Notes on Steve Johnson, Tillman, Cruz and playoff tickets (O's down 3-0)
By Roch Kubatko
NEW YORK - Chase Headley singled with two outs in the first inning and scored on Mark Teixeira's double to right field to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead over the Orioles.
Steve Johnson underwent surgery this morning in New York to shave down a bone spur behind his right shoulder.
Johnson is expected to be full-go for spring training.
Earlier today, Chris Tillman talked about his starting assignment in Game 1 of the Division Series.
"It means a lot," he said. "I'm excited about it, looking forward to it. I've still got one more start to go, so I'm pretty focused on that, but at the same time I know it means a lot to the team, means a lot to me and hopefully get us going in the right direction."
Tillman was on the playoff roster two years ago, but he didn't pitch.
"We've gotten better as a team and as a unit, so I think I like our chances going into it," he said. "As long as we pitch well and do what we've been doing all year, I think we can't second-guess ourselves."
The Orioles are still guessing the identity of their opponent.
"Yeah, we still don't know. Got a couple more games I guess to go," he said.
"It is what it is. It's just another baseball game to us. Just the stakes go up a little higher."
Nelson Cruz is the sixth Oriole to hit 40 home runs in a season.
"It was a big deal for a lot of people. I come with the mindset to help the team and any way you can help it is good," Cruz said.
"Any time you make history with that type of performance, especially with this team, it has lots of history and it's been here for a while, so that makes it special."
Cruz's reaction if he had been told in spring training that he'd hit 40 home runs this season?
"No shot," he said. "I was able to do that number. I didn't expect 40. I think the aim for any player is to stay healthy, play as many games as he can, stay on the field. That was my main goal, to try and stay healthy, to try to put up numbers. I was able to put up the numbers, but my main concern was to stay healthy."
Cruz is batting .360 this month.
"It's the same routine with everything I do since Day One," he said. "I guess you put a little more effort into tough situations and try to stay focused for the end of the season and the start of the playoff drive."
The Orioles today announced two options for fans to purchase American League Division Series tickets, which will be available exclusively online. Fans are encouraged to visit www.orioles.com/postseason for a postseason seating chart, schedule, and additional ticket information.
Both options are for fans to purchase only American League Division Series tickets. Championship Series and World Series tickets will be made available for sale at a later date, as necessary.
Option 1 - Guaranteed ALDS tickets
Fans are guaranteed the opportunity to purchase postseason tickets by placing a minimum $250 per seat deposit on a 2015 full or partial season-ticket plan, including the popular and convenient 13-game plan. Fans who place a deposit by midnight tonight will be guaranteed the chance to buy Game 1 of the American League Division Series, and other future postseason games, via an exclusive online-only pre-sale on Thursday, Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. Beginning Thursday, 2015 deposits will no longer guarantee fans an opportunity to participate in the ALDS pre-sale.
Option 2 - No Guarantee
A public sale for American League Division Series tickets will take place on Monday, Sept. 29 at 10 a.m. exclusively online at www.orioles.com/postseason. Ticket availability is expected to be extremely limited, and tickets - which will be primarily scattered single seats, limited view seating, and standing room only - will sell out quickly. A maximum of six tickets per ALDS game may be purchased.
Update: Stephen Drew homered off Norris leading off the second inning to give New York a 2-0 lead.
Norris struck out the next three batters.
Drew is 7-for-19 against Norris.
Update II: Norris has struck out the side in the last two innings, but he's also given up a home run in each frame.
Headley's solo shot with two out in the third increased the Yankees' lead to 3-0.
Headley is 7-for-16 against Norris, who hadn't allowed a run in three of his last four starts.
Earlier today, Chris Tillman talked about his starting assignment in Game 1 of the Division Series.
"It means a lot," he said. "I'm excited about it, looking forward to it. I've still got one more start to go, so I'm pretty focused on that, but at the same time I know it means a lot to the team, means a lot to me and hopefully get us going in the right direction."
Tillman was on the playoff roster two years ago, but he didn't pitch.
"We've gotten better as a team and as a unit, so I think I like our chances going into it," he said. "As long as we pitch well and do what we've been doing all year, I think we can't second-guess ourselves."
The Orioles are still guessing the identity of their opponent.
"Yeah, we still don't know. Got a couple more games I guess to go," he said.
"It is what it is. It's just another baseball game to us. Just the stakes go up a little higher."
Nelson Cruz is the sixth Oriole to hit 40 home runs in a season.
"It was a big deal for a lot of people. I come with the mindset to help the team and any way you can help it is good," Cruz said.
"Any time you make history with that type of performance, especially with this team, it has lots of history and it's been here for a while, so that makes it special."
Cruz's reaction if he had been told in spring training that he'd hit 40 home runs this season?
"No shot," he said. "I was able to do that number. I didn't expect 40. I think the aim for any player is to stay healthy, play as many games as he can, stay on the field. That was my main goal, to try and stay healthy, to try to put up numbers. I was able to put up the numbers, but my main concern was to stay healthy."
Cruz is batting .360 this month.
"It's the same routine with everything I do since Day One," he said. "I guess you put a little more effort into tough situations and try to stay focused for the end of the season and the start of the playoff drive."
The Orioles today announced two options for fans to purchase American League Division Series tickets, which will be available exclusively online. Fans are encouraged to visit www.orioles.com/postseason for a postseason seating chart, schedule, and additional ticket information.
Both options are for fans to purchase only American League Division Series tickets. Championship Series and World Series tickets will be made available for sale at a later date, as necessary.
Option 1 - Guaranteed ALDS tickets
Fans are guaranteed the opportunity to purchase postseason tickets by placing a minimum $250 per seat deposit on a 2015 full or partial season-ticket plan, including the popular and convenient 13-game plan. Fans who place a deposit by midnight tonight will be guaranteed the chance to buy Game 1 of the American League Division Series, and other future postseason games, via an exclusive online-only pre-sale on Thursday, Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. Beginning Thursday, 2015 deposits will no longer guarantee fans an opportunity to participate in the ALDS pre-sale.
Option 2 - No Guarantee
A public sale for American League Division Series tickets will take place on Monday, Sept. 29 at 10 a.m. exclusively online at www.orioles.com/postseason. Ticket availability is expected to be extremely limited, and tickets - which will be primarily scattered single seats, limited view seating, and standing room only - will sell out quickly. A maximum of six tickets per ALDS game may be purchased.
Update: Stephen Drew homered off Norris leading off the second inning to give New York a 2-0 lead.
Norris struck out the next three batters.
Drew is 7-for-19 against Norris.
Update II: Norris has struck out the side in the last two innings, but he's also given up a home run in each frame.
Headley's solo shot with two out in the third increased the Yankees' lead to 3-0.
Headley is 7-for-16 against Norris, who hadn't allowed a run in three of his last four starts.
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