Davis coming close to first home run

Davis coming close to first home run
Chris Davis hasn't hit a home run this season, but he's got the right opponent to break the streak. Davis has belted 16 homers against the Blue Jays since the start of the 2012 season, and Adam Jones has 14. No other major league player has collected as many as 10 against Toronto during that span. Davis and Jones each have hit at least seven homers against the Jays over the past two seasons. According to the Society for American Baseball Research, they're the second pair of teammates in...

More notes and quotes before tonight's game

More notes and quotes before tonight's game
The Orioles are 3-0 this season when the opposing starter works seven or more innings. Those starters? Jon Lester, Justin Verlander and Masahiro Tanaka. The Orioles batted .354 in the three games at Yankee Stadium to raise their team average from .229 to 274. They were 12-for-32 (.375) with runners in scoring position to raise their average from .231 to 296. Matt Wieters has hit safely in his first eight games, the third straight year that an Oriole has hit in eight or more games to open a...

Showalter on Hardy, Machado and more

Showalter on Hardy, Machado and more
Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy underwent an MRI on his lower back and also received a cortisone injection during yesterday's off-day. The MRI turned out "pretty good," according to manager Buck Showalter, who added that Hardy is available tonight and should be able to start on Saturday. Outfielder David Lough also is available tonight, according to Showalter. Lough underwent concussion tests Wednesday in Baltimore before racing back to New York and playing left field in the ninth...

Hardy remains out of Orioles lineup (update)

Hardy remains out of Orioles lineup (update)
J.J. Hardy is out of the Orioles lineup again tonight, marking the sixth time in seven games that has been the case. Ryan Flaherty is starting again at shortstop. Hardy was supposed to work out yesterday to test his lower back and remained hopeful that he would start tonight. Update: Hardy fielded ground balls today and will take batting practice later. He expects to be in the lineup Saturday. Hardy was told to rest Thursday, which is why he didn't work out, but he says his back is feeling...

About tonight ...

About tonight ...
The Orioles return home tonight after a 3-3 road trip through Detroit and New York. They may have shortstop J.J. Hardy in the lineup, depending on whether his back responded favorably to yesterday's workout. David Lough could return to left field against Blue Jays right-hander Dustin McGowan. But does manager Buck Showalter sit Delmon Young, who went 6-for-11 with a double, home run and three RBIs in the last two games at Yankee Stadium? Young isn't just raking against lefties. The Orioles...

More from the notebook (updated)

More from the notebook (updated)
NEW YORK - I found a few more items from my notebook that I wanted to pass along today in lieu of posting a lineup or pregame notes and quotes. There's no game. I spent about an hour at the warehouse this morning after picking up my car at the BWI Rail Station around 10 a.m., and the only activity at Camden Yards involved the grounds crew working on the bullpen mounds. Ubaldo Jimenez will start Sunday's series finale against the Blue Jays, giving him an extra day's rest. Chris Tillman starts...

Cleaning out my notebook

Cleaning out my notebook
NEW YORK - Early this morning, the Orioles announced that Chris Tillman, Bud Norris and Ubaldo Jimenez would start the three games against the Blue Jays this weekend at Camden Yards. Tillman was pushed ahead of Norris. The Orioles are off today. No games. Reduced odds that a player will be hurt. Celebrate good times. J.J. Hardy will work out today at Camden Yards to test his lower back. David Lough will rest up after passing his concussion test yesterday in Baltimore. Jemile Weeks will wonder...

Lough updates his health, Hunter talks about save and more

Lough updates his health, Hunter talks about save and more
NEW YORK - Orioles right-hander Bud Norris wasn't used in relief tonight, so he's slated to start one of the games against the Blue Jays this weekend at Camden Yards. Chris Tillman and Ubaldo Jimenez also will pitch. Manager Buck Showalter must decide on the order. David Lough entered tonight's game in the ninth inning as a defensive replacement after undergoing concussion tests earlier today in Baltimore. "I was having the same symptoms I was having in spring training - lightheadedness,...

Showalter speaks after 5-4 win

Showalter speaks after 5-4 win
NEW YORK - The Orioles won their first series in the Bronx since 2012 by holding on for a 5-4 victory at Yankee Stadium. They also posted their first back-to-back victories of 2014. Brian Matusz stranded two runners in the eighth, including one that he inherited, after serving up a home run to Kelly Johnson yesterday. "Brian's done that job for us now for about a year and a half at a real good pace," said manager Buck Showalter. "We know where his heart lies. I knew he was real frustrated...

Gonzalez gives Orioles quality start (O's win 5-4)

Gonzalez gives Orioles quality start (O's win 5-4)
NEW YORK - Miguel Gonzalez turned in the Orioles' second quality start of the season tonight, coming out of the game after the sixth with the score tied 3-3. Chris Tillman has the other quality start after allowing one run in 8 1/3 innings in Detroit. Gonzalez allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings, with one walk, three strikeouts and two home runs. He threw 85 pitches, 55 for strikes. Evan Meek replaced Gonzalez, whose pitch count seemed to suggest that he'd keep working into...

