About last night and the Orioles' past ...

About last night and the Orioles' past ...
Biggest win of the season? That's the debate after the Orioles gave up five runs in the top of the eighth inning last night to blow a 6-1 lead and proceeded to hit three home runs in the bottom half to send a sellout crowd into a frenzy and avoid falling two games back in the American League East. I've been saying that the 17-inning win in Boston was the best game of the season. You can make a solid argument that last night's victory topped it because it's September and the Orioles pulled...
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Showalter speaks after 10-6 win

Showalter speaks after 10-6 win
Manager Buck Showalter spoke to reporters for over 11 minutes following tonight's 10-6 victory, which pulled the Orioles into a first-place tie with the Yankees in the American League East. He wasn't particularly chatty. It's just that the Orioles are suddenly a national story. The interview room was packed. A cameraman asked a question. Maybe Showalter is right about how there are no roles around here. Here are some of the highlights from Showalter's press conference: On the mood in...
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Hammel hit but not hurt (Jones, Reynolds, Davis homer, O's win 10-6)

Hammel hit but not hurt (Jones, Reynolds, Davis homer, O's win 10-6)
Jason Hammel took a Robinson Cano line drive off his right elbow in the top of the fourth inning, bringing the sounds of silence from a sellout crowd, along with manager Buck Showalter and assistant athletic trainer Brian Ebel from the dugout. As if the Orioles need another starter to go down with an injury. The ball caromed off Hammel's elbow and rolled into left field. Hammel shook his arm and paced behind the mound before Showalter and Ebel reached him. Hammel squeezed Ebel's hand and...
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Showalter remembers his playing days against Ripken (O's erupt in 1st)

Showalter remembers his playing days against Ripken (O's erupt in 1st)
"Being an Oriole is also about playing meaningful games in September." - Cal Ripken Jr. "The Streak didn't define Junior. Junior defined what The Streak was about." - Billy Ripken Outstanding ceremony for Cal Ripken Jr. earlier today, as his statue - depicting him fielding - was unveiled in the old picnic area. Current Orioles in attendance included Adam Jones, Mark Reynolds, J.J. Hardy and Nick Markakis. Manager Buck Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette also were...
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Arrieta and injury updates, Yankees lineup

Arrieta and injury updates, Yankees lineup
Though Jake Arrieta is here, he won't officially be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk until Friday. He wouldn't be available to pitch tonight anyway. Manager Buck Showalter said again today that Arrieta is a candidate to pitch in relief or to start. Chris Tillman is being examined today by team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens. He could be cleared to play catch today or Friday. Tillman said his right elbow feels good, but he could be skipped a full turn in the rotation. Troy Patton will test...
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Orioles lineup against Yankees (Arrieta in clubhouse)

Orioles lineup against Yankees (Arrieta in clubhouse)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter is giving Robert Andino another start at second base against a right-hander, the Yankees' David Phelps. The rest of the lineup is predictable. Nate McLouth's in left field and batting third again, Mark Reynolds is at first base and Chris Davis is the designated hitter. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Nate McLouth LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Chris Davis DH Manny Machado 3B Robert Andino 2B Jason Hammel RHP Update:...
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Ripken talks about Machado at third base (Angelos' statement on Modell)

Ripken talks about Machado at third base (Angelos' statement on Modell)
The Orioles almost made it through another game last night without committing an error. They were clean for six innings before Adam Jones skipped a throw past Manny Machado in the seventh that allowed Anthony Gose to score. Who knew that the defense would become ... I won't say a "strength," but a contributing factor in the Orioles' surge? In the past 11 games before last night, the Orioles had posted a .990 fielding percentage that led the American League. They've now committed only...
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Tillman not included in Yankees series (O's lose 6-4)

Tillman not included in Yankees series (O's lose 6-4)
The Orioles announced their rotation for the Yankees series that begins Thursday night, and Chris Tillman isn't in it. Tillman could have pitched Friday night on regular rest or Saturday night as part of a six-man rotation, but he's being pushed back after being diagnosed yesterday with an inflamed nerve in his right elbow. Jason Hammel will be activated from the disabled list and take the ball on Thursday, his first start since July 13. He will oppose David Phelps, who walked six batters...
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Pregame notes and Blue Jays lineup (and O's lineup)

Pregame notes and Blue Jays lineup (and O's lineup)
The Orioles' PR department provided some interesting nuggets, including the following: So far on the 4-1 road trip, the Orioles are batting .311 and have posted a 1.43 ERA (1.50 for the starters, 1.29 for the bullpen). A win tonight would mark the Orioles' first three-game sweep at Rogers Centre since April 22-24, 2005. The Orioles are 24-19 in series finales in 2012, including an 11-10 mark on the road. The Orioles have held the Blue Jays to three and four hits in the first two games of...
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Ripken on the Orioles and Thursday's ceremony

Ripken on the Orioles and Thursday's ceremony
With the Orioles having at least a share of first place in September for the first time since 1997, it seems appropriate that Cal Ripken Jr. will be at Camden Yards twice in the next four days. Ripken will be on hand Thursday for the unveiling of his statue in the picnic area and for the on-field ceremony that follows. And he'll be in the TBS broadcast booth on Sunday, making his debut providing analysis with former Braves pitcher John Smoltz. They'll talk about the playoff race, and the...
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Only the smart fans saw it coming

