Minor league award winners, Robert Neustrom profile and more

Minor league award winners, Robert Neustrom profile and more
Orioles minor league outfielder Ryan McKenna was the organization's minor league Player of the Month for May. Yesterday McKenna got the same honor for June. The Orioles minor league Pitcher of the Month for June was lefty Zac Lowther. He got that same honor in April. McKenna, the club's fourth-round pick in 2015, hit .341 with three homers and 19 runs during the month. It included his representing Single-A Frederick in the Carolina League All-Star game and then getting a promotion on June 21...
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Random notes and a take on Jonathan Schoop

Random notes and a take on Jonathan Schoop
Sunday's win by the Orioles over the Los Angeles Angels by an 8-2 score ended a few losing streaks for the club. It ended their seven-game losing streak, which was their fourth this year of seven or more games. It ended their 0-5 record this season and seven-game losing streak dating to last season against the Angels. It ended a 17-game losing streak versus American League teams dating to May 25. It ended their 0-15 run this year against AL West teams. So they put a few negative streaks to...
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Kevin Gausman on his outing, Mark Trumbo on the offense

Kevin Gausman on his outing, Mark Trumbo on the offense
The Orioles hitting four home runs and scoring eight times - that was new and different today. But right-hander Kevin Gausman throwing well was really not. He pitched the Orioles past the Los Angeles Angels 8-2, delivering his fifth straight solid start and his 10th quality start in 17 games. On a day when he allowed six hits and two runs over eight innings on 104 pitches, Gausman saved some of his best velocity for his last inning. Entering the eighth with a 2-1 lead, he got his first...
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Gausman goes eight innings, O's homer four times to end streak

Gausman goes eight innings, O's homer four times to end streak
On a day where the Orioles posted their first win against an American League team since May 25, there were co-stars in an 8-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels at steamy Oriole Park. There was pitcher Kevin Gausman and there was power. The Orioles hit four home runs. The Orioles went 0-15 versus AL opponents during a 6-20 June and had lost 17 in a row since that late May win versus Tampa Bay. The Orioles (24-59) today snapped a seven-game losing streak and avoided going winless during a...
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O's game blog: O's try to avoid sweep by the Angels

O's game blog: O's try to avoid sweep by the Angels
After finishing the month of June with just one home win and no wins versus any American League teams, the Orioles begin July today looking to avoid being swept in three straight by the Los Angeles Angels. The Orioles (23-59) went 6-20 in June, which included a 1-12 home record and 0-15 mark versus AL teams. The Orioles have lost 7-1 and 6-2 games in this series. They took a 2-1 lead to the eighth yesterday, but allowed five runs in that inning to fall to 0-5 this year versus the Angels and...
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O's reach agreement with Cadyn Grenier, close in on Blaine Knight

O's reach agreement with Cadyn Grenier, close in on Blaine Knight
They were on competing teams in the College World Series finals, which ended Thursday night. But very soon, Oregon State shortstop Cadyn Grenier and right-handed pitcher Blaine Knight of Arkansas will be on the same team. They will be Orioles and start their pro careers on the O's farm. The Orioles have reached an agreement on a signing bonus with Grenier. He was their second draft pick, taken No. 37 overall in Competitive Balance Round A. The slot value for that pick is $1,923,500. The...
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O's lose late lead, streak reaches seven (Grenier agrees)

O's lose late lead, streak reaches seven (Grenier agrees)
On a steamy Saturday afternoon at Camden Yards, right-hander Andrew Cashner delivered a solid outing, another quality start and was in position for his first win at home with the Orioles. But an offense that didn't score after the first inning and an O's bullpen that imploded conspired against him. The Los Angeles Angels scored five times in the eighth to win 6-2 in front of 38,838 at Camden Yards. The Orioles (23-59) losing streak reaches seven. It's the club's seventh streak of five or...
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O's game blog: O's try to snap six-game losing streak

O's game blog: O's try to snap six-game losing streak
The Orioles reached the midpoint of the 2018 season after last night's 7-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. The Orioles are 23-58 and that projects to a final record of 46-116. Today they host the Angels in game two of this three-game series. The Orioles are now 0-14 versus American League West opponents and they've lost six in a row. This year they have had losing streaks of five, six, five, seven, seven, nine and now six games. If you add that up that is an amazing 0-45 in those streaks. In...
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Showalter on O'Day having surgery and Schoop's reset

Showalter on O'Day having surgery and Schoop's reset
Orioles reliever Darren O'Day is going to have season-ending surgery on his strained left hamstring. Yesterday O'Day was moved from the 10-day to the 60-day disabled list. The recovery time will be six months after the procedure. O'Day suffered the injury while trying to field a ball Tuesday night versus Seattle in what will turn out to be his last game of the 2018 season. He got a second opinion yesterday. He is 0-2 with a 3.60 ERA and 1.100 WHIP in 20 games. "Just kind of deciding when...
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In June, Ryan Mountcastle got his bat going at Bowie

In June, Ryan Mountcastle got his bat going at Bowie
Double-A Bowie third baseman Ryan Mountcastle might be making up for some lost time with his bat. He didn't begin his season at Bowie until May 10, but as June comes to an end, his bat has heated up for the Baysox. On June 23 at Richmond, Mountcastle went 6-for-7 in a doubleheader. It was part of a run where he had 12 hits in 16 at-bats. And that was part of a stretch where, over his last 10 games, he is batting .447 (17-for-38). It raised his season OPS from .763 to .842. The 21-year-old...
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O's game blog: David Hess faces the LAA in series opener

