O's game blog: Orioles look to salvage series finale

O's game blog: Orioles look to salvage series finale
After losing 14-11 in 10 innings on Friday and 12-4 on Saturday afternoon to the New York Yankees, the Orioles have lost their first series of the season. They need a win today to avoid being swept three in a row. The Yankees' last three-game sweep of the Birds in New York was from July 21-23, 2015. The teams entered the second game of this series tied for first in the American League East. Now New York (15-7) leads the Orioles (14-8) by a game atop the division. The Orioles are 12-7 (.632) in...
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Ubaldo Jiménez struggles again; Yankees on verge of sweep

Ubaldo Jiménez struggles again; Yankees on verge of sweep
So for the Orioles, the process of regrouping after Friday's blown eight-run lead is going to take a little while. At least longer than a day after they were crushed 12-4 by the Yankees on Saturday afternoon. The O's pitchers entered the weekend with the third-best team ERA in the American League at 3.41 and now it is 4.24. The rotation ERA has gone up the last two days from 3.77 to 4.28. In 17 1/3 innings in the series, the O's staff has allowed 24 hits and 26 runs on nine homers. New York...
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O's game blog: Orioles try to even series (O's trounced, 12-4)

O's game blog: Orioles try to even series (O's trounced, 12-4)
The Orioles have been either tied for or alone in first place every day of the 2017 season. But a loss today at Yankee Stadium would end that streak. The Orioles and Yankees begin today tied atop the American League East at 14-7, both 2 ½ games ahead of the Red Sox and 3 1/2 up on the Rays. We'll soon find out if the Orioles bounce back from blowing a 9-1 lead and losing last night. It was the first time the Orioles had ever blown an eight-run lead in a loss to the Yankees. According to...
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Orioles don't have long to regroup after brutal loss in the Bronx

Orioles don't have long to regroup after brutal loss in the Bronx
As far as painful losses go, that one ranks right up there. The Orioles blew a 9-1 lead. They blew a three-run lead in the ninth. They lost to a bitter rival. They lost at Yankee Stadium. They are no longer alone in first place atop the American League East. We could discuss how it unraveled, who is to blame and what it all means, but the Orioles have another game to play this afternoon. A loss today will just make Friday's defeat even worse, while a win could begin the regrouping process. No...
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O's game blog: Kevin Gausman on the mound in series opener

O's game blog: Kevin Gausman on the mound in series opener
Since the Orioles took two of three from the Yankees April 7-9 in Baltimore, New York has been doing a lot of winning. The Yankees began the year 1-4, but they are 12-3 since then and just took a two-game series from Boston with 3-1 and 3-0 wins. This is the Yankees' best 15-game stretch since July 9-July 28, 2015. New York is 8-1 at home and 3-0 in home series. Tonight these clubs begin a three-game series in the Bronx with the first-place Orioles (14-6) leading the second-place Yankees...
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Do the Orioles face a tough call on Chris Tillman?

Do the Orioles face a tough call on Chris Tillman?
Is a pitcher with an ERA of 6.35 and a batting average against of .319 in three minor league rehab starts ready to pitch in the majors? Those numbers suggest he's not, but Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman was pretty emphatic that the answer is yes when he was interviewed last night. Making his third rehab start and coming back from shoulder discomfort, Tillman pitched five innings for Single-A Frederick at Potomac. The small crowd at Pfitzner Stadium saw him allow eight hits and six runs...
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Despite mixed results, Chris Tillman feels ready to rejoin O's

Despite mixed results, Chris Tillman feels ready to rejoin O's
WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman made his third minor league rehab start here tonight. Pitching for Single-A Frederick, he gave up six runs to the Potomac Nationals at Pfitzner Stadium. But despite a shaky pitching line, Tillman said felt great and he feels ready to join the Orioles' rotation and make his 2017 season debut. Tillman expects that decision to be made after he throws a side session Sunday. He could pitch for the Orioles on Tuesday in Boston or make another...
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Without everything clicking, Orioles are playing .700 baseball

Without everything clicking, Orioles are playing .700 baseball
So here are a few things going on with the 2017 Baltimore Orioles. Their opening day starter Kevin Gausman has an ERA of 7.50. Right-hander Chris Tillman has been on the disabled list all year and closer Zach Britton has been on the DL the last 10 games. All-Star third baseman Manny Machado is batting .205 and 2016 MLB homer leader Mark Trumbo is hitting .190. Trumbo has gone 13 games without an RBI and Chris Davis has one over his last 11 games. The O's rank 11th in the American League in...
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Bundy on his outing and reduced velocity (plus other quotes)

Bundy on his outing and reduced velocity (plus other quotes)
Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy delivered another solid performance tonight. He did it with reduced fastball velocity and heavy use of his secondary pitches. But he was good again, allowing four hits and two runs over 6 1/3 innings in a no-decision as the Orioles beat Tampa Bay 5-4 by scoring two runs in the last of the 11th. He left with a 3-2 lead that turned into a tie and one-run deficit before the O's pulled the game out in the 11th. Well before Seth Smith's bases-loaded walk ended the...
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Walk-off walk: Seth Smith's bases-loaded walk gives O's a 5-4 win

Walk-off walk: Seth Smith's bases-loaded walk gives O's a 5-4 win
The Orioles scored two runs in the last of the 11th tonight, turning defeat into victory, to beat Tampa Bay 5-4 and improve to 14-6 through 20 games. Down 4-3 heading to the 11th, they loaded the bases on two singles and a walk with one out against Alex Colome. They would tie the game on Jonathan Schoop's sac fly and won it when Danny Farquhar walked Seth Smith on four pitches with the bases loaded. The Orioles avoided losing their first series of the year. The Orioles loaded the bases on a...
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O's game blog: Dylan Bundy looks for fourth win in series finale

