Game update and Chen talks about his final spring start (O's lose 6-5)

Game update and Chen talks about his final spring start (O's lose 6-5)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Braves 6, Orioles 5 Recap: Travis Snider came off the bench and hit a two-run homer off Chien-Ming Wang in the seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie. Everth Cabrera followed with a walk, stole second, advanced on a throwing error and scored on Steve Pearce's second hit of the night. Making his final spring start, Wei-Yin Chen surrendered two runs and six hits in five innings, with no walks and four strikeouts. Chen retired eight in a row before allowing two straight...

Wei-Yin Chen goes five innings in final spring start (Snider homers)

Wei-Yin Chen goes five innings in final spring start (Snider homers)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Nick Markakis has singled twice tonight, matching his hit total coming into the game. Markakis singled off Wei-Yin Chen in the fourth and reliever Wesley Wright in the sixth. Chen allowed two runs and six hits in five innings, with no walks and four strikeouts. I've got him at 68 pitches, 49 for strikes. Chen's most difficult inning was his last, when he threw 11 of 19 pitches for strikes and allowed both runs on Andrelton Simmons' RBI single and a wild pitch. The...

Reimold stays hot, Showalter on Verrett

Reimold stays hot, Showalter on Verrett
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Nolan Reimold led off tonight's game with a single on the first pitch thrown by Braves starter Alex Wood, a broken-bat liner into center field. Reimold is 15-for-45 (.333) this spring with two home runs, eight RBIs and eight walks. He's earned a spot on the 25-man roster, but is there room for him? David Lough is going on the disabled list, but the Orioles seem inclined to keep Jimmy Paredes, who's out of options. Reimold signed a minor league deal and can be...

Nick Markakis says no animosity toward Orioles

Nick Markakis says no animosity toward Orioles
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The No. 22 Braves jersey doesn't look right hanging in Nick Markakis' spring training locker. The full beard, neatly trimmed for at least the next few hours, is permitted in his new organization. Which one seems stranger to the former Orioles right fielder? "It's 22," he said today after greeting the Baltimore media. "Every time I come up to the plate I'm expecting 21, but it's part of change, though. It's part of life. We'll get used to it. "I'm comfortable...

Markakis in Braves lineup and more on bullpen

Markakis in Braves lineup and more on bullpen
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Former Oriole Nick Markakis is on the field playing catch today before batting practice. Extra coach Einer Diaz walked over and gave him a hug, and Ryan Flaherty called out to him while heading to the batting cage. Markakis, who still has a full beard, is batting third today and playing right field. For the Braves Eric Young Jr. CF Joe Benson LF Nick Markakis RF Freddie Freeman 1B Jonny Gomes DH Chris Johnson 3B Christian Bethancourt C Alberto Callaspo 2B Andrelton...

Verrett claimed off waivers by Rangers

Verrett claimed off waivers by Rangers
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - According to multiple industry sources, the Rangers have claimed Rule 5 right-hander Logan Verrett off waivers from the Orioles. Selected from the Mets in the Rule 5 draft at the Winter Meetings in San Diego, the 24-year-old Verrett had impressed in spring training, posting a 1.93 ERA in 14 innings. He walked two and struck out 12. He was one of two Rule 5 pitchers in major league camp. The Orioles acquired right-hander Jason Garcia from the Astros, who selected him...

Orioles lineup vs. Braves

Orioles lineup vs. Braves
SARASOTA, Fla. - Everth Cabrera is starting in center field tonight for the Orioles' game against the Braves in Orlando. Ryan Flaherty is starting at shortstop. Nolan Reimold is leading off and playing left field. The bullpen includes T.J. McFarland, Wesley Wright, Logan Verrett and Bobby Bundy. For the Orioles Nolan Reimold LF Everth Cabrera CF Steve Pearce RF Chris Davis 1B Delmon Young DH Manny Machado 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Caleb Joseph C Ryan Flaherty SS Wei-Yin Chen LHP Nick Markakis will...

Lavarnway and Clevenger on catching competition

Lavarnway and Clevenger on catching competition
SARASOTA, Fla. - Put on your Mickey ears and join me for the drive to Disney for tonight's game against the Braves. It's the happiest place on Earth, except for players who train in Sarasota and are making the bus trip to Orlando twice in three days. I'll ask again: Who makes out this schedule? Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen makes his final spring start tonight. He's allowed three earned runs (four total) in 13 1/3 innings in the Grapefruit League, and he logged another five-plus innings against...

Wrapping up a 3-3 10-inning tie

Wrapping up a 3-3 10-inning tie
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Zach Davies will start Saturday against the Braves in Orlando, wrapping up the Grapefruit League schedule. Davies went 3 2/3 innings against the Rays on Monday and allowed one run on Evan Longoria's homer. Showalter is taking a handful of regulars to Orlando on Thursday, including Manny Machado, Delmon Young, Everth Cabrera and Steve Pearce. Nolan Reimold also is on the trip. Bud Norris threw 84 pitches today at Twin Lakes Park. Cabrera...

Game update and Tillman on his start (O's, Pirates end in tie)

Game update and Tillman on his start (O's, Pirates end in tie)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 3, Pirates 3 Recap: Chris Tillman allowed two runs and three hits in five innings, with no walks and eight strikeouts. He retired 11 of the last 12 batters. Pedro Alvarez hit a two-run homer off Tillman in the second inning to break a scoreless tie. Everth Cabrera hit his first spring home run in the third inning, and he got all of it. He tied the game in the seventh with an RBI triple and scored on Alejandro De Aza's infield hit. Brian Matusz allowed four...

