O's game blog: Orioles have won nine of 13 as homestand begins

O's game blog: Orioles have won nine of 13 as homestand begins
One night after striking out 20 times in Washington against the Nationals Max Scherzer, the Detroit Tigers are in Baltimore. They begin a four-game series against the Orioles tonight at Camden Yards. Since they were 14-10, the Tigers have lost eight of nine games to fall to 15-18. They are 10-9 in road games. The Orioles are 20-12 on the year and have outscored their opponents 30-10 during a four-game win streak. The Orioles have won six of eight and nine of 13 games. They are 13-5 at Camden...
Continue reading

Adam Jones on his health, his struggles and all those O's home runs

Adam Jones on his health, his struggles and all those O's home runs
Rare would be the day a reporter could hear Orioles center fielder Adam Jones say physically he doesn't feel right or that he can't play in that night's game. This afternoon, Jones said he's been healthy enough to play throughout this year, save for the few games he had to and did miss. "I've felt comfortable since day one," Jones said. "It is just you guys want to talk about results. When I'm not hitting good or is something hurting? No, just sometimes you suck man, it happens. You...
Continue reading

A look at some hot and cold stretches for the Orioles with the longball

A look at some hot and cold stretches for the Orioles with the longball
When the Orioles start hitting homers in bunches, it can be fun to watch and it can be pretty good for the team's won-loss record. Over the last three games they have hit six, two and four. This is the second time this season the O's have produced three consecutive multi-homer games. But we know the homers don't always come. Here is a breakdown of some stretches this year where they hit quite a few and when they did not: * The Orioles hit 25 homers in the season's first 12 games and went...
Continue reading

Trumbo with another two-homer game as O's top Twins

Trumbo with another two-homer game as O's top Twins
When the Orioles bash home runs, it can be impressive to see. It was today at Target Field. Under cloudy and sometimes wet skies, the Orioles were raining homers. They hit three - two by Mark Trumbo - in the first four innings and added another later on their way to a 9-2 win over Minnesota. The Orioles are 20-12 and have won four in a row. They have also won six of eight and nine of their past 13 games to get to eight games over .500 for the first time in 2016. Trumbo hit a two-run homer that...
Continue reading

O's game blog: Machado has eight multi-hit games his last 11 games

O's game blog: Machado has eight multi-hit games his last 11 games
The Orioles will look for a sweep of a series shortened to two games by a rainout this afternoon in Minnesota. Last night Adam Jones drove in three runs to lead the Orioles to a 5-3 win. His two-run single in the ninth broke the 3-3 tie. Jones now has 1,305 hits as an Oriole, passing Orioles Hall of Famer Mark Belanger (1,304) for sole possession of 12th on the club's all-time hits. list. Melvin Mora (1,323) ranks 11th. Jones three RBIs on Tuesday gives him 659 as an Oriole, moved him ahead of...
Continue reading

A few notes and stats on the Orioles' win over the Twins

A few notes and stats on the Orioles' win over the Twins
With a rainout thrown in, it felt like it had been a while since the last Orioles game. They finally played again last night and Adam Jones' two-run single in the ninth provided a 5-3 win at Minnesota. The victory was the Orioles' eighth in the last 12 games and they are now 19-12. They tied a season-high going seven games over .500. They ended a five-game losing streak at Target Field. A year after going 0-7 versus the Twins, they are 4-0 against Minnesota. A few more notes on the latest...
Continue reading

Adam Jones delivers tiebreaking single in ninth as O's top Twins

Adam Jones delivers tiebreaking single in ninth as O's top Twins
The Orioles pulled out a game tonight with a ninth-inning rally and struggling center fielder Adam Jones drove in the decisive runs. The Orioles beat Minnesota 5-3 to take the first of a rain-shortened two-game series. Tied 3-3 in the ninth, Kevin Jepsen came on and got the first two batters out. Then Joey Rickard doubled and Manny Machado was walked intentionally. On a 1-2 pitch to Jones, a wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third. Jones then lined a fastball into left-center for a...
Continue reading

