do feel the large, large majority of Orioles fans put the club's series at Wrigley Field in its proper perspective. Maybe the remaining five percent of fans that - yet again - overreacted to a loss or two, can now come back in off the ledge. Baseball teams lose games, even to teams that are not good. They even get swept sometimes. Even by teams that are not good. They even have losing road trips, although it took the Orioles almost...
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Hardy, Tillman and Jones comment after Orioles win over Tampa Bay

Hardy, Tillman and Jones comment after Orioles win over Tampa Bay
For the first time in team history, the Orioles hit back-to-back homers and then added three in a row later in one game tonight. The last time that happened in the majors was June 19, 2012 when Toronto did it at Milwaukee. The Orioles hit five homers tonight in a 9-1 win over Tampa Bay in the opener of an 11-game homestand. "Just one of those things, can't explain it," said J.J. Hardy, who hit one of the five homers. The Orioles scored four runs at Wrigley Field over the weekend and then...
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Homer happy: Orioles bash five homers in 9-1 rout of Rays

Homer happy: Orioles bash five homers in 9-1 rout of Rays
To put tonight's game in perspective, the Orioles scored four runs on 13 hits with two homers in the three-game weekend series at Wrigley Field. Tonight, they scored nine runs on 14 hits with five homers. The Orioles bashed Tampa Bay 9-1 and "bash" is the appropriate word as the longball returned to the offense. Twice tonight the Orioles hit back-to-back homers and the second time they hit three in a row. Tonight marks the first time in club history that the Orioles hit back-to-back homers...
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Manny Machado: "This is the biggest obstacle of my life"

Manny Machado: "This is the biggest obstacle of my life"
Before he flies to Los Angeles tomorrow in advance of his right knee surgery on Wednesday, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado spoke one more time about his decision to have the procedure. "It has to be surgically repaired," he said. "The only way it was going to be fixed was with surgery. Maybe we could have gotten it to the best possible position to perform, but came up short. It wasn't healing right. The knee cap still feels loose, like it's wobbling in there. The only way was to go in...
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O's game blog: Orioles begin 11-game homestand tonight

O's game blog: Orioles begin 11-game homestand tonight
For O's fans concerned after the team got swept at Wrigley Field, here are some numbers to keep in mind. Beginning tonight as the Orioles host Tampa Bay, they will play 21 of their next 27 games at home and they are 15-5 in their last 20 games at Camden Yards. The Orioles will also play 27 of their final 34 regular-season games against the American League East and the club has a 30-19 division record. The chance to come back from a tough weekend looks pretty good. Tampa Bay (64-66) has won...
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