Not this time: Orioles bullpen holds lead as O's top Nats 2-1

Not this time: Orioles bullpen holds lead as O's top Nats 2-1
This time, the Orioles' bullpen did not give up the lead. And, after giving up 17 runs in Friday's loss, the Orioles beat the Nationals today 2-1 at Camden Yards in front of 33,626 to come back and win this series, two games to one. The game ended on a strike-'em-out, throw-'em-out double play as Matt Wieters caught pinch runner Brian Bixler trying to steal. After Chris Tillman gave up just one run and six hits over five innings, the 'pen combined to pitch four shutout innings and...
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A quick note or two about the Orioles' offense

A quick note or two about the Orioles' offense
Somewhat lost in the two pitching debacles of Thursday and Friday, where the Orioles allowed 30 runs over two games, is that the offense continues to make a slow, but steady resurgence. In the first two games of the series versus the Nats, the Orioles had 26 hits, batted .351, scored 13 runs and went 8-for-21 with runners in scoring position. Over the Orioles last 11 games, the team batting average is .298, raising the mark on the season from .233 to its current .251. Here is how some...
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Ryan Adams looks back on his first night in the major leagues

Ryan Adams looks back on his first night in the major leagues
Now that he is on his third day in the big leagues, Ryan Adams is getting more and more comfortable being in a big league clubhouse. He made his major league debut Friday night, batting ninth at second base and got his first hit, going 1-for-4 against Washington. He has been hearing from a lot of family and friends since his call-up from Triple-A Norfolk, but he said today it took a while for some of those messages to get to him. "When I was in Lehigh Valley, before we went to Syracuse, my...
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There is no reason for the Orioles to bring Brian Matusz back too soon

There is no reason for the Orioles to bring Brian Matusz back too soon
I watched Brian Matusz pitch six shutout innings on just 70 pitches last night for Double-A Bowie against Erie at Prince George's Stadium. I am sure most Orioles fans can't wait to see Matusz back on the mound and producing those kind of results for the big league club. He has been out all year with a strained intercostal muscle. But even with two rehab starts under his belt, in which he has allowed just five hits and one run over ten innings between Frederick and Bowie, I think the smart...
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Matusz talks about his six shutout innings tonight at Bowie

Matusz talks about his six shutout innings tonight at Bowie
BOWIE, Md. - Brian Matusz has completed his work tonight at Double-A Bowie and left with a three-hit shutout and 2-0 lead after six innings and 70 pitches. Matusz gave up a bunt single in the second, a double in the fourth and an infield single in the sixth. Only three runners reached second base against him and two of those did that with stolen bases. He will meet with Buck Showalter and pitching coach Mark Connor tomorrow at Camden Yards to determine whether his next start will be in the...
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Matusz departs after six shutout innings at Bowie

Matusz departs after six shutout innings at Bowie
BOWIE, Md. - Brian Matusz is still working on a shutout tonight at Prince George's Stadium. He just pitched around a one-out error and stolen base to blank Erie in the fifth and is leading 1-0. Matusz got a popout to start the fifth and then No. 7 hitter Andy Ciriaco reached on an error charged to third baseman Carlos Rojas. But Matusz got a strikeout and soft line drive out to end the inning. Through five, he has allowed just two hits and one walk with one strikeout. Only one runner has...
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Matusz with three scoreless for Bowie (another zero in fourth)

Matusz with three scoreless for Bowie (another zero in fourth)
BOWIE, Md. - Brian Matusz has pitched three shutout innings for Double-A Bowie against Erie tonight in his second injury rehab start. He has allowed just one hit and one walk so far. After a 1-2-3 first inning and a quick second where he gave up just a bunt single, Matusz got a double play ball to help him move quickly through the third inning. He issued a leadoff, five-pitch walk and then got No. 9 hitter Shawn Roof to hit into a 5-4-3 double play. Four pitches later, a groundout ended the...
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Very quick first for Matusz at Bowie (updated with second inning)

Very quick first for Matusz at Bowie (updated with second inning)
BOWIE. Md. - Wearing a white No. 10 Bowie Baysox jersey, Brian Matusz retired Erie leadoff hitter Jamie Johnson on a flyout to center on his second pitch. That got his second injury rehab start under way. He pitched a 1-2-3 first inning on just five pitches, all strikes. He retired the No. 2 hitter on a pop to shallow left on the first pitch and got No. 3 hitter Rawley Bishop to ground out on an 0-1 count. That was fast. The Baysox are coming to bat in the last of the first here at Prince...
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Baysox lineup for Matusz's start

Baysox lineup for Matusz's start
BOWIE, Md. - Here is tonight's lineup for the Double-A Bowie Baysox as they take on the Erie SeaWovles at 6:35 p.m. here at Prince George's Stadium. Brian Matusz is pitching tonight for Bowie, making his second rehab start. Matusz pitched four innings, allowing two hits and one run, Monday with Single-A Frederick. Matusz threw 60 pitches, 37 for strikes in that outing with Frederick and is expected to throw around 75-80 pitches tonight. Check back here tonight often for updates on the game...
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The Orioles haven't won since Monday's mess at Fenway