Only the smart fans saw it coming
Not only did the smart fans predict back in March that the Orioles would be tied for first place on Sept. 5, they also knew that Miguel Gonzalez would be on the mound tonight with a chance to give them sole possession. They followed his progress in the Mexican League and his recovery from injuries that robbed him of two full seasons of pro ball. Oh, they knew. They knew that Nate McLouth, released by the Pirates after batting .140 in 34 games, would be hitting .255 with the Orioles and...
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Reynolds stays hot (O's win 12-0, move into first-place tie)

Reynolds stays hot (O's win 12-0, move into first-place tie)
Mark Reynolds must really, really want the Orioles to pick up that $11 million option for next season. Reynolds clubbed a three-run homer in the top of the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. If you're scoring at home, that's five homers in five days for Reynolds, and nine since Aug. 8. He's sizzling. Blue Jays starter Carlos Villanueva had allowed one hit in four innings before Adam Jones led off the fifth with a double. Chris Davis walked with...
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Tillman's MRI doesn't show structural damage (minor leaguer suspended)

Tillman's MRI doesn't show structural damage (minor leaguer suspended)
The Orioles received some good news this afternoon regarding pitcher Chris Tillman. A team official confirmed that the MRI on Tillman's right elbow revealed some inflammation in a nerve, but no structural damage. Manager Buck Showalter passed along the news to reporters in Toronto, and the interview will air on "O's Xtra," which begins at 6:30 p.m. on MASN2 HD. Tillman will work out with Double-A Bowie, which begins the Eastern League playoffs Wednesday night. He could make his next...
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Orioles and Blue Jays lineups and notes (updated)

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups and notes (updated)
Nick Markakis remains in the Orioles' lineup tonight after being drilled in the left arm by a pitch yesterday. Adam Jones stays in center field despite appearing to twist his ankle in that same game. Robert Andino makes another start at second base. The Orioles haven't announced that they've recalled left-hander Zach Britton, but he's on the mound tonight. UPDATE: They just announced it. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Nate McLouth LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C...
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On the brink of first place

On the brink of first place
First place in September? The Orioles could claim a share of it tonight. A win over the Blue Jays, coupled with a Yankees loss at Tropicana Field, would create a first-place tie in the American League East. And it wouldn't involve the Rays or Red Sox. It would be the team widely predicted to lose 100 games this season. The Orioles have won eight of their last 10 games and 14 of 20. And they're no longer bullied in their own division. They improved yesterday to 29-21 against the AL...
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Quick Tillman update and more on Phillips (O's win 4-0)

Quick Tillman update and more on Phillips (O's win 4-0)
The Orioles are in the process of scheduling an MRI for Chris Tillman, who left yesterday's start at Yankee Stadium after three innings because of an "achy" and "dead" feeling in his right elbow. With today's holiday, it's more likely that Tillman will undergo the MRI on Tuesday morning at the earliest. Tillman retired the last four batters he faced yesterday and left with the Orioles trailing 2-0. He was 6-1 with a 3.67 ERA and five quality starts in his last eight outings. The...
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Machado moves up to sixth today (Berken designated for assignment)

Machado moves up to sixth today (Berken designated for assignment)
Manny Machado is batting sixth today for the first time in his major league career. Machado has hit seventh, eighth and ninth, but he's moving up against Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ. He went 6-for-12 in the Yankees series. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Manny Machado 3B Nate McLouth LF Lew Ford DH Robert Andino 2B Joe Saunders LHP For the Blue Jays: Rajai Davis LF Colby Rasmus CF Edwin Encarnacion 1B Adam Lind...
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Orioles pass another test (Gonzalez starting Wednesday)

Orioles pass another test (Gonzalez starting Wednesday)
I really wish that I had kept track of my road record this season, because it's got to be impressive. I'd go back and count up the games, but that would require doing math and, well, I was told there wouldn't be any math. Yesterday was gut-check time in the Bronx. It also was a game that measures a team's heart, its resiliency, its bounce-back ability. The Orioles had coughed up a two-run lead in the seventh inning Saturday, knocking the wind out of them while simultaneously breathing...
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Reynolds continues to leave his mark

Reynolds continues to leave his mark
NEW YORK - Just another multi-homer game for Mark Reynolds today. Nothing to see here. Actually, there's been plenty. As I wrote earlier, he's batting .320 with five doubles, eight homers and 17 RBIs in his last 23 games. Reynolds homered off Phil Hughes in the fifth and sixth innings, his second shot driving in three runs and giving the Orioles a 5-3 lead. "The first one, I think it was a 2-2 fastball," he said. "He was trying to go away with it like he did in my first at-bat and...
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Hearing from Showalter and Wolf after 8-3 win

Hearing from Showalter and Wolf after 8-3 win
NEW YORK - Let's first get the fun facts out of the way. The Orioles improved to 37-29 on the road, 28-21 vs. the American League East, 25-13 in day games and 11-5 in the rubber game of a series. The six road wins in the Bronx are the most since they went 8-1 at the original Yankee Stadium in 1976. Mark Reynolds became only the second Orioles player with more than one multi-homer game in a series against the Yankees, joining Doug DeCinces, who hit two on May 25 and 27, 1981 at Memorial...
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