Markakis on the end of extra-base hit drought (plus other clubhouse quotes)

Markakis on the end of extra-base hit drought (plus other clubhouse quotes)
Several minutes after the Orioles had beaten Oakland 10-3, Nick Markakis talked about ending his 31-game drought without an extra-base hit and his 51-game homerless stretch this afternoon. "I'm just glad I hit the ball hard," Markakis said. "Where it goes, sometimes you have no control over it. I just want to go up with a good approach and hit the ball hard. Just continue to look for a good pitch, put a good swing on it, and wherever it goes, it goes." Since 1997, only Julio Lugo had a...
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O's get early offense, Markakis ends homer drought in win over A's

O's get early offense, Markakis ends homer drought in win over A's
The Orioles got some early offense today and their starting pitcher worked out of some early trouble. It added up to a 10-3 win over the Oakland A's in front of 33,820 at Camden Yards. The Orioles won the series, completed a 5-4 homestand and improved to 70-59 on the season heading into a nine-game road trip that begins Tuesday at Boston. They are 13-6 in finales of three-game sets that decide the series winner and 24-14-4 in 42 series in 2013. Oakland had gone 105 consecutive games without...
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O's hitting coach Jim Presley talks about Nick Markakis (O's get early lead)

O's hitting coach Jim Presley talks about Nick Markakis (O's get early lead)
Nick Markakis has now gone 31 games without an extra-base hit and 51 games, since June 24, without a home run. Orioles batting coach Jim Presley doesn't feel there is any one specific reason for the power falloff for Markakis, who is batting .210 with an OPS of .500 in 20 August games. "I think it is more mental than anything," Presley said. "I think he feels like he should drive the ball better. It's been a while since he's had an extra-base hit. He knows it. We all know it. It...
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A look at the Orioles' one-run record

A look at the Orioles' one-run record
The Orioles' latest one-run loss was Saturday at Camden Yards. Coco Crisp hit a homer in the top of the ninth and Oakland beat the Orioles 2-1. One season after the Orioles had a 29-9 record in one run games, to post the best win percentage in major league history, they are now nine games under .500 in the one-run decisions. The Orioles have gone from first to worst in the American League in this stat and they are now 14-23 in one-run contests. It gets a bit worse. The Orioles have lost...
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Postgame comments from Darren O'Day, Chris Tillman and Adam Jones

Postgame comments from Darren O'Day, Chris Tillman and Adam Jones
Darren O'Day said he threw the right pitch, but it was located in the wrong spot. His 3-1 slider to Coco Crisp in the top of the ninth was hit for a homer to right to break the 1-1 tie as Oakland beat the Orioles 2-1 this afternoon. "He might have been looking for it, but if I put it where it is supposed to be he might get a hit, but he's not going to hit it out," O'Day said. "I'd like to have all of them back (pitches in the ninth). I got behind in the count and he's looking for his...
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Coco Crisp's homer in the ninth gives Oakland a 2-1 win over the Orioles

Coco Crisp's homer in the ninth gives Oakland a 2-1 win over the Orioles
Coco Crisp led off the top of the ninth with a homer off Darren O'Day over the right field scoreboard and that lifted Oakland to a 2-1 win over the Orioles this afternoon in front of 33,834 at Camden Yards. The blast, which came on a 3-1 pitch, snapped a 1-1 tie and was the seventh allowed by O'Day this season. It was the 12th hit by Crisp as Oakland improved to 72-56. This was Chris Tillman's fourth shot at becoming the 29th 15-game winner in O's history and he left with a no-decision...
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A look at the O's offense against the A's and Oakland's Jarrod Parker

