Orioles swept in ALCS

Orioles swept in ALCS
KANSAS CITY - The clock kept ticking, except innings passed instead of minutes. The Orioles were down by a run in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. The Royals' dominate late-inning relief cast a larger shadow than the one that crept across the infield. The Orioles had to take the lead or risk being swept. They knew it. Everyone in the ballpark knew it. They just couldn't do it. The 2014 season ended for the Orioles with the Royals creating a dogpile in the infield...

Orioles fall behind in first inning (O's trail 2-1, Gonzalez done)

Orioles fall behind in first inning (O's trail 2-1, Gonzalez done)
KANSAS CITY - The Orioles are 0-for-12 in the first inning in the American League Championship Series. So much for jumping on the opposing pitcher early. The Royals had much greater success today in Game 4, scoring twice off Miguel Gonzalez to take a 2-0 lead. They made two nice defensive plays in the top half of the inning and leadoff hitter Alcides Escobar reached on an infield hit. Same script, different day. Gonzalez drilled Nori Aoki on the side of the right knee, causing some Royals to...

Showalter on Guthrie T-shirt and Dyson comments

Showalter on Guthrie T-shirt and Dyson comments
KANSAS CITY - Orioles manager Buck Showalter couldn't believe that Jeremy Guthrie's T-shirt and Jarrod Dyson's latest jabs at his club were going to be the major topics of conversation before Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. May as well have a little fun with it. In case you've been under a rock, Guthrie wore a T-shirt last night that read "These O's Ain't Royal," a play on the lyrics to a Chris Brown song that aren't suitable for print. He later apologized on...

Orioles lineup vs. Royals in Game 4 (Guthrie update)

Orioles lineup vs. Royals in Game 4 (Guthrie update)
KANSAS CITY - Delmon Young is getting his second postseason start today for the Orioles as they attempt to avoid a sweep in the American League Championship Series. Young is serving as the designated hitter against Royals Game 4 starter Jason Vargas. He also started Game 3 of the Division Series against the Tigers. Nelson Cruz moves to left field. Ryan Flaherty remains the third baseman instead of switch-hitting Jimmy Paredes. Caleb Joseph is catching and batting seventh. For the...

Royals lineup vs. Orioles in Game 4

Royals lineup vs. Orioles in Game 4
KANSAS CITY - The Orioles trail a playoff series 3-0 for the first time in club history. A win today extends the American League Championship Series to a fifth game. A loss sends them home. The Orioles' three hits last night were their fewest in a playoff game since they also collected three in Game 3 of the 1996 ALCS. They've been two-hit on three separate occasions in their postseason history, most recently Game 3 of the 1974 ALCS against the Athletics. If the Orioles are swept today,...

One more loss and the Orioles are done in 2014

One more loss and the Orioles are done in 2014
KANSAS CITY - The Orioles win this afternoon or they go home. They must hold a lead going into the later innings of Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. They can't let the Royals trot out Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland while they play from behind. Easier said than done, of course, but it's got to happen. They must jump left-hander Jason Vargas early and break out their own procession of Darren O'Day, Andrew Miller and Zach Britton. Asked after last night's 2-1...

Pearce: "One loss left, so we've got to find some way to get it done"

Pearce: "One loss left, so we've got to find some way to get it done"
KANSAS CITY - So it's come to this: The Orioles will attempt to become only the second team to rebound from a 3-0 deficit in games to win the League Championship Series. Tall order? It's nosebleed territory. The Orioles have lost three games by a combined five runs, including tonight's 2-1 setback to the Royals before 40,183 at Kauffman Stadium. They pitched well enough to win. The Royals pitched a little bit better, retiring the last 16 batters and 21 of 22. "It's tough," said first...

Orioles take first lead of ALCS (O's lose 2-1, trail 3-0 in series)

Orioles take first lead of ALCS (O's lose 2-1, trail 3-0 in series)
KANSAS CITY - There are a few specks of orange at Kauffman Stadium tonight for Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. A quiet "O" rang out during the anthem. Orioles fans are far outnumbered in the sea of royal blue. A buoy in the ocean. The atmosphere is completely different than what we encountered at Comerica Park for the Division Series. Guess it changes when the home team has a 2-0 lead in games. Hall of Famer George Brett threw out the ceremonial first pitch tonight,...

Showalter meets with the media

Showalter meets with the media
KANSAS CITY - As Orioles manager Buck Showalter joked with reporters again today before heading to the field for batting practice, it was impossible to tell whether his team was up or down two games in the American League Championship Series. After a Kansas City sports radio personality introduced himself for a second time - it's not necessary to do it once, let alone twice - Showalter said, "I remember you." Showalter also wondered how reporters came up with new story angles every...

Notes on Gonzalez, Cruz and Joseph

Notes on Gonzalez, Cruz and Joseph
KANSAS CITY - Miguel Gonzalez will start Game 4 of the American League Championship Series unless he's needed in relief tonight. Gonzalez hasn't started since Sept. 28 in Toronto in the final regular season game. The layoff, however, isn't the reason for his assignment on Wednesday. "That whole thing about time off, this time of the year... In fact, Gonzo has handled it pretty well when we've given him extra time," said manager Buck Showalter. Nelson Cruz will start in left field in...

