Jimenez start anything but grand

Jimenez start anything but grand
The umpires saved Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez from the indignity of a grand slam this afternoon. They couldn't do it twice. Jimenez turned in his shortest start of the season, allowing six runs and only two hits over 2 1/3 innings. He issued five walks, including three straight to the last three Oakland batters in the lineup to load the bases with no outs in the third. John Jaso followed with what appeared to be a grand slam to center field, the ball bouncing back onto the field. First...

Markakis keeps streaking and Joseph keeps impressing

Markakis keeps streaking and Joseph keeps impressing
Nick Markakis extended his hitting streak to 13 games today with a leadoff single in the bottom of the first inning. Markakis is 20-for-52 (.385) during the streak. Markakis and Toronto's Jose Bautisa are the only players in the majors with two streaks of 12 or more games this season. Naturally, Markakis' hit today came in the first. He's now 24-for-59 (.407) in the opening frame this season. Nick Hundley is starting behind the plate today for the Orioles after Caleb Joseph caught last...

Orioles option Meek

Orioles option Meek
The Orioles have activated Tommy Hunter from the 15-day disabled list and optioned Evan Meek to Triple-A Norfolk. Hunter went on the DL retroactive to May 21 with a left groin strain. He's 1-1 with a 6.06 ERA in 19 appearances, with 11 runs, 25 hits allowed, five walks and 15 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings. Zach Britton has taken over as closer, and Hunter figures to work more in a set-up role. Hunter pitched in one rehab game at Single-A Delmarva, striking out two and hitting a batter last...

Waiting on Hunter move and note on Gausman

Waiting on Hunter move and note on Gausman
The Orioles will officially activate reliever Tommy Hunter before the start of today's game against the Athletics at Camden Yards. Manager Buck Showalter was waiting to talk to the player involved in the corresponding roster move. Hunter had two strikeouts and hit a batter last night at Single-A Delmarva. He threw 11 pitches, eight for strikes. "He's ready to go," Showalter said. The Shorebirds posted the lowest May ERA (2.11) of any full-season minor league team. "Tommy said he felt...

Lineups for A's-Orioles finale

Lineups for A's-Orioles finale
With left-hander Scott Kazmir on the mound for the A's, the Orioles are fielding a righty-loaded lineup for this afternoon's series finale. Nick Markakis and Chris Davis are the only left-handed hitters in the order. Steve Pearce is serving as the designated hitter, Jonathan Schoop is at second and Nick Hundley is behind the plate. Kazmir is 6-2 with a 2.40 ERA so far this season, but in a strange twist, is doing better against right-handed hitters than against lefties this year. Kazmir...

Hunter set to return today, but how do the Orioles make room?

Hunter set to return today, but how do the Orioles make room?
The Orioles will make a roster move today. I have that sentence saved on my laptop. Just a simple cut-and-paste. Reliever Tommy Hunter will be activated from his one-inning rehab assignment at Single-A Delmarva. His groin is fine - a sentence I'd rather not save on my laptop. The Orioles will need to create a spot for Hunter on the 25-man roster. Would they designate Evan Meek again after purchasing his contract two days ago? Meek wasn't sure he'd make it onto the field yesterday. Twenty...

Showalter on Gausman and 6-3 win

Showalter on Gausman and 6-3 win
Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't ready to state that young pitcher Kevin Gausman is here to stay. Too many factors at play, including the pending return of Miguel Gonzalez from the disabled list. For now, Showalter gladly will accept tonight's outing - which produced Gausman's first major league win as a starter - and try not to look too far ahead. Gausman held the Athletics to one run over seven innings in a 6-3 victory. His next turn comes up Thursday against the Blue Jays at Camden...

Johnson's return to OPACY not a sentimental moment for Lough (O's win 6-3)

Johnson's return to OPACY not a sentimental moment for Lough (O's win 6-3)
I heard a mixture of applause and some booing tonight as former Orioles closer Jim Johnson jogged to the mound in his first game at Camden Yards while wearing a different uniform. The rousing ovation was saved for the first batter he faced. Johnson replaced Sonny Gray, who walked J.J. Hardy with one out in the sixth inning and the Orioles leading 4-1. His second pitch to David Lough, a 95 mph fastball, disappeared into the right field seats. Welcome back. Lough's other home run this season...

Jones stays hot (O's lead 4-1)

Jones stays hot (O's lead 4-1)
Kevin Gausman brought some serious heat to Oakland's batters in the first inning, and Adam Jones stayed hot at the plate with a solo home run in the bottom half. Gausman retired the Athletics in order on 18 pitches, getting a called third strike on Josh Donaldson on his third 98 mph fastball of the at-bat. He also reached 98 mph while retiring leadoff hitter Coco Crisp on a fly ball to left field. Gausman's fastball also hit 97 mph several times. (Donaldson, by the way, was booed upon...

Early notes from Camden Yards

Early notes from Camden Yards
Not much to report at Camden Yards before tonight's game against the Athletics. No news is... no news. The Orioles made their roster move official, recalling pitcher Kevin Gausman from Triple-A Norfolk and optioning left-hander Tim Berry to Double-A Bowie, which is in Portland, Maine, through Sunday. None of the current Athletics have faced Gausman. Chris Davis is 2-for-2 against Oakland right-hander Sonny Gray. Catcher Matt Wieters threw again today on the field. That's his fifth game of...