O's game blog: David Hess faces the LAA in series opener
Well, one of these teams will snap a losing streak tonight when the Orioles host the Los Angeles Angels to begin a three-game weekend series. The Orioles (23-57) have lost five in a row and the Angels (41-41) have lost six straight. The O's reach the 81-game midpoint of the season after this game. With a best-case scenario of 24 wins then, the O's would be on a pace to finish with a 48-114 record. Baltimore has lost 16 of 20, and 25 of its past 33 games. The Orioles are 11-27 at home with...
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In latest loss, two young right-handers showed their potential

In latest loss, two young right-handers showed their potential
If you are a fan of a baseball team team that is 34 games under .500, 1-15 in its last 16 home games and has been swept nine times in series of three or more games, you take good news anywhere you can get it. In their latest loss Thursday afternoon to Seattle, two young right-handed pitchers showed some promise for the Orioles. They'll have to settle for that after being swept four in a row by the Mariners. Drafted in the 13th round in 2013 out of Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia,...
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O's miscues help Seattle rally as Mariners win in 10 (with quotes)

O's miscues help Seattle rally as Mariners win in 10 (with quotes)
The Orioles got solid pitching and held the Seattle Mariners in check through nine innings today. But two errors opened the door in the 10th and the Mariners won this afternoon to stay unbeaten in extra innings games. Seattle beat the Orioles 4-2 to complete their third four-game sweep of the Orioles and first in Baltimore. The Mariners had lost six of seven before this series began, but leave with a record of 51-31 overall and 8-0 in extra-inning games. The Orioles (23-57) have lost five in a...
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O's game blog: Jimmy Yacabonis faces Seattle in first major league start

O's game blog: Jimmy Yacabonis faces Seattle in first major league start
As the Orioles try to avoid being swept in four straight today, they send right-hander Jimmy Yacabonis to the mound. He'll be making his first big league start as the Orioles conclude their series with the Seattle Mariners. The Orioles (23-56) have lost to Seattle by scores of 5-3, 3-2 and 8-7 in 11 innings last night. They've lost four in a row, 15 of 19 and 24 of their last 32 games. They are 0-12 versus American League West teams and 1-14 in their last 15 home games. Seattle (50-31) had...
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It was another night when O's players had to explain why they came up short

It was another night when O's players had to explain why they came up short
After the latest Orioles loss, pitchers Alex Cobb and Zach Britton held themselves accountable for their shortcomings, which led to their team's 56th defeat of the season. That was admirable and not surprising, coming from that veteran duo. The frustrating part for players and fans alike is that the Orioles constant stream of losses keeps providing players plenty of opportunities to fall on the sword. Last night a potential feel-good win turned into a loss when Britton suffered a blown...
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Chris Davis hits go-ahead homer, but O's still fall in 11 (with quotes)

Chris Davis hits go-ahead homer, but O's still fall in 11 (with quotes)
Chris Davis came through and Zach Britton didn't. These are different times in Birdland. Davis' homer provided an eighth-inning lead that Britton gave back in the ninth. It led to a loss in the 11th as Seattle beat the Orioles 8-7 at Camden Yards. The Mariners can sweep a four-game series with a win on Thursday afternoon. Shortstop Jean Segura led off the 11th with a double off Mychal Givens. One out later, Kyle Seager singled off Donnie Hart to put runners on the corners. Denard Span's sac...
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O's game blog: Orioles looking for first win in Seattle series

O's game blog: Orioles looking for first win in Seattle series
The Orioles have lost the first two games of their series with Seattle by 5-3 and 3-2 scores. Tonight, the clubs meet at Oriole Park in the third game of a four-game series. The Orioles have scored just eight runs on 18 hits and have gone 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position over the past three games. They have scored three runs or less in five of their past seven games. The Orioles have homered in 10 straight games, hitting 16 in that time. That is their second longest homer streak of the...
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Steve Wilkerson on returning to the Orioles

Steve Wilkerson on returning to the Orioles
After he made a pretty solid first impression in a short time frame last week, infielder/outfielder Steve Wilkerson rejoined the Orioles today. He is expected to be activated before tonight's game with Seattle. Wilkerson had his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk last Tuesday when the Orioles played in Washington. The next night, he made his major league debut as a ninth-inning defensive replacement. Then, in the series finale a week ago tomorrow, he made his first major league start and...
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Bowie notes on Hays, Akin, Mountcastle and more

Bowie notes on Hays, Akin, Mountcastle and more
Bowie, MD. - If you can be a happy player on the disabled list, Double-A Bowie outfielder Austin Hays was that on Tuesday. He was all smiles because he got positive news from a visit to a foot specialist. Out since May 24 with a right ankle bone bruise and tendinitis, Hays found out yesterday that the walking boot he's been wearing for a couple of weeks will come off in one more week. He'll slowly work his way back after that and might be playing in minor league rehab games as soon as two to...
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Bowie's Keegan Akin leaves tonight's start with groin tightness (updated)

Bowie's Keegan Akin leaves tonight's start with groin tightness (updated)
Bowie, MD. - Double-A Bowie left-hander Keegan Akin, who is having one of the best seasons of any Orioles minor league pitcher, left his start tonight against Akron due to groin tightness. Akin was throwing his warmup tosses before the top of the fifth when he apparently felt something. He bent over on the mound as athletic trainer Brian Guzman came out to check on him. Akin the left the game and walked directly from the mound to the Baysox clubhouse down the right field line. The Orioles'...
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