O's game blog: A look at tonight's pitchers and some farm notes

O's game blog: A look at tonight's pitchers and some farm notes
The Orioles will try again tonight to start their series in Minnesota. Right-hander Kevin Gausman (0-1, 1.42 ERA) pitches against Twins right-hander Jose Berrios (1-1, 6.75 ERA). Gausman has allowed just three earned runs in three 2016 starts and pitched eight scoreless innings against the Yankees in his last start. So far in 2016, left-handed batters are hitting just .118 (4-for-34) off Gausman with a .147 slugging percentage and .290 OPS. Right-handed batters are hitting just .188 (6-for-32)...
Continue reading

Talking exit velocity with Mark Trumbo

Talking exit velocity with Mark Trumbo
The Orioles' Mark Trumbo just might be the thinking man's hitter. Listen to him in interviews and it's clear he has a real plan when he gets in the batter's box. Talented pitchers don't always allow him to execute it, but he is doing a lot more than just hacking up there. Off to a solid start this year with his new team, Trumbo has become a student of exit velocity - that is the speed with which the ball comes off the bat. All hitters strive to hit the ball hard and now, through Statcast...
Continue reading

O's game blog: The Orioles are 5-7 in road games (game rained out)

O's game blog: The Orioles are 5-7 in road games (game rained out)
The Orioles have a very good record at home this year. Tonight they try to work on improving their road record when they begin a three-game series at Minnesota. Having just concluded a 6-4 homestand, the Orioles are 13-5 at Oriole Park this year. But they are under .500 at 5-7 on the road. The Orioles have lost three of their four road series. They went 2-4 on their last road trip to Kansas City and Tampa Bay and scored just five runs in the last four games of that trip. But the Orioles hit a...
Continue reading

Minor league notes on Ryan Mountcastle, Corban Joseph, Chance Sisco and more

Minor league notes on Ryan Mountcastle, Corban Joseph, Chance Sisco and more
Single-A Delmarva's Ryan Mountcastle has started to hit for the Shorebirds after a slow start. The 19-year-old shortstop has six hits in his last two games and an eight-game hitting streak. Drafted 36th overall by the Orioles last June, Mountcastle went 4-for-4 on Saturday and added two hits yesterday for a 6-for-9 stretch those two games. He is batting .429 (12-for-28) during his hitting streak to raise his average from .154 to .237. Ranked as the Orioles No. 7 prospect by Baseball America,...
Continue reading

Orioles announce plans to celebrate 1966 World Series champs

Orioles announce plans to celebrate 1966 World Series champs
It was a special time in Baltimore Orioles history. The Orioles beat the favored Los Angeles Dodgers in a stunning four-game World Series sweep in 1966 for their first championship. With a remarkable display of pitching, the Orioles allowed just two runs in the entire series and none in the last three games. The Orioles today announced plans for a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 1966 World Series victory. To commemorate the anniversary, the Orioles will wear 1966 replica throwback...
Continue reading

Trumbo talks Trout and Machado, plus other notes and quotes

Trumbo talks Trout and Machado, plus other notes and quotes
Orioles outfielder Mark Trumbo played two seasons with Mike Trout. In 2012 and 2013 they were teammates on the Los Angeles Angels. Trumbo is now playing with Manny Machado. In the clubhouse after the Orioles' 11-3 win over Oakland on Sunday, Trumbo made a brief comparison of the two young stars. "They wow you, each and every day," Trumbo said. "Just when you think that they've done enough for that game, they do something crazy like hit a grand slam or make a play in the field. The sky is...
Continue reading

Manny Machado: "It's a great day" (plus more clubhouse quotes)

