O's game blog: Kevin Gausman starts series opener at Rogers Centre

O's game blog: Kevin Gausman starts series opener at Rogers Centre
TORONTO - The Orioles have returned to Rogers Centre tonight to begin a four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Orioles' 2016 season ended here with a 5-2 loss in 11 innings last Oct. 4 in the American League wild card game. The Birds begin the night with a 5-2 record and leading the AL East. Toronto is 1-7 for its worst eight-game start in team history. The Blue Jays have lost five in a row. The Orioles were 9-10 last season against Toronto including a 4-6 mark in this ballpark....
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Showalter on addition of Crichton, decision to start Asher Saturday

Showalter on addition of Crichton, decision to start Asher Saturday
TORONTO - The thought process was that the Orioles might remove a pitcher from their roster to get right-hander Alec Asher active to make a start here on Saturday against Toronto. Well, there were two pitching moves today, even before the Orioles have to make a roster move to add Asher. The Orioles today selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Stefan Crichton from Triple-A Norfolk, adding him to the 25- and 40-man rosters. To make roster room, right-hander Oliver Drake was designated for...
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Mychal Givens on his big outing in Boston last night

Mychal Givens on his big outing in Boston last night
TORONTO - Orioles right-hander Mychal Givens is aware that his fastball velocity was down somewhat in the game last night in Boston. He concedes it was a cold night and his stuff might not have been at its best. At the same time, he also got some huge outs and kept the Red Sox from mounting an amazing comeback from nine runs down. According to Brooksbaseball.net, Givens' four-seam velocity last night was 91.79 mph, down from earlier outings this year when it was in the 94-95 mph range. "Being...
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A look at Tanner Scott pitching at Bowie (plus O's notes)

A look at Tanner Scott pitching at Bowie (plus O's notes)
He is a 22-year-old left-hander that has worked his way into prospect status thanks to a fastball that has touched 100 mph. What comes along with that is the challenge to control and command that pitch along with his slider and throw it consistently for strikes. It has been a bit of a battle for young Tanner Scott, but he remains upbeat about the challenge - and how can you not be intrigued by a kid that touches triple digits? The process of developing a young pitcher here is ongoing. Along...
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O's game blog: O's have lost five in a row against Boston

O's game blog: O's have lost five in a row against Boston
The Orioles and Red Sox conclude a brief two-game series tonight at Fenway Park. The Orioles lost 8-1 last night and have now lost five games in a row to Boston. They have been outscored 28-9 during those five games, which started with Boston's four-game sweep at Camden Yards last September. The Orioles have scored two or fewer runs in four of the five games. But overall since the 2012 season, the Orioles are 54-41 (.568) against Boston. At Fenway Park, the Orioles won all three series last...
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That escalated quickly: Ugly losses follow Orioles' 4-0 start

That escalated quickly: Ugly losses follow Orioles' 4-0 start
Well, the Orioles will wake up this morning tied for first place in the American League East. So there is some good news. But entering the sixth inning at home on Sunday, the Orioles led the Yankees 3-0 and seemed headed for a 5-0 start. What has followed that is a 13-inning stretch where the Orioles have been outscored 15-1. That has led to back-to-back losses after the 4-0 start. So some things could be better. In the last two games, we've seen Darren O'Day walk three batters in an inning...
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Ugly loss: Defense comes unglued as O's lose series opener

Ugly loss: Defense comes unglued as O's lose series opener
Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy held his own in the anticipated showdown tonight against the team that led the majors in runs last year. But the Orioles didn't do much on offense themselves and then had a major meltdown on defense in the last of the seventh. Bundy was not going to overcome that lack of support and took the loss as Boston beat the Orioles 8-1 at Fenway Park in the opener of a two-game series. It was a 2-1 until the Red Sox scored three each (with some help) in the seventh and...
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O's game blog: Dylan Bundy faces Boston in road trip opener

O's game blog: Dylan Bundy faces Boston in road trip opener
The Orioles begin a three-city, nine-game road trip tonight at Boston's Fenway Park. The Orioles begin the night at 4-1 and leading the American League East by a half-game over Tampa Bay (5-3) and by 1 1/2 games over Boston (3-3). Tonight's pitching matchup features right-hander Dylan Bundy (1-0, 1.29 ERA) against left-hander Drew Pomeranz, who is making his season debut. Pomeranz, acquired last year in a deal with San Diego, has been on the disabled list with a left forearm injury and comes...
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Dylan Bundy gets tough test as Boston series begins

Dylan Bundy gets tough test as Boston series begins
With a starting rotation that needs to cover more innings and a bullpen that finally cracked on Sunday, the Orioles move on to play in Boston tonight. Last year, the Red Sox hit well against the Orioles. O's highest ERA versus opponents from 2016: 7.47 - Seattle (seven games) 6.33 - Houston (seven games) 5.50 - San Diego (four games) 5.29 - Boston (19 games) Boston won 11 of 19 games versus the Orioles last season and outscored Baltimore 102-82 while batting .282/.346/.482. Outfielder Mookie...
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Talking player development: The O's team that did it well while losing

Talking player development: The O's team that did it well while losing
If you look at the job of any minor league organization, its biggest task by far (but not the only one) is to develop players. Coach, teach, instruct and provide a framework for players to get better so they can one day reach the bigs and help the major league team win games. If you can win games on the farm while doing the first job, all the better. But make no mistake, when it comes to developing players or winning, the first is much more important than the second. Let's look at some players...
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Darren O'Day on his struggles in the ninth, plus more clubhouse quotes

