Showalter speaks after 8-2 loss

Showalter speaks after 8-2 loss
Do you want the good or the bad first? Let's start with the good, which would be Manny Machado going 2-for-4 with a triple and run scored in his first major league game. "I thought Manny did well," manager Buck Showalter said following an 8-2 loss to the Royals that halted the Orioles' winning streak at five games. "Presented himself well tonight. I'm proud of him. There was a nice calmness about him and a good start. He handled the situation well, all things considered. "He's up...
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Bad start to Wei-Yin Chen T-shirt Night (Machado 2-for-4)

Bad start to Wei-Yin Chen T-shirt Night (Machado 2-for-4)
Anyone know how to say "do over" in Mandarin Chinese? Wei-Yin Chen threw 26 pitches, served up two home runs, gave up four hits and took a shot off his left knee in the first inning. That's no way to celebrate your own T-shirt night. Or is this Manny Machado Night? I've sort of lost track. Alex Gordon hit his eighth career leadoff home run, and his third this season. Back-to-back singles by Alcides Escobar and Lorenzo Cain - the latter on a ball that scooted past a diving Machado at...
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Showalter: "We'll see what each day brings" (Steve Johnson optioned)

Showalter: "We'll see what each day brings" (Steve Johnson optioned)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't revealing his plans for Manny Machado beyond tonight's game at Camden Yards. The same is true for Wilson Betemit and any other players who could be impacted by Machado's arrival. Machado is batting ninth and playing third base tonight. Whether he starts again tomorrow and is a regular presence in the lineup is assumed, but not confirmed. "We'll see how it goes tonight, see where it takes us," Showalter said. "We have 25 guys here who have...
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Machado at third, batting ninth

Machado at third, batting ninth
Not only is Manny Machado here and soon to be officially added to the roster, but he's making his major league debut tonight against the Royals. Machado is batting ninth and playing third base for the Orioles, who have yet to announce the corresponding roster move. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Lew Ford LF Mark Reynolds 1B Chris Davis DH Robert Andino 2B Manny Machado 3B Wei-Yin Chen LHP
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More on Manny Machado in the majors (plus his uniform number)

More on Manny Machado in the majors (plus his uniform number)
The Orioles are facing a left-handed starter tonight, with the Royals sending Will Smith to the mound. Manny Machado could be in the starting lineup at third base. Is he ready? I've been asked that question over and over, on the blog and via Twitter, since the Orioles announced late last night that Machado's contract was being selected from Double-A Bowie. There's only one way to find out - and I don't mean by using my crystal ball. The kid has to play. "One thing about Manny is he's a...
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Orioles selecting Manny Machado's contract (updated)

Orioles selecting Manny Machado's contract (updated)
The Orioles just announced that they're going to select the contract of Double-A Bowie shortstop Manny Machado before tomorrow night's game against the Royals at Camden Yards. How's that for a surprise? The Orioles stated in the press release that Machado, the third-overall pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, will be making his major league debut. However, he won't necessarily start tomorrow. And he's not going to unseat J.J. Hardy at shortstop. Machado, 20, is batting...
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Showalter and Wieters talk about Johnson's first major league win

Showalter and Wieters talk about Johnson's first major league win
Manager Buck Showalter didn't give any assurances that Steve Johnson will remain in the Orioles' rotation. You will have to read between the lines. "Let us get through (tonight)," Showalter said. "We've got a lot of moving parts right now. He certainly presented himself well tonight." You decide. "Stevie was good, huh?" Showalter said. "That was fun to watch. I tried to watch it as a manager trying to win a game, but also a fan of those type of situations." Showalter went to his...
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Steve Johnson talks about his big night

Steve Johnson talks about his big night
As Steve Johnson walked off the mound tonight after the top of the sixth inning, he had no idea whether he would come back out for the seventh. Manager Buck Showalter considered it - the sentimental side nudging at him - but he didn't want Johnson having another "up" and reliever Troy Patton perhaps entering an inning that wasn't clean. The night was a huge success anyway. No need to add to it. Johnson picked up his first major league win exactly 23 years after his father, Dave, did the...
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Wieters wielding a hot bat

Wieters wielding a hot bat
Matt Wieters caught 14 innings last night. In the heat. In August. His body is screaming for rest, but not tonight. Not with Steve Johnson making his first major league start. Wieters called the pitches for Johnson and made certain that the rookie would have lots of run support, too. He's 2-for-4 with two doubles and five RBIs, as the Orioles have taken a 9-2 lead over the Mariners at Camden Yards. In the last two nights, Wieters is 5-for-10 with three doubles, two home runs and seven RBIs....
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Steve Johnson striking a pose in the first inning (O's lead 7-2)

Steve Johnson striking a pose in the first inning (O's lead 7-2)
Steve Johnson threw 12 pitches in the top of the first inning tonight, all of them for strikes. He struck out the first two Mariners, gave up a soft single on an 0-2 pitch and struck out the cleanup hitter. Who is the last Orioles pitcher to strike out the side in the first inning in his first major league start? Get Elias on the phone. Johnson disposed of Dustin Ackley and Michael Saunders on six pitches. Jesus Montero looped a single into right field, just in front of a charging Nick...
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Did you know...?