Manny Machado: "It's a great day" (plus more clubhouse quotes)
It was Mother's Day, but this whole weekend was a bit of a family affair for the Orioles' Manny Machado. He had family in the stands and was playing against his brother-in-law, Oakland's Yonder Alonso. Today, Machado put on a show for his family and his many Orioles fans. He homered twice, hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high six runs in the Orioles' 11-3 win over Oakland. "It's a special day," Machado said. "We are glad to have our families here. I had my mom in the stands and...
Continue reading

Homer happy: O's hit six homers, Machado with two, in 11-3 win

Homer happy: O's hit six homers, Machado with two, in 11-3 win
When Orioles starting pitcher Chris Tillman allowed three runs in the first inning today against Oakland, the Orioles knew they would have to come from behind. No one knew they'd hit five homers in the first four innings. Then get a grand slam several innings later. Manny Machado hit a two-run homer in the first and a grand slam in the eighth. He produced a career-high six RBIs as the Orioles bashed the Oakland A's 11-3 in front of 43,690 at Camden Yards. Machado has three career grand slams,...
Continue reading

O's game blog: Chris Tillman has a 1.37 ERA his last three starts

O's game blog: Chris Tillman has a 1.37 ERA his last three starts
Chris Tillman is having a strong season for the Orioles. He'll try to pitch them to a win this afternoon against Oakland. If he can do it, the Orioles will win this series, complete a 6-4 homestand and head to Minnesota six games over the .500 mark at 18-12. A look at how good Tillman has been this season: * He is 3-1 with an ERA of 2.81 in six starts. * He is 3-0 with a 1.46 ERA in four starts against the AL East. * He is 2-0 with a 1.37 ERA over his last three starts. * He is 2-0 with a 1.80...
Continue reading

A look at some strong catcher ERA stats for Matt Wieters

A look at some strong catcher ERA stats for Matt Wieters
We know that Caleb Joseph is a very solid defensive catcher. He was behind the plate last night when Ubaldo Jimenez pitched eight strong innings in a win over Oakland. Matt Wieters was behind the plate Saturday afternoon when Mike Wright gave up five runs in five innings. Some fans were so impressed with Joseph's defensive work last year (and rightfully so) that they thought the Orioles pitchers were in better hands with him catching over Wieters. Orioles pitchers tell us a different story....
Continue reading

Ubaldo Jimenez on his outing; Chris Davis on his homer and the win

Ubaldo Jimenez on his outing; Chris Davis on his homer and the win
Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez was motivated to pitch well tonight. But not, he said, because he gave up six runs in his last start. "There is always motivation to pitch good," Jimenez said after pitching the O's past the A's 5-2. "But I try to forget what happened in the past because there is nothing you can do with it. In baseball, every day is a new day. If you want to be there for your team, you have to find a way to move on. "The two-seam fastball was pretty good. I was able to...
Continue reading

Jimenez goes eight strong as O's beat Oakland, split twinbill

Jimenez goes eight strong as O's beat Oakland, split twinbill
Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez bounced back very well from a poor outing. The Orioles offense came up with a much-needed big inning to back him. It all added up to a 5-2 win for the Orioles over the Athletics and a split of the day-night doubleheader at Camden Yards. The Orioles are 17-12 overall, 12-5 at home and 7-2 against the A's since the start of the 2015 season. Jimenez allowed nine hits and two runs over eight innings, matching Kevin Gausman for the longest 2016 outing by an...
Continue reading

O's game blog: Ubaldo Jimenez pitches in Game 2 against Oakland

O's game blog: Ubaldo Jimenez pitches in Game 2 against Oakland
Having scored just 10 runs their last five games, the Orioles host the Oakland Athletics tonight in the nightcap of a split doubleheader. The A's won 8-4 earlier to improve to 14-16, while the Orioles are 16-12. The pitching matchup tonight features right-handers: Ubaldo Jimenez (1-3, 5.20 ERA) makes his sixth start and Oakland's Jesse Hahn (1-0, 0.00 ERA) makes his second. Jimenez had an ERA of 3.91 before his worst outing of 2016 last Sunday against the White Sox. He gave up six runs and...
Continue reading