No hard feelings: Zach Clark on the end of his nine-year run with the Orioles organization

No hard feelings: Zach Clark on the end of his nine-year run with the Orioles organization
For Zach Clark, this was his ninth season, and as it turned out, his last in the Orioles organization. The right-hander who pitched in 196 games for the club since 2006 was released June 13. The 30-year-old UMBC product saw every stop on the O's farm and even made the majors for one game last season. But the 2013 season was certainly a wild one for him. Just days after he gave up three runs in 1 2/3 innings on May 1 at Seattle in his one and only career game in the majors, he was designated...
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Gonzalez on his outing, Joseph on play at plate, Markakis on Quintana

Gonzalez on his outing, Joseph on play at plate, Markakis on Quintana
Miguel Gonzalez has allowed 17 hits and seven runs over 10 innings in two starts since coming off the disabled list with a right oblique strain. He took the loss tonight, giving up nine hits and three runs over five innings in a 4-2 loss to Chicago. "Yeah, I'm healthy," Gonzalez said. "Just got to keep working hard and having my team in the game, that is the most important thing. "The only pitch (really working) was my slider, that was good. Made some good pitches when I got in trouble,...
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No comeback this time: O's bats quiet in 4-2 loss to White Sox

No comeback this time: O's bats quiet in 4-2 loss to White Sox
This time there was no ninth-inning magic. No comeback. Not even a lead. Chicago scored single runs off Miguel Gonzalez in the first, second and fourth innings and beat the Orioles 4-2 tonight in front of 20,596 at Camden Yards. The Orioles lost for just the second time in seven games to fall to 17-18 at home and 40-36 for the season. Gonzalez gave up a homer to the second batter he faced, Gordon Beckham, and several loud hits early on. He pitched out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs in...
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O's game blog: A look at the June homers and Futures Game selections

O's game blog: A look at the June homers and Futures Game selections
The Orioles used the longball early and late last night to beat the White Sox. Home runs are a big part of the Orioles' offense and they lead the majors with 33 in June. The Orioles hit 16 homers in April, 37 in May and now 33 in June. They are also spreading the wealth more. They had just six players hit homers in April and nine in May. This month, 12 different Orioles have contributed to the homer surge. Orioles June homers: 8 - Adam Jones 6 - Chris Davis 3 - Nelson Cruz, Nick Markakis 2...
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Machado on his appeal: "Five games could maybe even cost us the playoffs"

Machado on his appeal: "Five games could maybe even cost us the playoffs"
Manny Machado's appeal of his five-game suspension will be heard tomorrow in Baltimore. Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette will join Machado at the hearing. Earlier today, before reporters were informed of the appeal date, Machado talked about the appeal process and the organization's hope that his suspension will be reduced. "I hope we get it down at least below four (games)," he said. "Four for sure. Just because they gave me that extra day without me getting thrown out of...
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How much will one swing mean for Chris Davis? (Harvey and Alvarez make Futures Game)

How much will one swing mean for Chris Davis? (Harvey and Alvarez make Futures Game)
Can one swing turn around a player's season? I guess we are going to find out after Chris Davis' pinch-hit, walk-off homer in the ninth Monday that lifted the Orioles to a 6-4 win over the White Sox. With Toronto's win over New York, the Orioles moved ahead of the Yankees into sole possession of second place and remained 1 1/2 games back of Toronto for the division's top spot. I had a perfectly fine game story ready to go last night. All I needed to do was hit publish when the third out...
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Chris Davis on his game-winning home run against Chicago

Chris Davis on his game-winning home run against Chicago
After struggles that saw him go 4-for-36 over his previous nine games and with a batting average of just .187 in June, Chris Davis stepped to the plate in the ninth inning tonight and hit a walk-off, three-run homer for the Orioles. Davis didn't start tonight's game, but he certainly ended it with a shot to right-center on a 3-2 pitch from Ronald Belisario. It turned what looked like it would be a frustrating one-run loss into an uplifting 6-4 win to start an 11-game homestand. It was the...
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Chris Davis with a pinch-hit walk-off homer in the ninth as O's stun Chicago

Chris Davis with a pinch-hit walk-off homer in the ninth as O's stun Chicago
After a night of frustration on offense the Orioles won on a walk-off home run by their struggling first baseman. Chris Davis, who didn't start tonight and was 4-for-36 over his last nine games, hit a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to turn a potential one-run loss into a 6-4 win over the Chicago White Sox. The ninth inning began with White Sox closer Ronald Belisario on to protect a 4-3 lead. He faced Steve Pearce to start the ninth and Pearce singled to left. Adam...
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O's game blog: Birds look to buy a few hits off Sale tonight

O's game blog: Birds look to buy a few hits off Sale tonight
The next week and a half provides the Orioles with a chance to do themselves some good. But first they need to improve on a 16-17 home record as they settle in for an 11-game homestand that begins tonight against Chicago. Wei-Yin Chen (7-2, 3.78 ERA) faces left-hander Chris Sale (6-1, 2.20 ERA). One day after facing one of baseball's best starters, the Orioles see another. Some of Sale's numbers are crazy good. For instance, he has allowed just 39 hits over 65 1/3 innings for a batting...
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Chris Davis talks about his struggles at the plate

Chris Davis talks about his struggles at the plate
Chris Davis is not starting for the Orioles tonight. Physically, he is fine but Davis is struggling at the plate. During a seven-minute interview with reporters at his locker today, he talked at length about his struggles this year. First he talked about not starting tonight. "Physically no (issue). It's probably because I've been sucking lately," Davis said. "That is pretty evident. It's about putting the best nine out there every game and lately I just haven't been very good. Maybe a...
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For the Orioles, the AL East looks ripe for the taking