O's game blog: Dylan Bundy looks for fourth win in series finale
They have not lost a series all year and the Orioles will try to keep that stat intact tonight at Camden Yards. But they'll need to win in the third and deciding game of their series with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Orioles are 5-0-1 in their six series on the season. The only series they did not win was a two-game split against Boston at Camden Yards on April 11-12. The Orioles hit three homers Monday in a 6-3 comeback victory in the series opener. Then they were held to two hits by the Rays in...
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After rare bullpen appearance, Alec Asher hopes to stick on O's roster

After rare bullpen appearance, Alec Asher hopes to stick on O's roster
Maybe we didn't realize it at the time, but we got to see a rarity on Sunday here at Camden Yards: 25-year-old right-hander Alec Asher pitched in relief. He is one of the newest Orioles and since the 2014 season, Asher had made 77 starts in the minors and majors with zero relief outings. Then he pitched in the ninth inning against Boston and he remains working out of the bullpen right now for the Orioles. Going back to 2013, Asher made 26 appearances in the minors and just once pitched in...
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The Orioles offense is looking to break out

The Orioles offense is looking to break out
When the Orioles produced just two hits and no runs over 29 at-bats last night in a 2-0 loss to Tampa Bay, it was an offensive low point for a season in which the team has not scored many runs. We, of course, should keep in mind that the Orioles are 13-6 overall, with the second-best record in the American League, and that they lead the American League East by 1 1/2 games over New York and by two games over Boston. On opening day, with the team about to face a season-opening stretch with 24 of...
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Trumbo on struggling offense, Miley on his outing

Trumbo on struggling offense, Miley on his outing
The Orioles were shut out tonight for the first time since Aug. 25, 2016 at Washington. Five pitchers combined on a two-hitter as Tampa Bay beat the Orioles 2-0. It was the first time the O's were held to two hits since Sept. 12, 2016 at Boston. The Orioles have scored 21 runs over their past eight games. They've scored two runs or less five times in the last seven games. I asked Mark Trumbo if he is concerned with the offense. "It's not where we want it," he said. "It's not where I want...
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No runs, no win: O's blanked 2-0 by Tampa Bay

No runs, no win: O's blanked 2-0 by Tampa Bay
Left-hander Wade Miley, whose control eluded him at times, pitched another strong game for the Orioles tonight. But his offense couldn't get much going against a procession of Tampa Bay pitchers. Shortly before gametime, the Rays announced that right-hander Erasmo Ramírez would not start as planned due to the "uncertain weather conditions." So the Rays went with a bullpen game and made it work. Five Rays pitchers combined to blank the Orioles on just two hits tonight in Tampa Bay's 2-0...
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O's game blog: Orioles host the Rays in Game 2 of series

O's game blog: Orioles host the Rays in Game 2 of series
With five wins over their last six games and Major League Baseball's best record at 13-5, the Orioles host Tampa Bay tonight at chilly Camden Yards. It's game two of a three-game series after the Orioles won the opener 6-3 last night. The 2017 Orioles are the fourth squad in team history to start 13-5 or better. The first three all played in the World Series and two won the World Series. Best 18-game starts in Orioles history:* 14-4 in 1966 (won World Series)* 13-5 in 1970 (won World Series)*...
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Vidal Nuño came up big in long relief as O's win again

Vidal Nuño came up big in long relief as O's win again
When left-hander Vidal Nuño came into the game in the fourth inning last night, he needed to get out of a big jam started by Ubaldo Jiménez. The Tampa Bay Rays had scored twice to take a 3-1 lead, the bases were loaded and the top of the order was up. Nuño would face Corey Dickerson, a lefty hitter and then another lefty batter in Kevin Kiermaier. While left-handed batters are hitting .353 against him this year at 6-for-17, this time they went 0-for-2. He got Dickerson looking at a 91...
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O's take Archer deep three times, win series opener (quotes added)

O's take Archer deep three times, win series opener (quotes added)
In his first four starts over 25 1/3 innings this year, Tampa Bay right-hander Chris Archer did not allow a home run. He didn't yield one through 5 2/3 innings tonight in the series opener against the Orioles. But then the Orioles hit three off Archer in a span of five batters to come from behind for a 6-3 victory at cold and sometimes rainy Oriole Park at Camden Yards. With the game tied 3-3 in the seventh, Archer hit Seth Smith with a pitch and Adam Jones followed with the 1,501st hit of his...
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O's game blog: Ubaldo Jiménez facing Tampa Bay in series opener

O's game blog: Ubaldo Jiménez facing Tampa Bay in series opener
After taking two of three from Boston, and with a 5-0-1 record in six series to start the season, the Orioles host Tampa Bay tonight to begin a three-game series at Camden Yards. The Orioles are 12-5 and leading the American League East by 1 1/2 games over New York and two games over Boston. On the mound tonight, right-hander Ubaldo Jiménez (1-0, 5.51 ERA) makes his fourth start, facing Rays right-hander Chris Archer (2-0, 3.20 ERA) making his fifth. Jiménez pitched to an ERA of 10.80 his...
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Hyun Soo Kim on getting few starts and his first hit against a left-hander

Hyun Soo Kim on getting few starts and his first hit against a left-hander
Between the Orioles taking a look at Trey Mancini for a few games in left field and the club facing a pretty steady diet of left-handed starters, outfielder Hyun Soo Kim has started just 35 percent of the team's games. That should change some, beginning tonight. The Orioles face Tampa Bay right-hander Chris Archer and the Rays have three right-handers scheduled to start in this series at Camden Yards. Kim has made six starts on the season, all in left field, and the Orioles have gone 5-1 in...
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