O's game blog: It's Chen against Cueto in series finale

O's game blog: It's Chen against Cueto in series finale
The Orioles continue to look for consistent starting pitching and, I'd say that with 21 games to go, they may not get it during the 2015 season. In this series against Kansas City, Mike Wright and Chris Tillman have allowed eight runs over 10 1/3 innings. In the last 15 games, the Orioles have one quality start. In their last 13 games, their starter has pitched fewer than six innings 12 times and fewer than five innings five times. In the last 18 games, the O's rotation has an ERA of 6.85....
Continue reading

Jason Garcia on his recent success, Mychal Givens on his Saturday stop at Bowie

Jason Garcia on his recent success, Mychal Givens on his Saturday stop at Bowie
On a night when the Orioles bullpen gave up 10 runs, Jason Garcia had a strong outing last night. He retired all five batters he faced Saturday in Kansas City's 14-6 win. Since he returned to the active roster Aug. 6 from the disabled list, Garcia has been throwing well. He has pitched scoreless outings in eight of 10 appearances with a 2.70 ERA, a .167 average against and with 12 strikeouts to three walks in 13 1/3 innings. What's been the key recently for the 22-year-old...
Continue reading

After first playoff series win ever, Bowie Baysox will play for Eastern League title

After first playoff series win ever, Bowie Baysox will play for Eastern League title
For the first time in the 23-year history of the franchise, the Double-A Bowie Baysox won a playoff series. Now, for another first, Bowie will play against Reading for the Eastern League championship starting Tuesday night. Needing one win to take its series with Altoona three wins to one, Bowie got it last night with a 3-0 shutout. Right-hander David Hess pitched a gem, allowing just one hit over seven innings. Andrew Triggs got the last five outs to record a save as Bowie pitched a combined...
Continue reading

O's game blog: Chris Tillman looks to snap losing streak against Kansas City

O's game blog: Chris Tillman looks to snap losing streak against Kansas City
Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman (9-11, 5.15 ERA) tries to end a four-game slide today when the Orioles host Kansas City in the middle game of the three-game series. The Orioles announced that today's game will not start on time due to rain. On Sunday at Toronto, Tillman allowed eight hits, including three homers and six runs over three innings. He is 0-4 with a 15.50 ERA in five 2015 starts versus Toronto. Over those past four starts overall, Tillman has given up 20 runs in 20 1/3 innings...
Continue reading

O's homer notes; Bowie closes in on franchise first

O's homer notes; Bowie closes in on franchise first
So while I was at Bowie last night, did anything interesting happen at Camden Yards? Well, two grand slams in one inning would classify. Nolan Reimold and Steve Clevenger both hit their first career slams during the Orioles' 10-run eighth inning Friday night in a 14-8 win over Kansas City. According to Elias Sports Bureau, the New York Mets were the last team to hit two grand slams in the same inning when they did so against the Chicago Cubs on July 16, 2006. Carlos Beltran and Cliff Floyd...
Continue reading

Latimore drives in six as Bowie routs Altoona 11-3, now one win from advancing

Latimore drives in six as Bowie routs Altoona 11-3, now one win from advancing
BOWIE, Md. - Former Orioles minor league pitcher Steven Brault has had tremendous success this year against most of the Double-A Eastern League. He's done well against every team except the Bowie Baysox. Facing his former organization for the second time in less than two months, Brault got hit hard again tonight in a 11-3 Bowie win over Altoona. Quincy Latimore had a six-RBI night for Bowie. The victory gives the Baysox a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five playoff series. A win tomorrow night in...
Continue reading

Bowie faces former O's farmhand in Game 3 of the playoffs (Bowie up 10-2)

Bowie faces former O's farmhand in Game 3 of the playoffs (Bowie up 10-2)
BOWIE, Md. - On January 27, the Orioles acquired outfielder Travis Snider from Pittsburgh for minor league pitcher Stephen Tarpley and a player to be named later. Tonight the PTBNL pitches for the Altoona Curve against the Double-A Bowie Baysox in Game 3 of their Eastern League semfinal playoff series. That is 23-year-old left-hander Steven Brault, the Orioles' 11th-round draft pick in 2013. Brault went 11-8 with a 2.77 ERA last year for the Orioles, pitching mostly at Single-A Delmarva, but...
Continue reading

O's game blog: Mike Wright on the mound in series opener against K.C.