Darren O'Day on his struggles in the ninth, plus more clubhouse quotes
On a day when Orioles pitchers walked 11 batters, the final three hurt the most. The Yankees took advantage of three Darren O'Day walks in the ninth to score four times, break a 3-3 tie and beat the Orioles 7-3. It is the Orioles' first loss after a 4-0 start. Now they start a nine-game road trip Tuesday at Boston. O'Day felt he didn't get some borderline calls in the inning and then didn't adjust to the strike zone of home plate umpire Brian Gorman. The Orioles held a 3-0 lead after five...
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Orioles can't hold 3-0 lead, lose series finale

Orioles can't hold 3-0 lead, lose series finale
Sometimes a team might get by when walking a few batters. But 11 is a few too many. The walkathon finally caught up to the Orioles today. After winning via comebacks for two straight days, the Orioles this afternoon watched the Yankees rally to a 7-3 win in front of 42,487. The Orioles fall to 4-1. Starter Wade Miley walked seven, but somehow managed to pitch five scoreless innings. But the scoreless run of the O's bullpen didn't hold up today. Darren O'Day came on to pitch the ninth in a...
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O's game blog: Miley on the mound as O's go for sweep

O's game blog: Miley on the mound as O's go for sweep
The Orioles go for a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees and a 5-0 start this afternoon at Camden Yards. They produced back-to-back comebacks in the first two games of the series. The Orioles trailed 5-1 in the fifth inning Friday and came back to win 6-5. They trailed 4-1 in the fifth last night and won 5-4. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it marked the fourth time that the Orioles have won back-to-back games against the Yankees by overcoming a deficit of at least three runs in each...
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Comparing Orioles' 4-0 starts from 2016 and 2017

Comparing Orioles' 4-0 starts from 2016 and 2017
The Orioles have won four games by a total of five runs to start the new season. Three wins by a run and one by two. One win in extra innings. Two wins in the series with New York where they have come from behind. A plus-five run differential isn't impressive, but their won-loss record is. No other team is unbeaten in the majors at this point, just Baltimore. They lead the American League East by one game over Tampa Bay, by two over Boston and already are 3 1/2 games up on New York and...
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Hyun Soo Kim on go-ahead hit, Kevin Gausman on his outing

Hyun Soo Kim on go-ahead hit, Kevin Gausman on his outing
After going hitless in his first two games of the 2017 season, Orioles outfielder Hyun Soo Kim came up with three hits today. The last produced a go-ahead run as the Orioles rallied to beat the Yankees, 5-4, in front of 38,916 at Camden Yards. They rallied from a 4-1 deficit and are 4-0, making the O's the majors' only remaining unbeaten team. They rallied from four runs down last night to beat New York, and they've now won 10 consecutive series against the Yankees at Camden Yards. They go...
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Rally time again: O's come from three down to beat Yankees

Rally time again: O's come from three down to beat Yankees
Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman had a tough day with his command, and one throw he made that did find its intended target was a balk, and that was costly as well. But despite those struggles, and a 4-1 deficit in the fifth, the Orioles won again. They rallied to beat the New York Yankees 5-4 in front of 38,916 at Camden Yards. Just like yesterday, Brad Brach pitched the eighth and Zach Britton the ninth. Britton recorded his third save on the year. It is his 52nd straight save since Oct. 1,...
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O's game blog: Gausman against Tanaka in Game 2 of series

O's game blog: Gausman against Tanaka in Game 2 of series
The Orioles are 14-7 at home against the Yankees since 2014 and have won 10 of their last 13 versus New York in their home park. The Yankees have lost nine consecutive series at Camden Yards since the start of the 2014 season. The latest O's win was last night's 6-5 comeback victory, which left the team atop the American League East at 3-0. In taking two games against Toronto, the Orioles trailed for just a half-inning. But last night they fell behind 5-1 in the fifth. They rallied on Manny...
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Brad Brach on his dominant inning and the bullpen's good start

Brad Brach on his dominant inning and the bullpen's good start
The Orioles bullpen is off to a good start as the club is 3-0. Over 12 2/3 scoreless innings, the 'pen has allowed 12 hits, with six walks and 12 strikeouts. No surprise to see that unit doing well. The Orioles 'pen led the American League with a 3.40 ERA last season. The bullpens for the Orioles, Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins are the only three in the AL still with 0.00 ERAs. "It's great," right-hander Brad Brach said today. "I think that is what makes our 'pen so good. It is...
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Chris Davis on moving up the club's homer list (plus other notes)

Chris Davis on moving up the club's homer list (plus other notes)
When first baseman Chris Davis hit a solo homer off Toronto Blue Jays lefty J.A. Happ in the fourth inning Wednesday, he became the eighth player in Orioles history to hit 200 or more homers for the club. Davis joined teammate Adam Jones in that club. Jones homered in the third inning Wednesday, and that longball moved him into a tie for fifth on the club's all-time homers list. 431 - Cal Ripken Jr. 343 - Eddie Murray 303 - Boog Powell 268 - Brooks Robinson 223 - Rafael Palmeiro and Adam Jones...
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Hart on his first win, Smith on his homer, Jiménez on his outing

Hart on his first win, Smith on his homer, Jiménez on his outing
On a night that right-hander Ubaldo Jiménez struggled and the club fell into a four-run hole, the Orioles called on their bullpen and power to bail them out. Manny Machado's three-run homer pulled the Orioles within 5-4 in the fifth inning and Seth Smith's two-run shot gave them the lead two innings later. The bullpen recorded 4 2/3 scoreless innings as the Orioles beat the Yankees 6-5 to go to 3-0. Smith said Machado's homer got his team back in the game. It was a laser to left-center...
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