Are pitchers adjusting to Chris Davis? (plus a take on Ortiz)

Are pitchers adjusting to Chris Davis? (plus a take on Ortiz)
So have pitchers adjusted to Chris Davis? Why hasn't he homered since the All-Star break and why is he striking out so much right now? First of all, keep in mind that with 37 homers and 97 RBIs, Davis has already had a year that many players would be proud of over 162 games - and he's played only 104. But Davis has fanned in eight of 11 at-bats the last three games. In nine games since the All-Star break, he is 8-for-35 (.229) with no homers, four RBIs and a .596 OPS. He has fanned in 36...
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Davis on his struggles and Ortiz, Feldman on his outing

Davis on his struggles and Ortiz, Feldman on his outing
After beating Boston last night and losing 7-3 tonight, Chris Davis was asked if that was a step back for the Orioles. "I don't think we took a step back, we just got beat," he said. "We can't put up six or seven runs every night. Stephen Drew had an outstanding night. I don't think we took a step back by any means." Davis went 1-for-3 tonight with a walk and two strikeouts. He has struck out eight times over the last three games and began tonight hitting just .208 this month. "You...
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Stephen Drew homers twice as Boston evens series

Stephen Drew homers twice as Boston evens series
Stephen Drew had not hit very well against Orioles pitching this year, but he made up for some of that tonight. Drew homered twice and drove in five runs as Boston beat the Orioles 7-3 in front of a sellout of 44,765 at Camden Yards. It was Drew's second career two-homer game - his first came Aug. 25, 2010 at San Diego - and his five RBIs tied his career high. He began the night 2-for-20 on the season against the Orioles and batting .223 overall. He had gone 95 at-bats without a homer when...
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Showalter on Feldman

Showalter on Feldman
Scott Feldman makes his fifth start for the Orioles at Camden Yards tonight against Boston. He has delivered three quality starts and is 2-1 with a 4.73 ERA for the Orioles. Feldman has won his last two starts, pitching a total of 15 1/3 innings allowing 10 hits and five runs. When the Orioles acquired him July 2 in a trade with the Cubs, you had to figure Buck Showalter had some input on the acquisition. When Feldman pitched for the Texas Rangers in relief in 2005 and 2006 - his first two...
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Former O's first-rounder Brandon Snyder on time with the O's and being with Boston

Former O's first-rounder Brandon Snyder on time with the O's and being with Boston
Brandon Snyder, the Orioles' first-round pick in 2005, returned to town to play against the Orioles last season with Texas and he's back this weekend as a member of the Boston Red Sox. Snyder lost out on making the Rangers' opening day roster, was released late in spring and then quickly signed with Boston. He was with their Triple-A Pawtucket affiliate until Boston called him up June 25. "You start to realize how much a business it is," Snyder said this afternoon in the Red Sox...
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A look at the Orioles' strong pitching this season against Boston

A look at the Orioles' strong pitching this season against Boston
In winning six of eight games this season against the Boston Red Sox, the Orioles' pitching has been a big key. The Red Sox have one of the best offenses in baseball - in fact, they lead all of the major leagues in runs scored - but their runs have been hard to come by this year against Baltimore pitching. Boston has scored just 22 runs in eight games against the O's staff for an average of 2.8 per game. They have averaged 5.2 runs per game in their 96 games against everyone else. The Red...
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Notes and quotes on Tillman, Jones, Machado and more

Notes and quotes on Tillman, Jones, Machado and more
I guess we can call off the panic for a while coming off the O's series at Kansas City. We can also call off the panic over the offense after Friday's 6-0 win over Boston. Last night they beat a pitcher in John Lackey that ranked eighth in the American League in ERA and was 12-4 in his career against the Orioles. Entering the weekend four games out of first, the O's need to do well this weekend and they got the series off to a great start last night as Chris Tillman pitched a gem for his...
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Adam Jones and Chris Tillman comment after the O's win over Boston

Adam Jones and Chris Tillman comment after the O's win over Boston
He hit two homers tonight, but when it was over, Adam Jones threw some strong praise Chris Tillman's way. "He's been throwing the hell out of the ball all year," Jones said. "This is the year he takes a turn for the better. This is the year he loses that prospect status and starts to put himself in top-of-the-rotation conversation. He's got the talent to do it." Tillman pitched seven shutout innings of two-hit ball to become the Orioles' first 13-game winner since Erik Bedard in 2007...
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Tillman, Jones lead O's past Boston

Tillman, Jones lead O's past Boston
Chris Tillman and Adam Jones grabbed co-starring roles tonight as the Orioles beat Boston 6-0 in the opener of a big weekend three-game series in front of 39,063 at Camden Yards. Tillman pitched seven shutout innings and Jones homered twice as the the Orioles ended a three-game losing streak, won for ninth time in the last 13 games and improved to 58-46. The Orioles continued their recent mastery of the Red Sox. They are 6-2 this year against Boston and 19-7 since the start of last season....
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Can the O's bats get going tonight against John Lackey? (O's get early lead)

Can the O's bats get going tonight against John Lackey? (O's get early lead)
When the Red Sox got rained out at home last night against Tampa Bay, it meant that their scheduled starter for that game, John Lackey, would be pushed back to open the series tonight in Baltimore. The Orioles, who have scored just six runs over the last three games, going 1-for-17 with runners in scoring position, have their work cut out tonight. Lackey is 7-7 with a 2.95 ERA over 17 starts. He ranks eighth in the AL in ERA and is 10th in opponents' OBP (.291) and WHIP (1.16). Lackey...
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Francisco Rodriguez talks about joining the Orioles