O's game blog: Mike Wright on the mound in series opener against K.C.
Right-hander Mike Wright (2-4, 5.19) ERA makes his ninth major league appearance tonight and eighth start of the season as the Orioles begin a six-game homestand at Camden Yards. They'll host Kansas City over the weekend for three and then Boston for three games starting Monday night. Wright came off the disabled list to make the start last Saturday at Toronto. In four innings he allowed seven hits and three runs. In 34 2/3 innings on the year he has allowed 38 hits with 12 walks, 23...
Continue reading

Chris Davis' big second half could lead him to a big contract (plus minor league notes)

Chris Davis' big second half could lead him to a big contract (plus minor league notes)
For Orioles first baseman Chris Davis, this season began with fans frustrated and some angry at him. That was because he hit just .196 last year, and then he was suspended and missed the playoffs. He had some repair work to do with the fans. When he struggled at times early this year, some fans got frustrated by that and his high-strikeout totals. But now, as he is blasting his way through a big second half, it seems some of those same fans now insist that Davis be re-signed to a huge contract...
Continue reading

Bowie beats Altoona 7-0 tonight in EL playoffs (Norfolk game suspended)

Bowie beats Altoona 7-0 tonight in EL playoffs (Norfolk game suspended)
The Double-A Bowie Baysox bounced back from last night's tough loss to win 7-0 tonight at Altoona. The win evens their Eastern League playoff series at one victory each in the best-of-five series. It was an important win for Bowie to not fall behind 0-2 in the series and also to rebound from last night when the Baysox led 7-0 in the second inning, but lost 8-7. Baysox outfielder Mike Yastrzemski's solo homer in the first inning gave Bowie the lead. In the fifth, the lead grew to 3-0 on an...
Continue reading

A look at Chance Sisco's late-season promotion to Double-A (plus O's notes)

A look at Chance Sisco's late-season promotion to Double-A (plus O's notes)
As the Double-A Bowie Baysox look to win their first Eastern League championship in the 2015 playoffs that started last night, they are chasing the title with a very young player playing a very key position. In mid-August, the Orioles moved 20-year-old Chance Sisco from Single-A Frederick to Bowie. So far, the organization's No. 4 prospect, according to Baseball America, has held his own well at the higher level. After batting .308 with four homers, 26 RBIs and an .809 OPS in 75 games for...
Continue reading

Steve Pearce homers in the eighth, Chris Davis drives in two as O's top New York

Steve Pearce homers in the eighth, Chris Davis drives in two as O's top New York
After getting a break and two gift runs to tie the game, the Orioles went to an old formula to go ahead at New York. Steve Pearce homered to left with one out in the eighth, and the Orioles went on to beat the Yankees 5-3. Pearce hit No. 10 off Adam Warren on a 2-2 pitch to break the 3-3 tie. With the win, the Orioles are 67-72 and end this road trip going 3-3 to Toronto and New York. The Orioles ended a five-series losing streak tonight. Each team scored once in the first inning tonight. Chris...
Continue reading

O's game blog: Ubaldo Jimenez on mound as Orioles go for series win

O's game blog: Ubaldo Jimenez on mound as Orioles go for series win
Coming off an outing in which he got the win on the road against the Toronto Blue Jays, Ubaldo Jimenez will try to beat the team chasing Toronto in the American League East, the New York Yankees. Jimenez (10-9, 4.24 ERA) makes his 28th start tonight. On Friday at Rogers Centre, he went 5 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and two runs (one earned). While he tied his career-high with six walks that night, Toronto batters went 0-for-6 against him with runners in scoring position. That was a rare win...
Continue reading