The Orioles haven't won since Monday's mess at Fenway
It was less than a week ago. Last Sunday, the Orioles blew out the first-place Rays on the road 9-3. At that point, they had won five of six games and were just a game under .500, at 19-20. They took that momentum to Fenway Park and led Boston 6-0 in the sixth inning the next night. But they blew that game. The Orioles haven't won since. After a Tuesday rainout, they lost in 15 innings to the Yankees on Wednesday and wasted Zach Britton's great pitching. Now they have given up 30 runs over...
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A tough time for a good guy

A tough time for a good guy
Sometimes when you get to talk to the Orioles players as much as we do, you find out there are some good guys in that clubhouse. Guys any fan would want to root for. Jason Berken is one of those guys. Right now he is having a tough time getting people out and it got worse for him in the loss to the Nats when he gave up six runs and two homers in one inning. Berken has allowed 14 earned runs over his last 8 2/3 innings. He was sent to the minor leagues after Friday's loss to...
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A take on Adam Jones batting second

A take on Adam Jones batting second
I don't think he did it to tick off those that revel in stats, but manager Buck Showalter is batting Adam Jones second tonight for the second time this year. Jones came up with a solid single in the first tonight off Jason Marquis and then grounded out in the third. He is now 3-for-7 on the year when batting in that spot. Is that what they mean by small sample size? Yes, that is incredibly small. But I like Jones batting second and probably mentioned that two, 20 or a hundred times this...
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With his bat starting to heat up, Reimold returns to the Orioles

With his bat starting to heat up, Reimold returns to the Orioles
Manager Buck Showalter said one reason Nolan Reimold is returning to the Orioles is because he was swinging better the last few games with Triple-A Norfolk. Reimold agreed with that assessment. "I feel good right now, physically I feel great," Reimold said. "I have been more comfortable at the plate the last week or so. It's a good time to come up." Reimold had hit safely in his last four Triple-A games, going 6-for-16 with a double, two homers and four RBIs. Overall, he was batting...
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Ryan Adams talks about making his major league debut tonight

Ryan Adams talks about making his major league debut tonight
Ryan Adams started at second base last night for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides in Syracuse. He didn't know then that after the game he would be told he was coming to Baltimore to make his major league debut. Tonight, Adams will bat ninth and play second for the Orioles here at Camden Yards. He will make his big league debut after 458 minor league games in the O's organization. "I had no idea (I'd get called up)," Adams said. "I'd just been focusing on playing hard and taking care of what...
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Can O's starting pitching get back on a roll this weekend?

Can O's starting pitching get back on a roll this weekend?
After their great run of starting pitching was derailed last night against New York, we will find out if the Orioles can get back on the wagon this weekend against Washington, which has struggled offensively. Before last night, Orioles' starters had pitched to an ERA of 1.29 over the previous eight games. But Brad Bergesen gave up eight runs, all earned, in just 3 1/3 innings against the Yankees. In fact, during the eight-game run, O's starters had given up just eight earned runs total over...
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From Bluefield to Baltimore, Ryan Adams gets set for his major league debut

From Bluefield to Baltimore, Ryan Adams gets set for his major league debut
As the Orioles welcome Nolan Reimold and Ryan Adams to the roster today, it has to be exciting for Reimold to return to the major leagues and for Adams to make it to the show for the first time. Adams' long road through the Orioles' minors began when they drafted him out of a Louisiana high school in the second round in 2006. Since then, he has played for six O's farm clubs over six seasons, making it from Rookie League Bluefield to Triple-A Norfolk this year and now Baltimore. The...
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The numbers tell the tale against the Yankees

The numbers tell the tale against the Yankees
So the Orioles lost big tonight versus New York by a score of 13-2. They fall to 0-6 on the year against the Yankees and have been outscored 51-18 in those games. The Orioles are 7-6 this year against Boston and Tampa, but winless versus New York. Tampa can beat New York and the Orioles can beat Tampa. Boston recently owns New York and the Orioles can beat Boston. But the Orioles, with this game, have now lost 30 of the last 37 in this series and are just 6-20 in their last 26 home games...
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Not a good stat for the Orioles

Not a good stat for the Orioles
This is the sixth meeting of the year between the Orioles and Yankees. In those six games, the Yankees have outscored the Orioles 16-0 in the first two innings of the games. They are hard enough to beat without having to do it coming from behind. Brad Bergesen gave up three extra-base hits, two walks and hit a batter in the top of first as New York took a 5-0 lead tonight. He hit Robinson Cano in the leg with two outs and no one on and the Orioles down 2-0. What made it worse was he walked...
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While the rain falls, do you have a question?

While the rain falls, do you have a question?
As we are now in a rain delay, and who knows how long it will last, I would love to get some questions or comments in this space while we wait out the rain drops at Camden Yards. Feel free to leave it here now. As a college basketball coach I know used to say, "I'd be happy to answer any questions you care to pose." Here is a stat for you. Mariano Rivera, most career blown saves against: 13 - Boston 8 - Orioles & Angels He has six career blown saves in 43 chances at Camden Yards.
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Checking on some Orioles and Yankees stats and notes

Checking on some Orioles and Yankees stats and notes
Some notes as the Orioles try for their first win of the year after an 0-5 start against New York. * After getting 12 hits last night, the Orioles team batting average is now .288 over the last eight games. They are hitting .311 with runners in scoring position during that stretch. * The last two Orioles games, one each with Boston and New York, have lasted a total of eight hours and 49 minutes. * The Yankees are 10-8 on the year against the American League East and 9-8 on the road. They...
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