Game update and Wright's latest no-hit bid
By Roch Kubatko
Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez hasn't fallen into the trap of laboring in the early innings tonight, keeping the Twins scoreless through the second.
Gonzalez threw 12 pitches in the top of the first and stranded Brian Dozier, who singled with one out. He struck out Joe Mauer. The right-hander retired the Twins in order in the second, striking out Oswaldo Arcia.
Nelson Cruz struck out leading off the bottom of the second.
Cruz entered the night batting .256 and leading the majors with 34 home runs. He's also approaching the end of his one-year, $8 million contract that he signed in spring training.
Cruz, who also has 88 RBIs, told reporters that the Orioles have reached out to his agent regarding a possible extension, though I'll stress again that there's nothing hot here.
"Obviously, Nelson's had a good year," said manager Buck Showalter. "I've known him for quite a while. He's been a good teammate. Right now, we're focused on these next 30-odd games and we'll see what the people who are responsible for that and do that for a living, I'll let them handle that. I'll concentrate on managing. I'm trying to stay out of the way, keep things going in a good direction.
"Nelson's one of the reasons we have this opportunity. We certainly would like to have that continue. If there comes a time they may ask me how I think things fit baseball-wise, but I'm going to keep out of the financial part of it, because the further we play and the more we do, better chance I guess."
Down on the farm, Triple-A Norfolk right-hander Mike Wright came within a strike of throwing a no-hitter on Aug. 21. Starting again tonight in Game 1 of a doubleheader, Wright came within two outs of a seven-inning no-hitter.
On both occasions, Durham outfielder Mikie Mahtook ruined Wright's bid at making history.
Mahtook doubled after Alexi Casilla's two-out error to break up the first no-hitter, and he singled to left field today to again deny Wright.
Why is this guy so wrong for Wright?
Preston Guilmet replaced Wright after Jeremy Moore singled with two outs. He struck out former Oriole Wilson Betemit to keep the game scoreless.
The Tides had only one hit, from outfielder Francisco Peguero, as Wright took the mound in the seventh. Keep in mind that minor league doubleheaders last only seven innings in regulation.
Wright allowed two hits, walked three and struck out seven in 6 2/3 innings. He hasn't surrendered an earned run in his last three starts covering 22 2/3 innings. He's given up two earned runs or fewer in his last seven starts.
Wright, 24, is rated as one of the better pitching prospects in the organization, but he struggled for much of the summer in his first full season at the Triple-A level. He pitched in one game for the Tides last season.
The third-round pick in 2011 out of East Carolina is 5-11 with a 4.61 ERA in 26 starts. He went 11-3 with a 3.26 ERA in 26 starts for Double-A Bowie last season, and Baseball America ranked him as the Orioles' eighth-best prospect.
Nelson Cruz struck out leading off the bottom of the second.
Cruz entered the night batting .256 and leading the majors with 34 home runs. He's also approaching the end of his one-year, $8 million contract that he signed in spring training.
Cruz, who also has 88 RBIs, told reporters that the Orioles have reached out to his agent regarding a possible extension, though I'll stress again that there's nothing hot here.
"Obviously, Nelson's had a good year," said manager Buck Showalter. "I've known him for quite a while. He's been a good teammate. Right now, we're focused on these next 30-odd games and we'll see what the people who are responsible for that and do that for a living, I'll let them handle that. I'll concentrate on managing. I'm trying to stay out of the way, keep things going in a good direction.
"Nelson's one of the reasons we have this opportunity. We certainly would like to have that continue. If there comes a time they may ask me how I think things fit baseball-wise, but I'm going to keep out of the financial part of it, because the further we play and the more we do, better chance I guess."
Down on the farm, Triple-A Norfolk right-hander Mike Wright came within a strike of throwing a no-hitter on Aug. 21. Starting again tonight in Game 1 of a doubleheader, Wright came within two outs of a seven-inning no-hitter.
On both occasions, Durham outfielder Mikie Mahtook ruined Wright's bid at making history.
Mahtook doubled after Alexi Casilla's two-out error to break up the first no-hitter, and he singled to left field today to again deny Wright.
Why is this guy so wrong for Wright?
Preston Guilmet replaced Wright after Jeremy Moore singled with two outs. He struck out former Oriole Wilson Betemit to keep the game scoreless.
The Tides had only one hit, from outfielder Francisco Peguero, as Wright took the mound in the seventh. Keep in mind that minor league doubleheaders last only seven innings in regulation.
Wright allowed two hits, walked three and struck out seven in 6 2/3 innings. He hasn't surrendered an earned run in his last three starts covering 22 2/3 innings. He's given up two earned runs or fewer in his last seven starts.
Wright, 24, is rated as one of the better pitching prospects in the organization, but he struggled for much of the summer in his first full season at the Triple-A level. He pitched in one game for the Tides last season.
The third-round pick in 2011 out of East Carolina is 5-11 with a 4.61 ERA in 26 starts. He went 11-3 with a 3.26 ERA in 26 starts for Double-A Bowie last season, and Baseball America ranked him as the Orioles' eighth-best prospect.
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