Orioles and Royals lineups for Game 3 (Gonzalez and Vargas in Game 4)

Orioles and Royals lineups for Game 3 (Gonzalez and Vargas in Game 4)
KANSAS CITY - Nick Hundley is behind the plate for the Orioles tonight in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. Everything else is predictable, including Alejandro De Aza starting in left field and batting second with Ryan Flaherty starting at third base. The Royals aren't going to tweak a lineup that's produced two wins in the ALCS. Mike Moustakas continues to bat ninth despite hitting four home runs in the postseason. He totaled two over the last two months of the regular...

Anderson reminds Orioles to keep their perspective going into Game 3

Anderson reminds Orioles to keep their perspective going into Game 3
KANSAS CITY - The sun is shining today and there isn't a hint of rain in the forecast. Game 3 of the American League Championship Series will be played without interruption. Just don't mind the wind. I went to bed in Missouri and woke up in Kansas. I'm talking heavy, blustery winds. The kind that violently shake flag poles, as I've witnessed, and turn every fly ball and pop-up into an adventure. But it's not raining. Following the Orioles' Game 2 loss at home to the Royals, I approached...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
KANSAS CITY - It wasn't long ago that Orioles manager Buck Showalter fielded questions about his club growing stale after clinching its division so quickly, about how it could lose its edge and bring no momentum into the playoffs. Move ahead to yesterday, when Showalter was asked whether the Orioles might benefit from the rain that washed away Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. Maybe they needed a little more time to recover from the two losses at home. Maybe the Royals would...

Duquette: "I'm sure they'll be ready to play ball when we can play ball"

Duquette: "I'm sure they'll be ready to play ball when we can play ball"
KANSAS CITY - Should the American League Championship Series go the full seven games, the Orioles will need a fifth starter unless they use someone on short rest. Rookie Kevin Gausman could end up on the mound for Game 7. It would depend on whether manager Buck Showalter inserted him earlier in the series. Lots of moving parts. We know that Wei-Yin Chen is starting Game 3 on Tuesday. Chris Tillman could start on normal rest Wednesday in Game 4 or be pushed back to Game 5, if needed, on...

Who follows Chen to the mound in ALCS?

Who follows Chen to the mound in ALCS?
KANSAS CITY - It's raining harder at Kauffman Stadium than a few hours ago. Major League Baseball made the right decision to postpone Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed that Wei-Yin Chen remains the Game 3 starter on Tuesday night. He didn't commit to a Game 4 starter, saying Miguel Gonzalez and Chris Tillman are options. Gonzalez hasn't pitched since the final regular season game in Toronto, unless you count a simulated game at...

Game 3 of ALCS postponed

Game 3 of ALCS postponed
KANSAS CITY - Game 3 of the American League Championship Series has been postponed due to rain and rescheduled for 8:07 p.m. on Tuesday. Game 4 has been moved to 4:07 p.m. on Wednesday, with Game 5 (if needed) at 4:07 p.m. on Thursday. No workout day on Thursday at Camden Yards. The Royals currently hold a 2-0 lead in games. Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen eventually will make his third career postseason start, tying Chien-Ming Wang for the most playoff starts by a Taiwanese-born pitcher in...

Still raining, Chen vs. Royals, Walling retiring

Still raining, Chen vs. Royals, Walling retiring
KANSAS CITY - You want a weather update? It's still raining in Kansas City. Kaufmann Stadium is a wading pool. The forecast still calls for a 100 percent chance of rain through the night. I can't imagine Game 3 of the American League Championship Series being played tonight, but stranger things have happened. I'm compiling my list. The decision rests with Major League Baseball, not the teams or local meteorologists. I won't speculate on the rotation until Game 3 is postponed and reporters...

The rain and controlling Royals' attitude and running game

The rain and controlling Royals' attitude and running game
KANSAS CITY - It will be a huge surprise if Game 3 of the American League Championship Series is played tonight. I hate to be Debbie Downer, but the forecast doesn't bring a whole lot of encouragement. We've been warned that the chance of rain ranges from 90 to 100 percent. The Orioles are attaching spikes to their galoshes. During yesterday's workout, Jonathan Schoop practiced turning a double play while holding an umbrella. You want a window? Check back next weekend. Before you ask, Game 3...

Hearing from Chen, Showalter, Gonzalez and Hundley during today's workout

Hearing from Chen, Showalter, Gonzalez and Hundley during today's workout
KANSAS CITY - Wei-Yin Chen's postseason career with the Orioles has been a mixed bag. One earned run allowed in 6 1/3 innings in an American League Division Series start against the Yankees in 2012. Five earned runs in 3 2/3 innings in an ALDS start against the Tigers in 2014. He's got to be good on Monday. The Orioles are depending heavily on him after losing the first two games of the American League Championship Series at home to the Royals. "Oh, man, he's been one of our best arms all...

Hundley: "There's no panic in here"

Hundley: "There's no panic in here"
KANSAS CITY - The Orioles don't give the appearance of a team that's uptight or in panic mode after losing the first two games of the American League Championship Series. Manager Buck Showalter talked college football, specifically Mississippi State being ranked No. 1, and tossed in a few quips to entertain and amuse the media. Players sat in front of televisions in the visiting clubhouse and watched NFL games, with Maine native Ryan Flaherty taking abuse anytime Patriots quarterback Tom...