Did you know...?
The Orioles are 64-36 against the Mariners at Camden Yards since it opened in 1992. The Orioles are on pace to win 87 games in Buck Showalter's second full season as manager, which would be an 18-game improvement over last year's 69-93 record. In 2004, Showalter's second full year in Texas, he led the Rangers to an 18-game improvement and was named the American League's Manager of the Year. Showalter led the Diamondbacks to a 35-game improvement in his second year in Arizona in 1999. The...
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Updates on Hunter, Flaherty, Hammel and Thome

Updates on Hunter, Flaherty, Hammel and Thome
Tommy Hunter is expected to start on Sunday against the Royals, taking Zach Britton's spot in the rotation, unless he's needed in relief tonight. Manager Buck Showalter said the Orioles may have kept Britton on the 25-man roster if last night's game hadn't gone into extra innings. Once it crept into the 14th, they needed to send him down and bring up Steve Johnson to start tonight and Miguel Socolovich to add depth to the bullpen. Ryan Flaherty actually was sent home before the last two...
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Flaherty on disabled list, Socolovich recalled (with Mariners lineup)

Flaherty on disabled list, Socolovich recalled (with Mariners lineup)
The Orioles have placed infielder Ryan Flaherty on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to August 2, with a bacterial infection and recalled reliever Miguel Socolovich from Triple-A Norfolk. Flaherty left the ballpark before last night's game with a 103-degree fever. He was getting blood work done today to determine whether he had mononucleosis. Socolovich has posted a 9.00 ERA in seven innings over four appearances with the Orioles this season. Also, Matt Wieters is behind the plate again...
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Flaherty's season takes another strange turn

Flaherty's season takes another strange turn
Ryan Flaherty sat at his locker yesterday afternoon, a smile on his face, and talked to a small group of reporters about his favorite NFL team (he's from Maine, so cut him some slack) and how much he looks forward to Sundays in the fall. He asked about the Ravens, another team he roots for, and we agreed that their rivalry with the Steelers is the best in football. It was a nice, relaxed chat, different from the usual baseball talk or quick exchange of pleasantries, before the clubhouse...
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Random quotes following 8-7, 14-inning win

Random quotes following 8-7, 14-inning win
The Orioles are 5-0 in games that last 13 innings or more, which borders on the ridiculous. Asked if he's ever seen anything like this, manager Buck Showalter replied, "I'd have to look back through it. I'm a pretty old guy. I doubt it. "You know, it's not a team that's sitting there going, 'Woe is me. Let's get this over.' They grind it. They put in so much effort. Like a basketball team. It takes so much intensity to get back into that game that sometimes it's tough to get over...
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Britton optioned, Steve Johnson starting tomorrow, Flaherty could go on DL

Britton optioned, Steve Johnson starting tomorrow, Flaherty could go on DL
The Orioles' 14-inning win tonight was followed by a flurry of roster activity. Left-hander Zach Britton was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after the game. Britton is 1-1 with an 8.10 ERA in five starts for the Orioles this season. Steve Johnson will be recalled from Norfolk and make his first major league start tomorrow night against the Mariners. Tommy Hunter, who was scheduled to start and warmed up in the 14th, will be available in relief. Also, infielder Ryan Flaherty left the ballpark...
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Forgettable nights for Britton and Arrieta (another extra-inning win)

Forgettable nights for Britton and Arrieta (another extra-inning win)
Zach Britton and Jake Arrieta left their respective games tonight almost at the exact same time. Neither one was feeling good about the results. Britton retired nine of 10 batters before Casper Wells tripled to lead off the sixth and scored on Mike Carp's single. Left fielder Nate McLouth initially was charged with an error after falling and letting the ball roll past him, but Wells is now credited with a three-bagger. Kevin Gregg replaced Britton, and Carp eventually scored after Wilson...
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Bad breaks for Britton in the first inning (O's trail 5-2)

Bad breaks for Britton in the first inning (O's trail 5-2)
If you view the glass as half full, Zach Britton didn't allow an earned run in the first inning. If you view it as half empty, the Orioles are losing, 3-0. The Orioles must have been using a dribble glass. Britton committed an error when he failed to pick up leadoff hitter Dustin Ackley's weak ground ball in front of the mound. He struck out the next two batters before Jesus Montero reached on an infield hit on a sharp ground ball that deflected off third baseman Wilson Betemit's glove....
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Chavez could stay in organization

Chavez could stay in organization
The Orioles may not be parting ways with veteran outfielder Endy Chavez. Discussions are taking place that could allow the Orioles to keep Chavez in the organization. He would have to accept an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk if he clears waivers and isn't traded. Chavez apparently is open to the idea of resuming his career in the minors and perhaps being a September call-up. And the Orioles would like to have him around if it can be worked out. "They brought it up to me today, some things...
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Orioles and Mariners lineups

Orioles and Mariners lineups
Manager Buck Showalter is going back to his left-handed lineup tonight, with Wilson Betemit at third base and Nate McLouth in left field. Omar Quintanilla gets another start at second base, while Ryan Flaherty takes another seat on the bench. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J.Hardy SS Chris Davis DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Nate McLouth LF Mark Reynolds 1B Omar Quintanilla 2B Zach Britton LHP For the Mariners: Dustin Ackley 2B Trayvon Robinson LF Michael...
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