Everth Cabrera hits first home run (updated)

Everth Cabrera hits first home run (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Everth Cabrera didn't short-change himself tonight when hitting his first home run of the spring. Cabrera crushed one to left-center field off Francisco Liriano in the bottom of the third inning to reduce the Pirates' lead to 2-1. His season-high in home runs is four in 2013. Cabrera is 2-for-6 lifetime against Liriano in the regular season. Expected to get most of the starts at shortstop in J.J Hardy's absence, Cabrera is 15-for-54 (.278) with three doubles, a triple and...

More Orioles notes before tonight's game (O's down 2-0)

More Orioles notes before tonight's game (O's down 2-0)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez will pitch in a minor league game on Friday while Ubaldo Jimenez starts against the Braves. Manager Buck Showalter is carefully lining up his starters as the final days of camp melt away. "It just kind of fits whether somebody ends up in the 'pen or starting, they're all available on Monday," Showalter said. "It keeps everybody in play. Plus, I do think Ubaldo's had enough of the gray (road) pants." The starter for Saturday's...

Ubaldo Jimenez slated to make first home exhibition start

Ubaldo Jimenez slated to make first home exhibition start
SARASOTA, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez can put away his gray uniform pants. Jimenez will make his first home start of spring training Friday night against the Braves in Sarasota. Shelby Miller is listed as Atlanta's starter. The Orioles had Miguel Gonzalez penciled in as Friday's starter, with Jimenez pitching Saturday against the Braves in Orlando to wrap up the Grapefruit League schedule. However, today's game notes have Jimenez moved up a night and Saturday's starter listed as TBD. The Braves...

Brad Brach bringing his best to bullpen

Brad Brach bringing his best to bullpen
SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Brad Brach hasn't been told that he's made the Orioles' opening day roster. It's an assumption based on his performance last season and this spring, and the words of his manager following yesterday's outing. Brach tossed two scoreless innings against the Rays to lower his ERA to 1.74 in 10 1/3 innings. He's walked three batters and struck out 10. "Brach's going to be a key part of our bullpen," Buck Showalter said. "If he pitches well, it would mean a lot to...

Orioles lineup vs. Pirates

Orioles lineup vs. Pirates
SARASOTA, Fla. - Everth Cabrera is starting at shortstop again tonight for the Orioles in their game against the Pirates. Nolan Reimold is leading off and playing left field. Ryan Lavarnway is behind the plate. For the Orioles Nolan Reimold LF Steve Pearce RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Delmon Young DH Manny Machado 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Ryan Lavarnway C Everth Cabrera SS Chris Tillman RHP

Roster riddles and Davis weighs in on Hardy injury

Roster riddles and Davis weighs in on Hardy injury
SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Tillman won't throw his first pitch tonight against the Pirates until around 7:05 p.m. because the Orioles finally are playing under the lights at Ed Smith Stadium. This is only the second night game for the Orioles this spring. They have a 6:05 p.m. start Thursday against the Braves in Orlando and a 6:05 p.m. start Friday against the Braves in Sarasota. Everyone here has to adjust their body clocks. It's spring ahead, right? Bud Norris is pitching in a Triple-A game...

Mark Hendrickson retiring and more notes

Mark Hendrickson retiring and more notes
SARASOTA, Fla. - Veteran left-hander Mark Hendrickson requested a conference call with the local beat crew today to announce that he's retiring from baseball after 10 seasons in the majors, the last three with the Orioles. Hendrickson said he's been in contact with manager Buck Showalter about a future role in the organization. He also has interest in pursuing professional golf. I'm guessing custom-made clubs. Hendrickson was 58-74 with a 5.03 ERA in 328 games in the majors, his last...

Game update and Kevin Gausman on his outing (O's lose 4-3)

Game update and Kevin Gausman on his outing (O's lose 4-3)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Rays 4, Orioles 3 Recap: Kevin Gausman didn't get through the fourth inning, allowing four runs and seven hits in 3 2/3. He walked one and struck out none. Asdrubal Cabrera had an RBI double off Gausman in the first and David DeJesus homered leading off the third. The Rays added two more runs in the third on Desmond Jenning's sacrifice fly and Logan Forsythe's RBI double. Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia tossed 2 1/3 scoreless and hitless innings, walking one batter and...

Tillman on opening day assignment, more notes & quotes (Gausman done)

Tillman on opening day assignment, more notes & quotes (Gausman done)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Kevin Gausman threw 20 pitches in the top of the first inning today and fell behind 1-0 to the Rays at Ed Smith Stadium. John Jaso drew an eight-pitch walk with one out and scored on Asdrubal Cabrera's double to left-center field. Manny Machado got the final out by backhanding James Loney's bouncer and making the throw from foul territory. It wasn't even close at first base. Vintage Machado. Chris Tillman stepped outside the clubhouse earlier today to meet with reporters and...

Orioles acquire Audry Perez from Rockies

Orioles acquire Audry Perez from Rockies
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles added to their collection of catchers today, acquiring Audry Perez from the Rockies for cash considerations, according to multiple sources. Perez, 26, appeared in three major league games with the Cardinals over the past two seasons and has two plate appearances. The Rockies signed him in November as a minor league free agent and he was 1-for-11 this spring. Perez, listed at 5-foot-9 and 230 lbs., is a career .270/.293/.413 hitter in seven minor league seasons. He...