A look at the O's offense against the A's and Oakland's Jarrod Parker
The Oakland A's have one of the better pitching staffs in the American League with a team ERA of 3.62, which is third-best in the AL, and a batting average against of .242, which ranks second. But in five games this season, the Orioles are batting .298 with 37 runs and 54 hits off Oakland pitchers. The O's have gone 20-for-57 (.351) with runners in scoring position against the Athletics and went 5-for-14 with RISP in a 9-7 win last night. That was against an Oakland staff that came into...
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K-Rod on his improved pitching and Jim Johnson

K-Rod on his improved pitching and Jim Johnson
Since getting off to a rocky start with his new team, veteran reliever Francisco Rodriguez has been pitching well for the Orioles. They acquired him in a deal with Milwaukee for minor leaguer Nicky Delmonico on July 23. He gave up four homers in four innings over his first four games. Since then, he has allowed one earned run over his last 7 2/3 innings with 13 strikeouts. He pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning last night to get his second Orioles win. "Trying to be more aggressive and trying to...
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Brian Roberts on Jim Johnson: "You could see the look in his eye"

Brian Roberts on Jim Johnson: "You could see the look in his eye"
There were a few positives that came out of last night's win for the Orioles over the Athletics. From a team standpoint, they moved to within two games of Oakland for the second American League wild-card spot and within 4 1/2 games of first in the AL East. But seeing Jim Johnson buzz through the top of the ninth with no drama and get the A's three up and out on just nine pitches was a real plus and big lift for the team. Johnson had suffered three consecutive blown saves until getting No....
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Jim Johnson and Brian Roberts comment after the O's beat the A's

Jim Johnson and Brian Roberts comment after the O's beat the A's
After he picked up his first save since Aug. 6 with a 1-2-3 ninth inning on just nine pitches, Jim Johnson was asked what made this outing different from the recent ones where he suffered blown saves. "Command. I was able to command both sides of the plate. And getting later action," he said. "There were a couple of games where it looked like the ball was reacting too soon. These guys are really good and if they see it move too early, they can make the adjustment. Just wanted to get about...
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Roberts with a slam, Johnson with a save as O's top Oakland

Roberts with a slam, Johnson with a save as O's top Oakland
Get the lead. Lose the lead. Get the lead back. The Orioles used six- and three-run innings to do just that in a 9-7 win over Oakland in the start of this important weekend series tonight in front of 36,761 at Camden Yards. Up by two runs, Tommy Hunter pitched a scoreless eighth inning before Jim Johnson pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to record his first save since Aug. 6 and No. 40 on the year. Johnson is now 31-for-33 in save chances when the lead is two or more. Brian Roberts hit his sixth career...
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Some O's and A's stats and notes

Some O's and A's stats and notes
In the chase for the AL's second wild card playoff berth, Oakland is leading Cleveland by 2 1/2 games, the Orioles by three and New York by 3 1/2. Another important series has arrived for the Orioles, who are 68-58 to Oakland's 71-55. The A's have lost their last two games and are 15-16 since the All-Star break. Oakland has solid pitching with a team ERA that ranks third in the AL and they've issued the second-fewest walks in the majors. But when the O's took three of four at Oakland...
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Another look at Matt Wieters and his very fast time to second base on Wednesday night

Another look at Matt Wieters and his very fast time to second base on Wednesday night
When Matt Wieters threw out Kelly Johnson trying to steal to end Wednesday's game, not only did J.J. Hardy make a nice tag, but Wieters' time in getting the ball to second base was exceptional. Wieters was clocked at 1.75 seconds from the time he caught the ball to the time it took to get the ball to Hardy's glove. The major league average is right around or just under under 2.0 seconds. Buck Showalter talked about that play earlier today. "If you go through (the video), you'll see him...
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Tommy Hunter on pitching in the ninth Wednesday and the O's closer role

Tommy Hunter on pitching in the ninth Wednesday and the O's closer role
While Buck Showalter hasn't said that Jim Johnson is still the Orioles closer, he hasn't said he isn't either. But Tommy Hunter did get the save Wednesday against Tampa Bay and it was his fourth this year. Hunter said he didn't know he would be on the mound to end the game that night, but he also doesn't feel the Orioles have any closer controversy right now either. He certainly isn't campaigning to pitch the ninth. He is happy to work whenever they hand him the ball. "I think everyone...
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Orioles' Brian Graham talks about Dariel Alvarez

