Around the O's
In case you haven't been able to catch up with the last week's worth of O's news beyond the win-loss column, here's a collection of links to fun articles and/or videos relating to the Orioles from the last few days.
ESPN noticed Nick's balancing talents
You might have seen Nick Markakis balance a chair on his chin in his biweekly video journal with the Baltimore Sun, but the ESPN the Magazine "Besides the Point" feature highlighting Markakis' unusual talent revealed that the right...
After a poor start, O's rookie lefty Brian Matusz settled in and pitched a solid game Saturday as the Orioles beat Texas 5-4 at Camden Yards.
The loss was damaging to the Rangers, who would have pulled within one game of Boston in the wild-card race with a victory.
Matusz allowed three runs in the first and not much after that. He improves to 4-2, 5.26. He retired 12 of the last 13 batters he faced.
Matusz allowed six hits and four runs over seven innings, throwing 93 pitches. He allowed...
After he gave up three runs, including a homer, in the first inning today, it didn't look like Brian Matusz would pitch deep into this game.
But the rookie lefty settled down and settled in and pitched seven innings vs. Texas to get his fourth Major League win.
"I didn't feel like I struggled in the first, I just made some bad pitches. The home run ball was up. But I felt like I had good stuff. I was in a good rhythm today. But's it's tough to say you'll have a good game when you...
Another win for the rookie - After giving up three runs in the first today, Brian Matusz was strong after that. He pitched seven innings for the second start in a row and is now 4-2, 5.26 on the year.
Matusz, who retired 12 of the last 13 batters he faced, needed 52 pitches for his first three innings, but just 41 for the last four frames. He did not give up a hit over those last four innings.
Over his last two starts, he is 2-0, 3.21 with wins over Cleveland and Texas. Today he threw...
Game Preview
Texas (76-59) at Orioles (55-81)
After a 5-4 win over Texas on Saturday night the Orioles and Rangers meet today at 1:35 p.m. in the third and deciding game of this series.
The Orioles have a chance to gain just their second series win since the All-Star break with a victory today.
The O's are just 1-11-2 in 14 series in the second half.
Today, Jeremy Guthrie (9-13, 5.17) pitches for the Orioles vs. lefty Derek Holland (7-9, 5.62).
Brian Matusz pitched seven innings to pick...
RHP Jeremy Guthrie (9-13, 5.17) today will make his 28th start of this season, his 15th at home and the 5th of his career vs. the Texas Rangers.
Guthrie, who has a career high 13 losses, has pitched well recently. Over his last three starts, he is 2-1, 1.80.
Monday, he allowed two runs over six innings in taking a loss vs. New York. He leads the AL in earned runs allowed (92) and in homers allowed (30).
Guthrie has allowed 2ER or less in seven starts on the year and in his last three in a...
Jeremy Guthrie continued his recent excellent pitching and the Orioles blanked Texas 7-0 Sunday to win the series with their third shutout of the year.
Guthrie pitched seven innings, allowing six hits and is now 10-13, 4.96.
Over his last four starts, Guthrie is 3-1, 1.33.
Matt Albers pitched a scoreless 8th and Kam Mickolio got out of a two on jam in the 9th to preserve the shutout.
The O's took a 2-0 lead in the second. After a Melvin Mora single and a walk to Jeff Fiorentino, Chad...
Guts with a win - Jeremy Guthrie and two relievers teamed on a 7-hit shutout in the O's 7-0 win over Texas Sunday. Guthrie, now 10-13, 4.96, worked seven innings and gave up six hits and one walk and had six strikeouts.
Guthrie threw 110 pitches, 73 for strikes as he lowered his ERA under 5.00 for the first time since May 30th.
Over his last four starts, Guthrie is 3-1 1.33 (4ER over 27 IP). Guthrie has allowed 1ER or less in three of his last four starts.
It's the second time this...
It was the first inning of a game on August 14th at Camden Yards. The LA Angels were in town and one of the game's best base stealers, Chone Figgins, was on first base.
He broke for second with the pitch. Catcher Matt Wieters jumped quickly out of his crouch and fired a strike to second to gun down Figgins.
In the dugout at the time was O's minor league catching instructor Don Werner, someone who has spent a lot of time with Wieters the past two seasons.
He glanced at his stopwatch,...
Even though he was not listed once this year among the Carolina League leaders, Frederick Keys first baseman-outfielder Robbie Widlansky ends the season as the league's leading hitter, winning the batting title.
Widlansky went 0-4 in the Keys final game Monday at Wilmington. But he will end the year with a batting average of .340, far above anyone else.
The O's 11th-round draft pick out of Florida Atlantic in 2007, will end the year about 15 plate appearances short of qualifying for the...
Game Preview
Orioles (56-81) at Boston (79-58)
After winning back-to-back games to take a series from playoff contending Texas, the O's begin a five-game road trip tonight that will take them to Boston and New York.
The O's are a combined 1-12 in those parks this season.
Pitching Matchups in Boston:
Tues, 7:05 p.m. - David Hernandez (4-6, 4,54) v. Clay Buchholz (4-3, 4.40).
Wed, 7:05 p.m. - Jason Berken (4-11, 6.07) v. Paul Byrd (1-1, 7.56).
Jeremy Guthrie pitched seven innings on Sunday...