O's with some missed chances early against Verlander (updated)

O's with some missed chances early against Verlander (updated)
The Orioles sure missed some scoring chances in the first three innings tonight against Justin Verlander. The game was tied 1-1 heading to the bottom of the third but the O's left five runners on base over the first three innings. Nick Markakis doubled in the first but later was thrown out at home on a play where it looked like he was safe but the call was out at the plate. Chris Davis walked and stole second in the second, but was stranded there. In the third, the Orioles tied the game 1-1...
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A look at some recent improved Orioles pitching

A look at some recent improved Orioles pitching
Don't look now, but the Orioles' pitching has taken a turn for the better. This stat may have snuck up quietly on us, but over the 13 games since Aug. 3, the O's team ERA is 2.58. They just gave up 10 runs to Boston in a three-game series and six of those came last night. The Sox are third in the AL in runs and average 4.9 per game. The 13-game run, during which the Orioles are 9-4, has lowered their team ERA on the year from 4.25 to 4.06. That now ranks eighth in the AL. A similar...
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Could a big finish to 2012 put Mark Reynolds into the Orioles' plans for 2013?

Could a big finish to 2012 put Mark Reynolds into the Orioles' plans for 2013?
For most of the 2012 season, one that has mostly not been a good one for him, the assumption has been that Mark Reynolds would likely not return to the Orioles for the 2013 season. But after Reynolds' recent hot streak at the plate, is there a chance that could change? Can Reynolds still play his way into the Orioles' plans for next season? The Orioles hold a team option on his contract, but it would cost them $11 million for next year and that seems very unlikely to get picked up. But if...
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The O's battle Buchholz as they shoot for an 8-2 homestand

The O's battle Buchholz as they shoot for an 8-2 homestand
Tonight's Red Sox starter, Clay Buchholz, has three career shutouts, and all three have come against the Orioles. What are the odds? Not only that, but some fans will remember that Buchholz pitched a no-hitter against the Orioles in just his second major league game on September 1, 2007. In his career, the right-hander is 6-3 with a 3.67 ERA vs. the Orioles. But, over his last eight starts against them, he is 4-1 with a 2.56 ERA. Buchholz has already faced the Orioles three times this year,...
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The Orioles now lead the AL in one- and two-run win percentage

The Orioles now lead the AL in one- and two-run win percentage
Orioles manager Buck Showalter is usually more than willing to give you a thoughtful answer to just about any question a reporter might ask during his pregame media session every day. But I found a question that didn't thrill him today. It was when I blurted out, "Hey Buck, what is the key to the Orioles success in the close games?" "I'm not going to jinx that," he said. But after winning 5-3 over Boston last night, the Orioles now lead the AL in winning percentage in both one- and...
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Steve Johnson is ready for his next chance, whenever it comes

Steve Johnson is ready for his next chance, whenever it comes
Orioles pitcher Steve Johnson is now listed as the O's starter for Saturday night's game at Detroit. If he is not needed in relief tonight, the Baltimore native will make that start and be back on the mound for, at that point, what would be the first time in 10 days. The last several days have been a whirlwind for the 24-year-old right-hander. He made his first Orioles start here on August 8 and got the win against Seattle, giving up two runs and five hits over six innings. The next day he...
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Dan Duquette on O's pitching philosophy: "We don't like the cutter"

Dan Duquette on O's pitching philosophy: "We don't like the cutter"
In an interview with Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette on Wednesday at Camden Yards, Duquette made it clear he is not a fan of young pitchers throwing cut fastballs. The Orioles have forbid their top pitching prospect, Dylan Bundy, from throwing his cutter this year and based on Duquette's comments yesterday, that policy may not be changing anytime soon. "The philosophy of the organization is to encourage pitchers to develop a good delivery, command of...
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Sox error opened door and O's kicked it in for 5-3 victory

Sox error opened door and O's kicked it in for 5-3 victory
One mark of a good team is to have a big innning when your opponent makes a critical mistake. Tonight, a key error by Boston opened the door for the Orioles and they kicked it in by scoring five times in bottom of the sixth in a 5-3 win over Boston. The win gives the Orioles a record of 64-53 and they are 11 games over .500 for the first time since June 18 when they were 39-28. The Orioles have now won five of the last six series against Boston and are 8-3 this year against the Red Sox. They...
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Miguel Gonzalez is pitching against his former organization tonight

Miguel Gonzalez is pitching against his former organization tonight
I wonder if Miguel Gonzalez will have some extra motivation for tonight's game. He'll be pitching against his previous organization, Boston, tonight. It's not that the Red Sox let him go, though. In fact, they signed him away from the Angels as a Rule 5 pick in December of 2008. Then he needed Tommy John surgery and spent the entire 2009 season on their major league roster without pitching an inning. Last year, Gonzalez pitched at three levels on the Red Sox farm, with most of his innings...
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J.J. Hardy talks about Manny Machado's defense at third

J.J. Hardy talks about Manny Machado's defense at third
There are few players more qualified to talk about defense than Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy. He's a good guy to go to for an early assessment of how Manny Machado is doing at third base as the guy that plays right next to him on the field. "He has made some nice plays and he's made the routine plays," Hardy said. "He looks comfortable. I think sometimes the guys will come up and can look like a deer in headlights, but he's always aware of what is going on. Always, you know, checking...
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Thome on Bundy: "He looks like a great pitcher"