The Orioles instructional league roster

The Orioles instructional league roster
The Orioles' fall instructional league is set to begin on Sept. 22 at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla., and the workouts and games will run through Oct. 13. The Orioles will have 59 players reporting including 24 pitchers, five catchers, 14 infielders, 11 outfielders and five players listed as on rehab. Pitchers Dylan Bundy, Hunter Harvey and Branden Kline will be there continuing their rehab programs. Players at the instructional league get plenty of one-on-one instruction and added work...
Continue reading

Bowie playoff preview: Trey Mancini leads the Baysox against Altoona (updated)

Bowie playoff preview: Trey Mancini leads the Baysox against Altoona (updated)
When the Eastern League playoffs begin tonight, the Double-A Bowie Baysox hope the hot bat they watched first baseman Trey Mancini sustain for 84 games this year can stay hot for a few more. Bowie (79-63) plays at Altoona (74-68) tonight in Game 1 of a best-of-five series. Altoona hosts Game 2 tomorrow, and then the series shifts to Bowie for Game 3 Friday and Games 4 and 5 if necessary Saturday and Sunday. The 23-year-old Mancini was promoted from Single-A Frederick to the Baysox June 5. In 84...
Continue reading

Norfolk playoff preview: A look at Terry Doyle, who takes the ball in Game 1 tonight

Norfolk playoff preview: A look at Terry Doyle, who takes the ball in Game 1 tonight
For Triple-A Norfolk right-hander Terry Doyle, his 2015 season is ending up very differently than it started. Hoping to break spring training with Norfolk, he was instead sent to Double-A Bowie, where he was not even on the active roster on opening day. But on April 17, he was activated by Bowie. On May 10, he joined the Baysox rotation and pitched great. On Aug. 3, he was promoted to Norfolk, and tonight, he will pitch the playoff opener for the Tides at home against Columbus to start a...
Continue reading

Chris Davis hits tiebreaking homer in ninth as O's win 2-1

Chris Davis hits tiebreaking homer in ninth as O's win 2-1
Chris Davis probably was not unhappy when the Yankees had a lefty reliever face him to start the top of the ninth tonight. Chasen Shreve came on in a 1-1 game. After all, Davis has hit lefies well this year, batting .289 with an OPS of .850 and nine homers in 149 at-bats. Then, when Shreve left a 2-0 fastball up and out over the plate, Davis lined it into the left-field stands for his 41st homer. That blast put the Orioles ahead 2-1 and they won by that score tonight at Yankee Stadium to end a...
Continue reading

O's game blog: Orioles are 1-7 this season at Yankee Stadium

O's game blog: Orioles are 1-7 this season at Yankee Stadium
Last season, as the Orioles were on their way to the American League East championship, they went 13-6 against the New York Yankees and 6-4 in New York. This year, as they may struggle to even have a winning record, they are 5-9 against the Yankees and only 1-7 in New York. On Monday, the Orioles lost an early 4-1 lead in losing 8-6 at Yankee Stadium. The Orioles have lost five straight at Yankee Stadium and they are 0-4 in one-run road games versus the Yankees. Even though they have a losing...
Continue reading

A look at the interesting case of pending free agent Gerardo Parra

A look at the interesting case of pending free agent Gerardo Parra
When the Orioles traded with Milwaukee for outfielder Gerardo Parra, they got a player who was having a great season to plug a hole at a corner outfield position. In 100 games this year with Milwaukee, Parra was outstanding. He came to the Orioles ranked fourth in batting in the National League, and ninth in slugging and OPS. He came to Baltimore batting .328 with 24 doubles, five triples, nine homers and 31 RBIs. He was hitting .435 in July and .460 during an active 14-game hitting streak at...
Continue reading

O's lose early lead and then game on tiebreaking homer in seventh

O's lose early lead and then game on tiebreaking homer in seventh
We've seen it happen far too often lately: An Orioles pitcher allows a key hit when ahead in the count. It happened today at a crucial point in the game at New York. First baseman Greg Bird hit a three-run homer on an 0-2 pitch from Brian Matusz. He got a hanging breaking ball and didn't miss it. That broke a 5-5 tie in the seventh inning as New York beat the Orioles 8-6 this afternoon. With their 15th loss in 18 games, the Orioles fall to 65-72. They have fallen to seven games under .500 for...
Continue reading