For the Orioles, the AL East looks ripe for the taking
Nice response to Friday's blown save wasn't it? The Orioles hit four homers to beat the Yankees 6-1 Saturday and became the first American League team to beat Masahiro Tanaka with an 8-0 win on Sunday. Since Zach Britton gave up that homer Friday, the Orioles outscored the Yankees 14-1 on their home turf. Has a good run of baseball finally come for this team? Is the club finally going to support all the quality starts they've been getting recently with enough runs to reel off some wins...
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Nelson Cruz and Matt Wieters still lead in AL All-Star voting

Nelson Cruz and Matt Wieters still lead in AL All-Star voting
Nelson Cruz still leads at designated hitter and Matt Wieters remains the leader at catcher in the latest voting released for the American League All-Star team tonight. Cruz, aiming for his first fan-elected starting assignment, has received 2,457,349 as he continues to hold off Boston's David Ortiz (1,652,470), a nine-time All-Star who has earned each of the last three fan elections at designated hitter. Cruz, a two-time All-Star, is tied for first in the majors with 23 home runs and ranks...
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Tillman outpitches Tanaka as O's take series finale 8-0

Tillman outpitches Tanaka as O's take series finale 8-0
The Orioles had to figure that if they were going to beat Masahiro Tanaka today, they would need some timely hits and a big game from Chris Tillman. They got both this afternoon as Tillman pitched seven scoreless innings in an 8-0 win over the Yankees in front of 47,493 at Yankee Stadium. The Orioles scored seven runs over the final three innings to break open a tense pitchers' duel. With the win, the Orioles complete a 4-2 road trip and improve to 39-35. Coupled with Toronto's loss at...
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O's game blog: Orioles face Tanaka in series finale

O's game blog: Orioles face Tanaka in series finale
New York right-hander Masahiro Tanaka takes a record of 11-1 and ERA of 1.99 over 14 starts into his outing today against the Orioles. Over his last five starts, Tanaka is 5-0 with an ERA of 1.26. Over seven home starts, he is 5-0 with an ERA of 1.86. He has recorded a quality start all 14 times he has pitched. Over 99 2/3 innings, he has walked just 16 and struck out 113 for an average of 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The Orioles face a real challenge, to say the least, in this game...
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Graham, Merullo and Bundy on Bundy

Graham, Merullo and Bundy on Bundy
So the Dylan Bundy rehab at short-season Single-A Aberdeen is going rather well. Fans at Ripken Stadium last night got to see that first-hand. Bundy fanned nine over five scoreless innings against Brooklyn, touching 93 and 94 mph with his fastball. In two Aberdeen outings, he has given up just seven hits and one run over 10 innings with one walk and 15 strikeouts. So far, so good. But before last night's game, O's director of player development Brian Graham reminded reporters that this is...
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Dylan Bundy talks about his rehab outing at Aberdeen

Dylan Bundy talks about his rehab outing at Aberdeen
ABERDEEN, Md. - Dylan Bundy's outing tonight started and ended with two strikeouts and he got a few more in between as well. Making his second start for short-season Single-A Aberdeen, Bundy struck out nine batters and pitched five scoreless innings against the Brooklyn Cyclones. He gave up just two hits and issued just one walk in a game that Brooklyn won 3-1 in 11 innings. It was a strong outing for the 21-year-old right-hander that is ranked the Orioles' No. 1 prospect by Baseball...
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O's hit four homers, Norris leaves with injury in win over New York

O's hit four homers, Norris leaves with injury in win over New York
Bud Norris exited the game early due to an injury and that was not good. Some fly balls exited the park early on and for the O's offense, that was good. Norris went five innings to get the win and the Orioles backed him with four homers to tie a season high in a 6-1 win over the Yankees in front of 47,165 at Yankee Stadium this afternoon. Norris came out to pitch in the last of the sixth, but left before the inning began due to right groin tightness. He gave up just three hits and one run with...
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IronBirds game blog: Dylan Bundy makes second Aberdeen start tonight (Fans nine in five innings)

IronBirds game blog: Dylan Bundy makes second Aberdeen start tonight (Fans nine in five innings)
ABERDEEN, Md. - Dylan Bundy will make his second rehab outing tonight for short-season Single-A Aberdeen as the IronBirds host Brooklyn. This will be Bundy's first career appearance at Ripken Stadium. The 21-year-old right-hander threw 65 pitches and went five innings last Sunday night at Hudson Valley. He gave up five hits and one run with no walks and six strikeouts. Hudson Valley came up with a single, ground-rule double and RBI groundout to push across a run in the third inning. Bundy,...
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O's game blog: Orioles have gone a while without a double-digit hits game

O's game blog: Orioles have gone a while without a double-digit hits game
The Orioles would like to snap a streak today at New York. They have now gone 13 consecutive games without one game of 10 or more hits. They continue adding on to the longest streak of the year and had nine hits last night. During that time, the team batting average is .230. The runs, as we know, have been scarce. The Orioles have scored three or fewer runs in five of the last seven games and in eight of the last 14, going 2-6 in those eight games. The Orioles are averaging just 3.2 runs per...
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After rough ninth, can O's bounce back today in The Bronx?

After rough ninth, can O's bounce back today in The Bronx?
The Toronto Blue Jays trailed 8-0 in the second inning last night. They were tied 9-9 in the ninth at Cincinnati. The Orioles led 3-1 with two outs in the ninth at New York. An O's win and Toronto loss last night, and the Orioles would have been 1 1/2 games out of first place. Instead they begin play today 3 1/2 out after a Blue Jays rally and Orioles blown save. Ouch. Tough reversal there. The Orioles have seen this happen before in Yankee Stadium - both the old one and new one. As Zach...
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