Thome on Bundy: "He looks like a great pitcher"
Jim Thome was in Bowie last night. Not to play on an injury-rehab assignment but to watch a top prospect play. He was sent to watch Dylan Bundy make his Double-A debut and left impressed with the 19-year-old right-hander. "His physical appearance - his arm, you know," Thome said about Bundy. "I'm not going to tell you everything (I liked about him), but he's got so much upside to him. He might be one of the best young pitchers I've seen in quite a while. "He looks like a great pitcher....
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A look at the Orioles' winning ways against Boston

A look at the Orioles' winning ways against Boston
There once was a time when the Orioles lost to the Red Sox - a lot. Things are different now. A win by the Orioles in one of the next two games would give them the series win in five of the last six series against Boston. The Orioles lead the season series this year 7-3 and have won 10 of their last 14, and 13 of the last 17 games versus the Red Sox. That is a 13-4 run against the same club that the Orioles went 2-16 against in 2009. It's a new day, indeed. There are eight games left in the...
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Dylan Bundy talks about his first start at Bowie

Dylan Bundy talks about his first start at Bowie
BOWIE, Md. - After his first start at Double-A Bowie, right-hander Dylan Bundy was generally pleased with his outing. But in answering the first question about his night, Bundy noted the one area on the stat sheet that he wasn't pleased with. "Three walks," Bundy said. "You know I'm disappointed about that, I always am. Other than that, they weren't squaring too many balls up. I think they had two or three doubles, but I made quality pitches pretty much when I needed to with guys on...
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Dylan Bundy gets the win in his Double-A debut for Bowie

Dylan Bundy gets the win in his Double-A debut for Bowie
BOWIE, Md. - On his first day in the Eastern League, Dylan Bundy didn't have his best command, but he was good enough to get the win as he moved to his third minor league level this year in Bowie's 5-3 win over Erie in Game 1 of a doubleheader. Bundy pitched 5 1/3 innings allowing five hits and three runs (two earned) with three walks and three strikeouts. He threw 96 pitches, 56 for strikes in his Double-A debut. Bundy retired the first six batters before allowing a leadoff double in the...
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Live blog from Dylan Bundy's first start at Bowie (Baysox win 5-3)

Live blog from Dylan Bundy's first start at Bowie (Baysox win 5-3)
BOWIE, Md. - This is your destination tonight for all the news and notes of Dylan Bundy's first Double-A start. I will keep this blog live during tonight's Bowie-Erie game, updating it often as Bundy pitches, coming up at 6:05 p.m. in his first Bowie start. Bundy is 7-3 with an ERA of 1.92 this year over 19 starts between Single-A Delmarva and Single-A Frederick. He began this season with 33 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run before that ended in his first Frederick...
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Gary Kendall on Bundy and Machado

Gary Kendall on Bundy and Machado
BOWIE, Md. - Yes, there is a little excitement at Prince George's Stadium as Dylan Bundy gets set to make his Double-A debut at 6 o'clock in Game 1 of a doubleheader. Bowie's Gary Kendall has never managed Bundy but he saw him in spring training in Sarasota. He was impressed with what he saw. "How focused he was," Kendall said. "There is urgency with him. He wants to move up as quick as he can. Not to say that isn't in every kid, but you see it in him more. You see really good work...
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Dylan Bundy set to stay on a six-day pitching schedule with the Baysox

Dylan Bundy set to stay on a six-day pitching schedule with the Baysox
BOWIE, Md. - Dylan Bundy will make his Double-A debut at Prince George's Stadium for the Bowie Baysox tonight, starting in game one of a doubleheader with Erie at 6:05 p.m. It will mark the third level the 19-year-old has pitched at this year, following his time with Single-A Delmarva and Single-A Frederick. They play seven-inning games in minor league doubleheaders so Bundy possibly could pitch a complete game as he will be working with a pitch count of around 100 tonight. Bundy's pitch...
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Taking a closer look at the quirky side of Kevin Gausman

Taking a closer look at the quirky side of Kevin Gausman
Goofy. Quirky. Superstitious. Those are some of the words that can be used to describe the Orioles' first-round draft pick, former LSU pitcher Kevin Gausman, who has pitched six shutout innings on one hit over two outings so far for short-season Single-A Aberdeen. Gausman doesn't seem eccentric or weird, he's just got some things he does that are a little different - from the ritual he uses to put on his socks when he pitches to eating donuts during games to what he does with his first...
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Gary Allenson on Aberdeen's All-Stars

Gary Allenson on Aberdeen's All-Stars
Three members of the short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds will play in tomorrow's New York-Penn League All-Star game at Mahoning Valley in Niles, Ohio. All three were drafted this year from the college ranks. They are 10th-round pick Joel Hutter, Aberdeen's shortstop out of Dallas Baptist University; 18th-round pick Sam Kimmel, a catcher from Stetson; and 26th-round pick Lucas Herbst, a right fielder from Santa Clara. The 22-year-old Hutter is batting .306 with no homers, 23 RBIs and an...
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These are good times for Orioles fans

These are good times for Orioles fans
Here is a question for you Orioles fans: How are you dealing with all this good news? Let's see, the team is currently the holder of the second AL wild card, Manny Machado seems to set a new record daily, Dylan Bundy is moving to Double-A and Baltimore still could be in his near future, and now the club's latest first-round pick, Kevin Gausman, looks like the real deal. I ask that question somewhat tongue in cheek. I know you'll find a way to deal with a lot of good news if it keeps coming...
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