Orioles and Athletics lineups (Berry optioned for Gausman)

Orioles and Athletics lineups (Berry optioned for Gausman)
Nelson Cruz is starting in right field tonight and Nick Markakis is serving as the designated hitter, as the Orioles attempt to even their series against the Athletics. David Lough is in left field. Caleb Joseph is behind the plate and Ryan Flaherty is starting at second base. Update: As expected, the Orioles have officially optioned left-hander Tim Berry to Double-A Bowie to make room for right-hander Kevin Gausman, who starts tonight. Berry was called up for the first time Friday and did...

Looking back on last night

Looking back on last night
Kevin Gausman will make his second start for the Orioles tonight while attempting to apply the brakes to a two-game skid. Left-hander Tim Berry will be optioned unless the plan changed overnight. Gausman has never faced the Athletics or pitched against the American League West. May as well do it now. Everybody into the pool. Judging by the reaction of fans, the Orioles lost last night because: 1. Nelson Cruz tried to steal home 2. Bobby Dickerson sent Nick Markakis 3. J.J. Hardy committed...

Cruz on attempted steal of home, Hardy on error, Machado on reaction to tag

Cruz on attempted steal of home, Hardy on error, Machado on reaction to tag
One of the more critical moments in the Orioles' 4-3, 11-inning loss to the Athletics tonight occurred in the 10th, when Nelson Cruz broke for home with two outs and Chris Davis at the plate. If he's safe, the Orioles win. It wasn't really close. The game continued into the 11th and the A's pushed across the go-ahead run. "I thought I had a shot," Cruz said. "Obviously, I wanted to let Davis hit with two strikes. I thought I had a shot, so I went for it." Cruz had moved pretty...

Showalter speaks after 4-3, 11-inning loss

Showalter speaks after 4-3, 11-inning loss
Orioles manager Buck Showalter wanted to talk about Adam Jones' opposite-field single in the 10th inning tonight that nearly won the game, but he understood that the the focus would shift immediately in other directions. Nelson Cruz's decision to break for home with two outs and a 2-2 count on Chris Davis. He was an easy out. Third base coach Bobby Dickerson's decision to send Nick Markakis on Jones' single. Markakis was out on a close play. The decision to have Manny Machado bunt after...

Orioles fall behind in 11th (O's lose 4-3 in 11 innings)

Orioles fall behind in 11th (O's lose 4-3 in 11 innings)
The Orioles made two outs at the plate in the bottom of the 10th inning tonight and fell behind in the top of the 11th. You could almost see it coming. Evan Meek, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Norfolk earlier today, allowed an RBI single to pinch-hitter Stephen Vogt with one out to give Oakland a 4-3 lead. Vogt poked his single into left field after shortstop J.J. Hardy committed his fourth error in the last two nights, mishandling Alberto Callaspo's grounder. Hardy glanced at...

Reimold set to begin rehab assignment, more Donaldson drama (free baseball!)

Reimold set to begin rehab assignment, more Donaldson drama (free baseball!)
Outfielder Nolan Reimold is set to begin his injury rehab assignment Tuesday at Double-A Bowie. Reimold is flying to Baltimore on Monday. He's been playing left field at extended spring training. The Baysox are home against New Hampshire. They will remain at Prince George's Stadium through June 15. The Orioles transferred Reimold to the 60-day disabled list on April 7. He's been recovering from corrective surgery to fuse two vertebrae in his neck. Wei-Yin Chen retired 10 straight...

Benches and bullpens empty, and an assortment of notes and quotes

Benches and bullpens empty, and an assortment of notes and quotes
Three straight two-out singles by J.J .Hardy, Steve Pearce and Jonathan Schoop in the bottom of the second inning delivered the Orioles' first run and shaved Oakland's lead to 2-1. The real excitement came with two outs in the third inning, when Oakland third baseman Josh Donaldson tagged out Manny Machado on a fielder's choice. Donaldson shoved his glove into Machado's chest, causing the young third baseman to fall backward and land on his butt. Machado flipped his helmet toward Donaldson...

Santana out for year with torn Achilles

Santana out for year with torn Achilles
Veteran left-hander Johan Santana's 2014 season has ended before he made it back to the majors with the Orioles. In a cruel twist of fate, Santana tore his left Achilles tendon today during his final extended spring training start in Sarasota. An MRI confirmed the extent of the injury, which also could end the career of the two-time Cy Young winner. Santana was hit on the left gluteus by a line drive, and his Achilles tore as he stumbled while chasing the ball. Executive vice president Dan...

Jim Johnson on his return to Camden Yards

Jim Johnson on his return to Camden Yards
I'm not certain whether I'm setting up a reverse jinx here, but Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis has homered in back-to-back games for the second time this season. He's never homered in three straight. Last night, Chris Tillman became the first Orioles pitcher to make two starts lasting one inning or fewer in the same season since Zach Britton on July 8 and July 30, 2011. Bob Turley and Joe Coleman each made four such starts during the 1954 season, the most in club history. Due to the...

Update on Santana injury and flurry of roster moves

Update on Santana injury and flurry of roster moves
Veteran left-hander Johan Santana injured his Achilles tendon today while pitching at extended spring training. He was examined and the Orioles are awaiting the results. Santana was hit on the backside by a line drive, and he felt pain in his Achilles while chasing the ball. Santana, on the 15-day disabled list while recovering from shoulder surgery, likely was making his last start in extended spring training before joining an affiliate. Kevin Gausman will be officially recalled on Saturday...