Schoop muscles up against Tanaka (we're tied)

Schoop muscles up against Tanaka (we're tied)
NEW YORK - Jonathan Schoop didn't look like a No. 9 hitter in his first at-bat tonight against Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka. With two runners on base, Schoop homered into the second deck in left field to give the Orioles a 3-0 lead. Matt Wieters singled to start the inning and Steve Lombardozzi singled with one out. Ryan Flaherty grounded into a 3-6 force, and Schoop crushed a Tanaka slider for his second career home run. Pulverized it. The bottom part of the order really has come...

Showalter responds to Jones' comments

Showalter responds to Jones' comments
NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter claimed today that he hadn't read Adam Jones' quotes on how the center fielder wants to dish out punishment on fans who run onto the field. Showalter spent part of the morning and afternoon being asked about it and had to catch up. "I haven't read it per se," Showalter said. "I agree with most everything Adam says, but what did he exactly say that makes it newsworthy? He's said that before. A lot of people have said that before. They just...

Lough avoids disabled list

Lough avoids disabled list
NEW YORK - David Lough will return to the Orioles for tonight's game against the Yankees and be available off the bench. No trip to the disabled list. Just a quick trip to Baltimore. Lough underwent concussion tests today and has been cleared. He was experiencing symptoms similar to the ones in spring training that forced the Orioles to shut him down, but doctors ruled out a concussion. Lough is listed as a reserve on the lineup card. Jemile Weeks will return to Triple-A Norfolk without...

Adam Jones comments on his comments

Adam Jones comments on his comments
NEW YORK - Orioles center fielder Adam Jones said he hasn't heard from Major League Baseball regarding his comments yesterday on fans who run onto the field, and he's not concerned about it. "My comments weren't malicious or anything like that. It's just my opinion. I'm pretty sure other people have spoken their opinion and gotten nothing," he said. "The players feel like it's something you don't say and I said it." Jones said his phone has been "blowing up." "It's been...

Hardy expects to play Friday

Hardy expects to play Friday
NEW YORK - Reporters will meet with manager Buck Showalter at 5:15 p.m. in the visiting dugout at Yankee Stadium, where he can provide an update on David Lough and offer specifics on the injury that could force the outfielder to the disabled list. Meanwhile, shortstop J.J. Hardy provided another update on his back. He's more optimistic about his recovery than in previous days. "Much better now than at any point yesterday," said Hardy, who's been out of the lineup for five of the past six...

Hardy out again, Lough not on DL yet (Orioles and Yankees lineups)

Hardy out again, Lough not on DL yet (Orioles and Yankees lineups)
NEW YORK - J.J. Hardy is out of the Orioles lineup for the fifth time in six games, one day after he expressed hope that he'd be able to play again tonight at Yankee Stadium. On top of that, David Lough is listed on the bench after it appeared he was headed to the disabled list with Jemile Weeks joining the Orioles. Weeks is in New York, but is not listed on tonight's lineup card. Hardy says his back is much better. He will work out on Thursday's off-day and hopes to play on Friday. Lough...

A few pregame notes from the Bronx (more on Jones)

A few pregame notes from the Bronx (more on Jones)
NEW YORK - The Orioles and Yankees haven't posted their lineups for tonight's game. Waiting to find out whether J.J. Hardy is back at shortstop. The Orioles collected 20 hits last night, their second-highest output in the Bronx in franchise history. They pounded out 22 hits on June 8, 1986. The Orioles plated multiple runs in four different innings for the first time since April 25, 2013 against the Athletics, according to Elias. According to Retrosheet, the last time the Orioles had all...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
NEW YORK - The Orioles will play under the lights tonight for the first time in six games. Hopefully, they won't be distracted by the moon. It's been a while since they've seen it unless the curtains were open in their hotel rooms. Fans keep asking why the Orioles would recall infielder Jemile Weeks from Triple-A Norfolk to replace outfielder David Lough, who's apparently going on the disabled list. Well, Weeks has played the outfield and he also provides insurance in case shortstop J.J....

More Orioles chatter following 14-5 win

More Orioles chatter following 14-5 win
NEW YORK - Lots of Orioles quotes coming out of the visiting clubhouse at Yankee Stadium. Here's a sampling. Buck Showalter on offense breaking out: "It's not that big of a deal. We can't live in that world. You trust your guys and their track record. These are the best pitchers in the world and you try to keep that in mind. You don't just go up there and say, 'I did this last year.' Nobody cares. And tomorrow will be another challenge. That's what it is. Every day you've got to live...

Lough headed to disabled list

Lough headed to disabled list
NEW YORK - Jemile Weeks is headed to New York, and he apparently will take outfielder David Lough's spot on the 25-man roster. I'm hearing that Lough is headed to the disabled list. He didn't play today in the Orioles' 14-5 win over the Yankees. Lough didn't start against New York right-hander Ivan Nova, an unusual occurrence judging by the early pattern established by manager Buck Showalter. Nelson Cruz started in left and Delmon Young served as the designated hitter. Young collected...