Francisco Rodriguez talks about joining the Orioles
The Orioles acquired reliever Francisco Rodriguez on Tuesday and he made his O's debut last night in Kansas City. Rodriguez has 304 career saves, the third-most among active players and 21st-most all-time. He said he has not been told about any specific role he'll have out of the O's bullpen. "No, just be ready," Rodriguez said. "Not here to take anyone's job, just take some pressure off the bullpen. Whatever is possible to help the Orioles, I'll be ready to do it." No doubt one...
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Urrutia on his O's teammates: "I feel like I've been here for years"

Urrutia on his O's teammates: "I feel like I've been here for years"
Henry Urrutia had a one-word answer when asked what his first few days in the major leagues have been like. "Emotional," he said through O's minor league coach Ramon Sambo, who has been with him to interpret and has been helping him since spring training as the former Cuban outfielder adapts to life on and off the field in the United States. In the last year, Urrutia has been through a lot to finally get to travel to the U.S., to play in the minors and to finally make his way into the...
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Minor league pitching notes on Harvey, Hobgood and Wilson

Minor league pitching notes on Harvey, Hobgood and Wilson
The Orioles' 2013 first-round pick, right-hander Hunter Harvey, made his second pro appearance today in the O's Gulf Coast League game against Tampa Bay. Harvey gave up three hits and two runs in the first inning of his outing today. He pitched a scoreless second inning. Harvey's line today: 2 IP, 3 hits, 2 runs (both earned), 0 walks, 1 strikeout. Harvey started and pitched a scoreless inning in his pro debut a week ago today. The Orioles want Harvey to throw two bullpen sessions...
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A look at the Orioles' winning ways against Boston

A look at the Orioles' winning ways against Boston
The Orioles begin a big series with the first-place Boston Red Sox tonight, looking to continue a recent run of success against a team they went 2-16 against in 2009 and 17-55 against from 2006-09. This year, the Orioles have won both their series against the Red Sox, going 5-2. Last season, the Orioles went 13-5 versus Boston. Here is maybe the most stunning stat of all: The Orioles have won six straight and nine of the last 10 series between these teams. The Orioles have won 14 of the...
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Miguel Gonzalez takes the loss and O's go 1-3 in Kansas City to end trip

Miguel Gonzalez takes the loss and O's go 1-3 in Kansas City to end trip
At least this time there was no late-inning heartache. But a road trip that began with such promise ended with a thud for the Orioles, who lost 7-1 tonight at Kansas City. After scoring 23 runs in starting this trip 4-0, the Orioles scored just six runs the last three nights in losing the final three games of a four-game series at Kansas City. The Royals led 3-0 in the second against O's starter Miguel Gonzalez and they knocked him from the game during a three-run fifth. Gonzalez allowed...
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A look at the O's recent run of quality starts

A look at the O's recent run of quality starts
Even during two straight frustrating losses, the Orioles are continuing to get quality starts from their pitching staff. That trend, should it continue, would be very big for this club as the final two months of the season are about here. Some are not impressed with a quality start, which by definition is an outing where the pitcher goes six innings or more allowing three earned runs or less. That is a 4.50 ERA. But that is the minimum to get a quality start and most of the time, the pitcher...
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Ryan Braun was suspended, but will it stop anyone else from cheating? (updated)

Ryan Braun was suspended, but will it stop anyone else from cheating? (updated)
The Ryan Braun situation is a mess. Mostly because of the player himself. He accepts a suspension from Major League Baseball, yet doesn't admit to using performance-enhancing drugs. He has yet to answer any questions about his suspension. He issued a statement and ran for the hills, I guess. Here is why the Braun suspension will not be a deterrent for most players moving forward. Starting in 2014, Braun is due to make $113 million over the next seven seasons. While he will lose out on about...
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Yastrzemski, Mancini making a good early impression with Aberdeen

Yastrzemski, Mancini making a good early impression with Aberdeen
If you live near Baltimore and want to see a bunch of 2013 Orioles draft picks play, go check out the short-season, Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds at Ripken Stadium. When pitcher Eric Green joined the team this week he became the 15th member of the O's June draft class to be added to the roster. Many of the players, all drafted from the college ranks, are doing quite well for the 17-17 IronBirds, who are looking for their first-ever playoff berth in their 12th season. Two of the position...
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Steve Johnson talks about his outing in Aberdeen tonight

Steve Johnson talks about his outing in Aberdeen tonight
ABERDEEN, Md. - For Steve Johnson, tonight's outing for short-season Single-A Aberdeen was a success, even if he didn't put up zeroes against the Vermont Lake Monsters. Pitching in a game for just the second time since he went on the disabled list with a strained left oblique on June 6, Johnson wanted to come through his outing feeling healthy and he did. He did give up a two-out solo homer in the opening inning and was limited to 50 pitches. He went 2 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and...
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Steve Johnson allows two runs in rehab start at Aberdeen

Steve Johnson allows two runs in rehab start at Aberdeen
ABERDEEN, Md. - Wearing a bright No. 36 Aberdeen IronBirds jersey, right-hander Steve Johnson made a rehab start tonight for the IronBirds, pitching into the third inning against Vermont. Likely because he reached his pitch count, Johnson was pulled from this game with one out and two on in the top of the third. Over 2 1/3 innings, he allowed three hits and two runs (both earned) with one walk and four strikeouts. Johnson threw 48 pitches, 28 for strikes. After retiring the first two batters...
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