Orioles' Brian Graham talks about Dariel Alvarez
When I presented one writer's take on Cuban outfielder Dariel Alvarez yesterday, I mentioned that several members of the O's front office had mentioned to me how impressed they were with Alvarez's play so far in his first few weeks in the organization. Alvarez went 4-for-9 in three games in the Gulf Coast League when he was recently activated and he's been with Single-A Frederick since Aug. 15. In eight games with the Keys, Alvarez is batting .419 at 13-for-31 with two doubles, two homers...
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Aberdeen IronBirds remain in pursuit of first-ever playoff berth

Aberdeen IronBirds remain in pursuit of first-ever playoff berth
With a team full of 2013 Orioles draft picks, this year's short-season Single-A IronBirds are trying to make history by becoming the first playoff squad in Aberdeen. This is the IronBirds' 12th season and not only have they never made the New York-Penn League playoffs, but Aberdeen has had just one winning season. But after an extra-innings win last night at Hudson Valley, Aberdeen is 31-27 and leading its division by 1 1/2 games with 14 games left to play. Aberdeen is 11-6 over its last 17...
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Despite one unfavorable scouting report, Dariel Alvarez is off to a hot start

Despite one unfavorable scouting report, Dariel Alvarez is off to a hot start
Cuban outfielder Dariel Alvarez, signed by the Orioles in July, has gotten off to a real strong start in his first few weeks with the organization. After going 4-for-9 in three games in the Gulf Coast League, the 24-year-old Alvarez moved to Single-A Frederick. Last night, he hit another homer for the Keys. In seven games with Frederick, he is batting 13-for-27 (.481) with two doubles, two homers and seven RBIs. But despite his early impressive stats, one scouting report that comes from a...
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Wieters on the last out, Davis on the win, Hunter on the save

Wieters on the last out, Davis on the win, Hunter on the save
A few minutes after he was involved in the play that ended the game, Matt Wieters talked about catching Kelly Johnson stealing and his throw to J.J. Hardy that ended the O's 4-2 win over Tampa Bay. "(Kelly) Johnson got a pretty good jump, but I was just going to try and throw it as hard as I could," Wieters said. "Really, all the credit goes to J.J. That was one heckuva pick he made. "I've seen him do that before. He spoils you a little bit as a catcher. You know if you get it in the...
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Chris Davis hits No. 46, Tommy Hunter gets save as O's top Tampa Bay

Chris Davis hits No. 46, Tommy Hunter gets save as O's top Tampa Bay
Chris Davis hit his 46th home run tonight to tie Jim Gentile for third on the O's single-season homer list as the Orioles beat Tampa Bay 4-2 in front of 28,323 at Camden Yards. With the win, the O's salvage a game in this series, end Tampa Bay's five-game winning streak here and beat the Rays for just the second time in the last nine meetings. There was a save opportunity in the ninth, but Jim Johnson didn't pitch. Darren O'Day started the inning, Brian Matusz came on to pitch to a...
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Does Wei-Yin Chen hit the wall when the pitch count reaches 100?

Does Wei-Yin Chen hit the wall when the pitch count reaches 100?
If Wei-Yin Chen gets deep into the game here tonight against Tampa Bay, do the Orioles have to tread very lightly when he reaches the 100-pitch count? The stat sheet says yes. First of all, Chen's ERA is 11.25 from the seventh inning on, with four homers allowed over eight innings. Secondly, his batting average against, which is just .213 on his 76th to 100th pitches, balloons to .500 with an OPS of 1.931 on pitches 101 and up. Chen has allowed eight hits in 16 at-bats this year on pitches...
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